The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-16
PROBING TIE-UP
ENGINEERS HEAR ABOUT
RARITAN RIVER.
Manufacturers Complaints About the
Delay Caused to Navigation by Tenn
porsry Draw Receive Attention.

NEW YORK. Oct. 16.-As the result of
complaints made to the Secretary of War
to the effect that the New York and Long
Branch Railroad bridge over the Raritan
River. between Perth Amboy and South
Amboy. is an obstruction to navigation, a
public hearing on the matter was held yes
terday in the United States engineers
Office in the Army building. this city. The
hearing strlkingly demonstrated the fact
that the bringing of produce into this city
has been much affected by the conditions
at the bridge.
The railroad drawbridge spanning the
river has been out of commission since
September IL. with the result that river
traffic has been held UP. Charles A. Bloom
field. speaking yesterday in the interests
OF manufacturers who say that their bust
ness has been affected by this tie-up OF
navigation on the river, said that on Sep
TENDER 20 the railroad put in operation a
temporary draw with a span Of thirty-five
feet. Against this draw protest has since
been made to the War Department.
Letters were read from manufacturing
concerns in which protests were made
against the draw. One letter from the Ma
tional Fireprooing Company said that
boats wider than twenty-nine feet cannot
get through the opening; also that the
draw never opens at night.
The railroad Is used by trains OF the
Pennsylvania and New Jersey Central
Railroads, and representatives of each
were present. Rufus Blodgett, superin-
tendent of the New York and Long
Branch Railroad. was on hand. and
was the chief spokesman for the railroad
interests. When Mr.. Bloomfield piled him
with questions he said: "We'il make no
definite pledges. ! came here for a hear
ing. not TO make agreements
Mr.. Blodgett said that navigation on the
river may be resumed in a manner SINH
lar to that which obtained before the ac-
cident. within two and a half months. The
railroad had spent a large amount al
ready on the project, and it was ready to
spend much more.
Lawyer Reynolds. appearing for the
Central Railroad of New Jersey, said that
the business OF the railroads demand
that the temporary draw be allowed TO
operate under present conditions until the
new draw Is completed. He thought the
demand was Of vital interest to New York
because Of the vast amount of produce
brought into the city by the trains which
must pass over the temporary draw, and
that 1t is absolutely necessary that the
trains be not delayed by the draw being
open at night.
h protest of the river manufacturers
extended further. They said that the
draw is MT above the river channel, max
ing it all the more difficult for boats tc
get bs.
The interests of this large number OF
manufacturer along the river is certainly
paramount. ] think" said Mr.. Bloomfield
THE river was there, navigation was
there. before the railroad. Are these in.
terests with sheir primary rights to bt
cast aside so that the railroads may earl
a few extra dividends p
The reply of Mr.. Blodgett wal to til,
effect that he feared the railroad hat
been for some time on the bad side of tn
ledger, and he added that the compan.
had had to issue "a good many bonds"
Mr.. Bloomfield said that the protesting
manufacturers, whom he represented a
the chairman of a committee, will emplo.
expert engineers to make a study of ex
isting conditions and report on what the
consider the railroad can do in the wa
of speedy remedy. He suggested an ad
journment for two weeks to await tn
report. Colonel D.. n. Lockwood, Chairman
of the meeting, granted the adjournment.