Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-04-24
(From a Staff Correspondent. J


The public hearing on the applica-
ton of the Jersey Central Traction
Company for a franchise to use the
spans and draw on the Amboy bridge
over the Raritan river was largely
attended here today. Perth Amboy
and South Amboy were particularly
we'll represented The Public Ser
vice Corporation announced that it
had no objection to the granting of
the franchise as long as it was not an
exclusive one and, after long dis
cussion, the ordinance granting the
franchise was passed on first read
ing. 1t may be changed considerably
on second reading
Previous to the hearing the finance
committee of the Board of Freehold
ers held an executive session to open
bids for eighty $1,000 bonds for the
steel spans on the bridge The inter-
est on these bonds was " per cent.
and there were no bidders. The
board will probably increase the in
terest to A or 4 u per cent, and re-
advertise.
tiOSAA
when Clerk Irving Demarest read the
call and Director Pownall asked If
any company had any opposition to
offer
Presents Ordinance.
Edmund Wilson, attorney for the
Jersey Central Traction Company,
spoke for about twenty minutes, dur
ing which time he read an ordinance
which he had drawn up. He said it
was the duty of the freeholders to get
the best bargain, but that if they de-
manded too much they were likely to
stand in the way of public improve
ment He said he realized that an
ordinance could only be passed on
first reading today, but he hoped the
freeholders would give some definite
answer to the request
Mr.. Wilson stated that there might
be some minor changes in the ordi-
nance which his company would
agree to. He declared they wanted
to be reasonable and he hoped the
freeholders would be the same. He
said, however, that as far as making
any great change in the concessions
offered, that his company had reach
ed the limit.
The outlay on the part of the COM
pany was about $4,000, he said, for
a twenty-year franchise and in addi-
tion the ordinance requires the COM
pany to run cars across the bridge
every half hour between 6:30 and
$50 o'clock and every hour from
$50 o'clock to midnight. The COM
pany guarantees to have cars run
ming within fourteen months, barring
litigation which might hold up the
work. The company also guarantees
to accept the franchise within thirty
days, otherwise it will be void. The
company will also pay all costs for
advertising the franchise.
Public Service Speaks.
When Mr.. Wilson finished, Direc-
tor Pownall asked it any other COM
pany had anything to Offer Col.
Hines. representing the Public Ser
vice Corporation, said that his COM
pany had interests on both sides of
the river and while It was not ready
to ask for a franchise to cross the
bridge yet, it expected to make an
application in the near future. He
said that as long as the Central Jer-
sey did not ask for an exclusive
franchise on the structure, the Public
Service had no objection to it using
the structure to cross the river.
Mr.. Wilson arose at once and point
ed out that the Central jerseys Or
dinance prohibited an exclusive fran
chise.
Mr.. Leon Speaks.
Albert Leon. of Perth Amboy, was
the next speaker He told of the
meeting held in Perth Amboy last
night and of the desire of people OF
that city to have the trolley cross the
bridge at once. The hundreds of peo-
pie who now walk the structure were
referred to.
Thomas J. Brown of South Amboy,
had much praise for the Jersey Cen
trails methods on the south side OF
the river and Councilman A. M. Cor
don, of South Amboy, who said he
represented the people of that bor-
ough urged that the franchise be
granted
S. NJ. Jacobson, of S. Scheuer &
Sons, of Perth Amboy. spoke favor
ably for the Jersey Central. Other
speakers were Samuel Locker, OF
South Amboy, Mayor Albert Boil
schweiler, of Perth Amboy, and Jas
Growney, of Perth Amboy Mr.
Growney said he thought the conces-
sions should be more, but if the COM
pany would not give more, not to lei
that hold up the franchise
George F. Reynolds, of Perth Am
boy, spoke and Mr.. Wilson again ad-
dressed the meeting, calling attention
to the concession being $4,000 and
not $4,000, as the cash was the
smallest part. He said the company
would give 4 five-cent fare over -four
miles and would have to carry 1000
people to take in $500. 0f this $6d