Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-09-29
ELECTRICITY
OR STEAM ?
Mystery Still Surrounds Object
Of Those Constructing Line
Across the State.

With thirty-eight different gangs
of men at work, and with the speed
which is possible with improved ma
chinery and modern facilities the
mysterious railroad which is being
constructed across this state, sup
posedly by the Pennsylvania railroad
company, is being pushed toward
Elizabeth. In direct line from Me-
tuchen to Bayway, as laid out ON q
map of the state, the new 100-foot
right of way is being 1evellel andf
graded Whole hills are being cart
ed away or cut in twain, valleys are
being bridged or filed up and fields
are being staked out and made level
for this new railroad.
What is particularly interesting
the farmers now is whether or not
this new railroad Is to be operated by
steam or electricity. This secret is
being closely guarded by the officials.
The charter secured from the state
! allows the company TO use either
steam or electricity. If electricity is
to be used. the road may cross high
ways at grade. If steam Is to be the
motive power the tracks Will have to
be elevated. Where it is feasible to
cross the road at grade the real es-
I ldlG dEGulS MHO UOukul Tie IIEuI OA
way declared that the road was to be
operated by electricity, while at other
places, where rights of way were
vation, the inference was given out
that the road was to be operated by
steam. No one knows just what mo-
tive power will be used.
The entire one hundred-foot right
of way is being graded. The fact
that vast amounts of money are being
spent to make the road just as level
as possible seems to indicate that the
motive power is to be electricity and
that a third-rail system is to be used.
The supposition that the road is
the new Translate freight road to
be used by the Pennsylvania so as to
delieve its main stem roadway be-
tween Philadelphia and use it for
passenger trains, seems to have some
foundation, for its objective point Is
in Elizabeth, where the Pennsylvania
railroad is now acquiring property
rights for a cross-town elevated rail-
road from a point in Bayway to the
Waverly freight yards.
The fact that recently one of the
tunnel bores under the Hudson river
was completed, and that within an
other six months the second one will
be opened, lends weight to the rumor
that the new road is being rushed to
completion so that the freight traffic
can be taken from the main roadway
by the time that the change from
steam to electricity is made on the
main lines.
The fact that the real estate COM
panies representing the P. X. 4. are
seeking a large tract of land near
Railway for the purpose apparently
of constructing thereon a power
house, seems to confirm the rumor
that this road is planning to operate
its freight trains by electricity.
Considerable indignation has been
caused among property owners along
the line by the company's going
ahead laying its tracks with appar-
entity little consideration for the
rights of property owners. In ono
case the contractors started to cross
a road at grade near Metuchen with
out first securing consents. The men
had cut down number of trees when
they were enjoined from going ahead
with the work A damage suit has
been started against the company.
Another case in point Is that OF
Charles Elkin's farm near Milltown.
The question of whether the New
Jersey Short Line railroad, as the
new road is called, is to be steam
or electric propelled road figured In
this case.
Then testimony of considerable
length was taken concerning land
values about Milltown. where the
Elkins farm Is located. The testi-
mony, according to the Interpretation
of Lawyer George s. Silzer, counsel
for Mr.. Ell1ins, showed that the lat
ter was entitled to no less than
$500 for the strip desired by the
Short Line.
Willard P. Voorhees,, counsel for
the Short Line, argued that the pro-
perty would be greatly benefited by
haviN the new line running through
It. The land would become more
valuable for manufacturing pur1oses,
and the electric road wonldN give It
fine TRANSFORMATION facilities, He
thought this should be taken into
consideration and deductions mace
from the allowance.
Mr.. Silzer declared that the farm
already has one railroad, the Raritan
river. and is consequently we'll equip
ped for manufacturing purposes. Mr..
Silzer claimed that the position OF
the new road ruins a large part 9-1
the farm for manufacturing purpose
AS TO the electric road part of hcls
question Mr.. Silzer said that thereV
is no assurance that the line is to be
electric. He thought 1t more likely