New-York tribune., 1905-02-06
TO USE, JERSEY SWAMPS.
PL4NS BIG ROULEV4RDS.
Ne,rarh' Board of Trade Womd
Connect Y. j. and n. j. Parks.

special meeting of the Newark Board OF
Trade. the most influential commercial organ
ization ir Northern New-Jersey. has been called
for March s. az which will be discussed plans
for an elaborate utilization OF the vast tract OF
swamp land. the Newark Meadows, and the
building Of a series of boulevards to extend
from the Hudson River to connect the park sys-
,enas Of New-Jersey with those of this city.
These boulevards would be large enough for
commercial uses, and would be important
factor in the development Of the plans for the
meadows. It is proposed TO make the meadows
available for factory sites railroad and steam
ship terminals
A commission Of merchants has been ap-
rointed 10 investigate this subject Engineers
have looked over the ground, and their ideas
of the Improvement Will probably be given at
the meeting. to be discussed by members of the
hoard Great benefit to the trade relations of
that section and of this city would result from
the carrying out of such plans,- the men who
nre behind this meeting believe.
The Board of Trade which includes in Its mem
bership most OF the largest merchants and man
ufacturers Of Newark, has been considering for
some time the problem of satisfactory transit
relations which would assure adequate connec-
ton with this city. and the great benefit which
would result from an adjustment of the ter
r1inal connections Of railroads and steamship
lines Essex. Hudson and Bergen counties rep
resent q great manufacturing district which is
virtually a part of the metropolis All the
great trunk railroads pass through that section
save the NeW-York Central and its connections
In the large cities, Newark, Jersey City Pater-
son and Passaic, important factories but
land there is dear and hard TO acquire, so
growth in the cities is limited to a great extent
The Newark meadows. lying between the Pas
sale, Hackensack end Hudson rivers. are prac~
tically waste land. At present the United
States Government is spending large sums
on the dredging of the Passaic and Hacken-
sack and there is prospect OF a ship canal
20 connect with the Passaic. Land in the mead
ows section is cheap at present. and the Board
Of Trade believes that there should be laid out
p consistent development plan which would
provide for the proper recognition Of public and
private interests in the building up OF that dis
srict
The using of the rivers for commercial pur-
poses at present is interfering with the freest
use OF the railroads which have to cross both
the Hackensack and Passaic on drawbridges.
Trains frequently are held UP. and commuters
have protested often against the resulting de-
Iays. A remedy for this is contemplated. and
an arrangement by which the railroads might
have adequate freight yards and terminal facii-
sites No better place than along the rivers and
Newark Bay could exist Ior stsadLshap oohilec-
aions with the railroads. the Board OF Trade
s7elieves and the working out Of this idea Will
Ee taIkee oses,
Essex County has magnificent park system
40 which extensions contemplated. Prob
kbAy the most important part Of the project
which the Board OF Trade is outlining IS a
sst OF boulevards across the meadows. to pass
through Newark and the Oranges into this
park system These roads. while having all the
essential features of parkways. could be devoted
also 10 commercial purposes They would prove
2 great relief 10 the two poor roads-the turn
pike and the plank road-which now cross the
meadows. The Board Of Trade has found a
great public sentiment In favor Of these boule-
wards All the automobile associations particu-
iarlv want such an arrangement.