New-York tribune., 1903-07-10
NEW-JERSEY NEWS
LACKAWANNA FAVORS ~
Railroad argues for Abandonm..,
of Norris Canal.

NJ
mission for opinions for or against the 49, s~.sa
meut OF navigation the Morris Canal IL -
ment In favor OF abandonment by the n.l.-'e
Lackawanna and Western Railroad Tha -
ment it may be called Of the Lackawanna -.
pany, although arriving at the same co.,,l.-T
those OF the Morris Canal and Bsntf,, -
pany and OF the Lehigh Valley Railroad -
pany, lessee. prepared by William, II Co
OF counsel. and presented in part in The Tris
a few days ago, proceeds on an entirely din~,-.
line
In his argument for the abandonment % nav,-,
tion the canal Walter ". Ross the rsr,-
counsel of the Lackawanna. approaches TIE -
ject b. saying that the Morris and Essex a.
road Company. leased and operated by tie De-,
ware Lackawenna and Western Railroad -.
pany. passes through a popuIous district ~ -
city OF Newark and the county Of Essex s'Tt q
double track railroad and intersects a sreat rs,~
frequently travelled streets al grade" Mr. p
says and continues For number OF years
has been a matter of most careful thought a,s
consideration on the part OF the mana aZers OF N.
Lackawanna TO reconstruct its suburban tra,s,
in such a manner that the grade crossings co1g
be abolished and better transportation facihtis,
afforded to the very pOpulOUs district thrOczs
which it travels adjacent 10 New York Ov5v
to the heavy grades Of the tracks through Newars
averaging eighty-eisht feet "a the mile the pr,s
lem of reconstructing the tracks to accomplish Ia
desired results has been difficult one fer the en-
gneers to solve"
In 1880 the managers of the railroad took Up with
the municipal authorities of Newark the question
Of the reconstruction OF its tracks through TIA.
city to accomplish the ends above named Ths
railroad company has about twenty-seven srads
crossings in Newark.
THE engineering problems involved" Mr. Ross
saws "in this matter were most carefully consd
cred nv the abIest engineers in this country. o.
tanned at the solicitation OF the railroad COMPANY
and OF the Newark municipal authorities. After the
most studous consideration of all the questions in
voIved. an agreement was entered into between the
railroad company and the city on December g. IG
which contemplated the elimination OF all the grade
CROSSINGS in Newark. Many plans were suggested
and considered by the having the problems
under consideration for the abolshins OF the grade
crossings without changing the Morris Canal which
intersects the line of railroad In Newark. but with
out avail. 1t was confidently represented TO the
railroad company. on behalf OF Newark. that the
Norris Canal was longer Of any practical USE
and that there would be difficulty in obtaining
its abandonment. in order that the plans which the
city and the railroad company had adopted and
approved for the abolition OF the grade crossings
might be accomplished" "
The plans finally agreed upon contemplate the
elevation of the railroad tracks in the eastern part
of Newark and the depression thereor>in the west
part of the city. and the operation Of thrss
tracks, instead of two Immediately after the
cution of the agreement between the city and ths
railroad company. the latter Mr.. Ross says. start
ed upon the work of changing the grade Of its
road In Newark The Improvement contemplate
under the agreement will cost approximately S.0e-
OOO. and of this sum the railroad company has al
ready expended many hundred thousands OF dOuan
in doing this work The plans adopted contem-
plate the depression of the tracks the point Of
intersection with the canal about twenty-five feet
the railroad company informed the Newark author
ties that it had already built the retaining wall
adjacent to the canal preparatory 10 the depression
of its tracks at that point. and the company rs
might be necessary to have the canal abandoned az
that point Ihereupon the Mayor and other Off
GERS OF the city took up the question OF the a5an
134hehI % OF She canal with tne canal company and
Win the LehiSn Valley Railroad Company. lessss
and a Dill was introduced in the State Legislatur
creation of the present Morris Canal Commission
Under the agreement between the city of New
tinues the work Of eliminating the grade cross.
sections The frst section covers tbe tra,k rs
tween the Passaic River and High-st. inclusive,
tween Hgh-st and Boyden-st. westerly to a poin.
about one hundred feet beyond the Morris Canal
anu the tnlTd secton taxes IN the remainder OF ls
track in the westerly part Of Newark Six OF the
until the canal has been abandoned at the point o,
tion is not to be completed until the canal been
Various plans were considered bv the engineers
70 accomplish these ends without interfering wtl
the motifs anal but they all cOncurred in the
other. were entirely fmpracticabls. a controlling
tracks Of the railroad company at the point Of Il
terseetion with the canal below what is conen-
plated by the plans adopted would result in the
destruction OF the main sewer connecting the
northern and southern portions Of the city at tha.
point. which Is a matter of the greatest moment 70
the residents Of that section of Newark
wanna have in contemplation The eIinination q
practically all of the grade CROSSINGS between
struction of an additional track between these
points which third track viii be used for express
trains which Will carry passengers from theT
the morning and to their homes in the evening vita
m,
persons using the highways intersecting the lins
or railroad. The improved transportation facilities
are OF the greatest Importance 70 the fifteen
twenty millions Of passengers using this section
mean saving in time OF transportation to each
when the effect of these improvements IS cen
sidered in the matter of the saving OF time ne
them. as well as upon the streets and Highways
there cannot be any doubt as to the wisdom Q
has long ceased 10 be of any 10 the pu5lic g;
In conclusion Mr. Ross says that the Lacka-
wanna company extends an invitation 20 the con-
mission to with US the line OF the railroad
in order that we may have an opportunity to moIs
clearly explain to you the Improvements and ths
reasons which lead US TO believe that it is abS0utsy
necessary to abandon the canal in order that he
improvements may be made A special train IS
pended to Mr. Ross arslIment and explanation S
OF the several streets intersected by the Lacka-
wanna in Newark The existing grade OF the rail-
improvements shall have been completed also are
shown Additionally. copy OF the agreement as
annexed.
Immediately following the above the coTnInssoa
received a petition from the Warren Nznuf3et
uring Company domestic corporation. oIgan3ss
under the laws of New-Jersey in 1872 and whaa
has several paper mills on MuscOnetcOug Creek Y
Warren County The petition claims oVnersni2. q
the company OF the bed and all the water rsAs,
privileges and advantages IN and 70 the waters =
the creek for about four miles. The fall Of wal-
in that part OF the creek. which the company clans
to own is from twenty-eight fffty-twO feet "
source OF the creek is at or near Lake H0patcoaf
and is the natural outlet Of the lake from WIS.
the Morris Canal derives a large part OF the var.
used for canal purposes. The petition goes OF =
say that its rights TO the waters OF the creeks s
reserved to IL under the provisions OF the chart.
OF the Morris Canal and Banking Company. -
the canal COMPANY IS nriVileged . deu-lVe -