The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-17
So Say Senator Minturn and
Edmund D. Hartshorn In
Reply to Newark's Board
Of Trade
LANDS HELD IN PERPETUITY
BOARD OF TRADE DECLARES A
TWENTY-FIVE YEAR LEASH
TOO SHORT TO INDUCE COR
PoRATIoNs TO IMPROVE PROP
ERpY

Senator James E.. Minturn, Of Hobo
ken, was greatly incensed this morning
when he learned that the Newark Board
of Trade had decided to oppose Senate
bill No. 2S, which he had introduced.
The bill makes it unlawful hereafter TO
sell riparian lands of the State. The Ri
parian Commissioners may lease for
term not exceeding twenty-five years. but
no lease shah operate to obahuct access
to any navigable stream.
The position taken by the Newark
Board of Trade is that if the Nfinturn
bill becomes a law nobody will build
along the water front. 1t now costs
from $50 to $40 foot to build there and
the argument is advanced that there win
be no additional docks built along the
Passaic River if the bill is passed. be-
cause no company would expend a large
sum for dock building if only granted q
twenty-five year lease.
The Newark Board of Trade is not
unanimous, however, in opposing the
aIintum bill. Edmund D. HartshOrn
and other prominent members are strong
II in favor of it, and propose to advocate
its enactment notwithstanding that it has
received the Boards stamp of disap-
proyal.
Mr. Hartshorn takes the position that
if twenty-five years is not sufficient
length of time to induce capital to be in
vested in dock building, then it would be
better to allow the water front to remain
unimproYed until such times as capital
lists will be found who are wiling to ac-
cept the terms.
nothing for its water frnnt" said u
Hartshorn yesterday. ..and it is about
time shat the Legislature ilterreI ed aid
protected The States rights. We know
what has been done in Chicago and in
New York, and we should profit by the
experience. 1t issonly question of time
when the water fronf of the entire State
will be owned or leased in perpetuity by
railroads sand other corporations, and the
time has now arrived when we should
open our eyes and stop further perpetual
grants before it is too late.
Il am surprised to learn that nothing
can be done with a twenty-five year
lease Mr.. Hartshorn added. There
are many corporations who would be
only too willing to improve the water
property on such 4 lease If given the OPP
portunity, but nearly all the desirahl
places are now Occunied by railroads and
other corporations under perpetual
leases.
Senator Minturn said that he fet con-
fident the Newark Board of Trade did
not thoroughly understand the provisions
of his bill, and the situation as it now
existed.
If they did" said the Senator, 81 do
not see how any intelligent body of men,
as the Newark Board of Trade is credit
ed with being, could oppose the bill which
i introduced. Here we have valuable
lana along our water front practically
given away TO corporations for trifling
sum-. When the adjacent municipality
seeks docking privileges. it is confronted
with the situation that the corporations
have practically monopoly Of II by
reason of almost perpetual lease. The
cities have the best right 10 the land bu$
the State has taken it away from them
and almost donated it to corporations.
This should be stopped, and If my bill
becomes a law it viii prevent the State
from giving away valuable rights almost
in perpetuity. Look at the situation in
Jersey City and Hoboken, the entire
water front is owned by Corporations,
given to them By the State If leases
had been granted for twenty-five years
these municipalities would now make a
bid for the water front rights and secure
privileges which they now do not
possess
Mr.. iMintmn stated that he would an
pear before the Newark Board Of Trade
and advance reasons why It's action
should be rescinded. He feels confident
that the Board will do so when it learns
all the details and object to be sought by
his bill.