The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-11-21
MAYORS VETO
Executive Reasons Why the
Grant of Barnum Street
to the Erie Is IN
wise.

Mayor Fagan sent in veto message
of the Street and Water Boards resolu-
tion granting the Erie Railroad Com
pany temporary permission to lay tracks
across Barnum street, giving the follow
ing reasons for his veto:-
My reasons for this action are:-That
the resolution in question practically
amounts to the surrender of Barnum
street to the railroad, company and with
out any conditions or regulations in the
public interest. The limitation of the
time to ninety days is not sufficient pro-
lection to the city. The land on the
westerly side of aBrnum street, which is
sought to be reached by this track, has
been purchased by the railroad company
and they have announced their intention
to construct large works of a permanent
character, access to which must be con-
tinually had by means Of these tracks
from their railroad yard on the opposite
side of the street. 1t is therefore appag-
ent that the company has no intention of
removing these tracks at the expiration
of said ninety days. At that time they
will expect your Board TO grant an ex-
tension of this privilege. on failure of
which they will apply to the court for
an injunction restraining the city from
taking up the tracks, and the matter viii
then become involved in prolonged litiga-
ton.
The folly of surrendering without
compensation extremely valuable priv
ileges to railroad corporation, cannot be
too strongly condemned Some months
ago, representatives of the Erie Rail-
road called upon me as Mayor, and askeo
for the vacation Of this street, and offer
ed to pay TO the city proper compensa-
tion therefor, naming $4,000 as their
first offer--I told them that this was
subject in which the city was particular
" interested at this time, to wit:-The
demand which the railroads, apparently
by concerted action, had then recently
made for a substantial reduction in wa
ter rates, under threat to buy watel
from the private water company which
has taken away the West Hudson
towns; and that / should therefore in
sist, in addition to proper money CON
sderation, that the railroad company
should bind itself to take water from the
city at present rates at least until the
city should take over the new water
plant and thereby be in position to re-
adjust water rates--to this demand the
railroad representatives agreed.
Before could take up the subject
with the Street and Water Board then in
office, she decision of the court restored
your Board TO power. From this it apz
pears that the railroad company was
then, and I believe still are. willing to
make substantial payment in money
and other valuable concessions for the fa-
vor which this action of your Board
would operate to virtually give them for
nothing.
The privilege granted BY this permis-
sion is intended TO be either temporary or
permanent; if it is intended 10 be tempo
rarys it is. perfectly easy to insure the. re-
moval of the track at the expiration of
the time mentioned BY requiring the rail-
road company TO deposit with the City
Treasurer say $4,000, to be forfeited to
the city if the tracks are not removed at
the expiration Of that time; If the rail
road intends to remove the tracks, this
requirement would not burden them; il
they do not intend to remove tie tracks,
then no penalty could be too severe. If
the permit is intended to be a permanent
one, which, unquestionabls. would be the
result of your action then your Board
has failed not only to protect the inter
ests Of other property owners in the
neishhornood, but has failed to secure
for the city the money compensation and
other concessions which the company
was perfectly ready 10 yield.