The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-07-05
TROLLEY STILL
In DOUBT
Special Meeting Of Freeholders
to Discuss Application for
Trolley Franchise.
LAID OVER UNTIL NEXT M0NTH

The public hearing on the applica-
tion of the Morris County Traction
Co. to the board of freeholders for the
right to lay the tracks Of the company
in the county road in Rockaway and
Wharton boroughs, Dover, and in the
townships of Randolph and Rockaway,
the line extending from the lower
limit Of Rockaway borough through
Dover to the Roxbury line, with a
branch to Wharton was held in the
board room on Wednesday morning.
The formal application was read af-
ter which j. HI. Neighbor addressed
the board in behalf of the trolley COM
pany, stating that franchises had been
secured in the municipalities named
except in Rockaway borough, where
negotiations are now in progress, and
that the requisite consents from abut-
ting property owners had been OBJ
tanned and filed with the clerks of the
several municipalities. The people,
he said, demand the trolley in Morris
county.
Joseph Hinchman said the remarks
of the first speaker had amused him.
The crossing from one side Of the road
to the other near Dover has been so
intelligently done that he feared the
other crossings. The automobiles on
the roads are fast driving off the
horses, but he thought there would be
such a cry that legislation on the sub
ject will be passed within two years.
Now the trolley company wants to
take the only road running through
Denville, Rockaway and Dover. If
there was parallel road on which to
drive he would not kick, but it is the
only thorougnIare and where, with
trolley tracks and autos, will the horse
have a chance. He and his ancestors
had lived in Denyille for hundred
years, but he feared he would have to
move.
Consents have been secured by tell
ing property owners that more than
fifty per cent. had signed, when the
fact Is that he had protests from more
than fifty per cent. of the owners in
Rockaway Borough and the township
west of the borough, also protests in
Dover. These he filed with the board
adding that some had been secured at
the date Of the papers August 9, 1899
and some later. That date was the
time the trolley company filed its map
of routes and the protests had been at
every meeting of the board since,
waiting for some advances by the COM
pany, and he challenged the company
to produce the withdrawal Of the
names. Some of the signers are now
dead, but he said the protest is much
alive. One consent had been gained
by buying strip of land along the
road, but the consent Is no good.
e. Bertram Mott asked If it is pro-
posed to run the tracks through the
center of the streets. Mr.. Allamen
said it was proposed to run the road
on the right Of the road to Riggott's
Hotel, then through the center OF the
road TO the borough line, then on the
side of the road.
Ex-Judge Cutler for the company
said the protest was ancient history,
many of those on Main street, Rocka-
way, had experienced change of
heart and had given consent after the
company had secured rights on side
street. The people want the trolley
and the company he said is here to
grant a benefit.
Mr.. Hinchman called on the COM
pany to produce the consents so that
the board could see II they had been
secured.
DIR. H. b. Andrew addressed the
board stating that he was in favor OF
the trOlleys, but the corporations hav-
| ing franchise rights are paying large
| ldividents from the favors given them
and he thought it time that a corpor-
alton pay something for the favors
asked.
On motion Of Freaholder Schone-
lberger the mattel was adjourned tx
| the regular meeting OH July Is.