The Jersey City news., 1902-03-19
ARLINGTON ROAD
Mr.. H. F. Torrey Discus
ses the improvement
From Newark Turn
pike to BelleVille.
NOT URGED BY CEMETERY TRUSTEES
1t Will Doubtless Benefit
Their Property But Also
That of Every Other
Land Owner.
NOT URGED BY CEMETERY TRUSTEES


Mr.. Henry f. Torrey. treasurer and
manager of Arlington Cemetery. this
morning expressed his views on the pro-
posed improvement of the old road from
Newark Turnpike TO the Belleville bridge.
He said:-
II have seen articles in some of the pa
pers of last Friday or Saturday in regard
to the proposed Improvement Of the old
road from the Newark Turnpike to Belle
vile bridge as county road. l do not
know what reporter is responsible for the
statement in two of the papers (not in the
News however,, that the main 8objec-
tion to making the Improvement is that it
will benefit Arlington Cemetery nor do I
know the ground of his feeling against
the cemetery.
THE officers of the Cemetery Association
are ignorant of the origin of this move
ment for road Improvement and do not
know who are urging it upon Freeholder
Caparn; but we expected to join with
other parties interested in an effort this
spring to have the road repaired.
The same article which states that the
Arlington Cemetery would be practically
the only interest benefited by the pro-
posed improvement, also says that Free
holder Caparn is being urged by his Ar
lington constituents to have the road i'm
proved, and that the town of Kearny
favors the improvement of the road to
give the residents more direct access to
the Newark turnpike.
''It states also that the many undertake
ers in this county who have to use the
road would be greatly benefited by the
road being put in repair
1T is hard to understand by what pro-
cess of reasoning a newspaper can argue
from its own statement of the above facts
that the advantage of such an improve
ment would be enjoyed only by our asso-
citation, or how it could claim even that
the improvement is only for the benefit
of West Hudson municipalities. OF course
it will benefit Arlington Cemetery, and in
doing that it benefits more than twelve
hundred families in Jersey City who are
owners of ground in Arlington Cemetery.
THE undertakers of Jersey CITY have
always been among her active useful eiti-
zens, ready to bear their share of the bur-
dens and duties of good citizenship. and it
is difrieult to see how the fact that they
would be benefited can be urged as an ar
it is only a half statement of the fact.
THE multitude of citizens who have to
ride in funeral professions over the roads
have the same interest in their improve
ment as the undertakers and the lot own
ers in the cemeteries, and no stronger
reason for the improvement of a road
could be given in the interest of the en-
tire community than the fact that it is in
constant use for funerals.
81 do not claim that the benefit to this
end OF the county is greater than to the
West Hudson towns. but that it extends
to a larger population here than thers.
West Hudson will be greatly helped, and
the benefit which win accrue to fifty acres
of Arlington Cemetery land will also ex-
ten6 to 1900 or 1000 acres of upland on
this side of the Passaic. much of which IS
now deasely populated and all of which
will be in town lots within a very few
years No mention has been made in the
discussion of the territory traversed py-
the road itself in crossing the meadows.
Il am informed that the owners of this
land, all Of which belongs to the Hack
ensack Meadows Company, earnestly de-
sire the immediate Improvement of the
road. and have made proposition to con-
vey to the county without cost an addi-
tional width along its entire length
across their property, to make the road
eighty feet wide instead of fifty. as at
present. This widening of the road can
probably be extended across smaller
ownerships at a nominal cost but the
present offer covers the greater portion of
| the road.
"It is understood that the Meadows
Company is arranging for very large ex-
penditure in developing its water front
on the Eackensack. and that 1t will IN
( the near future be one of the most inn
portant factors in increasing The county 5
ratables and small expenditure upon q
| thoroughfare across its lands, in harmony
| with the plans of the company. is sure
70 bring returns to the entire county ail'i
not to the west end alone.
IF The News can spare the space /
/ would like to say word in regard to the
policy of State aid in its application to
| this road.
..The Commissioner of Public Roads
gives the preference to roads which con-
meet important municipalities, and TO
I roads which will form a part of long lines
! of continuous good roads in making the
/ appropriation to the different counties.
..The Belleville Road is the shortest pos
| sibie route for a good road connection OF
| Jersey city and the Boulevard with the
| entire hard road system of Essex and
/ Passaic counties without going over the
| paved streets of Newark.
"a rood road to Belleville Bridge COM
pletes the line of good roads from Jersey
| City to Morristown, Lake Hopatcons anu
/ tba Iaalaxare River or through the Pas