New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-01
D., L. & W. AND THE ORANGES.
Grade Crossing Elimination Complicated
with Question Of Stations.

To the Editor If The Tribune
Sir I notice your editorial this morning entitled
Electricity for the Lackawanna." In that edi
tor!a you say The principal cause OF the LacIIa-
wanna's delay in beginning to equip its road for
electric service is said to be the reluctance OF Or
ange and East Orange to share the expense OF an
improvement which is regarded essential to the
use OF electrcity-the elimination OF grade cross
ings'
Possibly you ara not aware that one OF tho rea-
sons for the position referred IS the attitude of
the Lackawanna, rather its president. Mr.
Truesdale. toward the residents OF East Orange.
When this subject first mooted the residents
of East Orange were led to understand that the
railroad stations at Brick Church and East Or
ange we're 10 be removed and consolidated in a sta
ton situated midway between their present loca-
tons.
The two stations in question were established
over twenty years ago. They were necessary then.
and they are stiu more necessary that the
/ traffic has become much heavier and the popula-
I ton so much denser. There is reason why
they should be consolidated. except TO save the
Lackawanna company the expense OF changing
over TO its new grade two stations instead of one.
and. OF course, the maintenance of two stations in
stead OF one In other words. II IS question OF
petty economy the part OF the railroad COM
pany.
As the consolidation OF the stations would IN
convenience many commuters and would affect
property interests and some OF the residents or
East Orange believe thar the maintenance OF those
upon the part OF the railroad company 10 retain
them. they tried to ascertain whether II were true
that the Lackawanna company contemplated
changing the locations of the stations. .
The attitude OF the LaCkawanna people through
out has been that Il IS none OF the business
OF the East Orange property owners what they
going to do with these stations. For a long
time they absolutely refused to say whether they
contemplated making this change or not-simply
property owners and commuters TO be good
bows and mind their business. and some day
they would find out what the company was going
10 do. The property owners OF the Oranges are
not parcel of schoolboys. and did not propose TO
wake UP some day 10 the fact that the Lack1-
wanna had taken everything IN It's own hands.
abolished stations. changed its grades and made
a few other alleged improvements so they got
busv With a view OF blocking anything the Lack
awanna company wanted TO do until such time as
the IRckawanna company was ready 70 act IN 2
reasonable manner and take the commuters and
others who support the company throughout that
intended doing. This attitude resulted In Mr..
Translates coming out hatfOoted with a state
mont that they would do as they pleased about
the stations and that the retention consolidation
of the elimination OF grade crossings.
The property owners OF East Orange believe That
the retention OF the stations in their present lGca
tions is more important than the elimination or
at his word; they have said 20 the Lackawanna
company through the city Council. that until the
I,ackawanna company agrees to retain the sta
tions where they and maintain both OF them
ange will not agree TO pay dollar toward the
work in that city. The Lackawanna company
has not vet agreed 10 give East Orange the present
necessary station accommodation. The delay Is
not the fault the citizens OF East Orange II IS
the fault OF the Lackawanna Railroad Company.
EAST ORANGB PROPERTY HOLDER AND
COMNIUTER.
New York. Jan. %. 1907.