The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-15
WORKS BOARD
TAKESACTION
ON SWITCH
Trolley Co. Must Put in
New One Soon as Pos
SibIe to End Accidents.

COMMISSIONS Thomas F. Halpin Of
fered a resolution at the meeting OF
the Board of Works today h a the
cross-over switch on Washington street,
near Market street. where so many
accidents nave occurred by wagon
wheels catching, throwing the drivers,
be torn up, and when the new switch
arrives the North Jersey Street Ral-
way Company be allowed to lay 1t.
There. were a number of accidents
at the switch yesterday and today,
remarked Mr.. Halpin, and the swltcn
is a veritable death trap"
AS was told in the EVENING STAR
yesterday, for many months wagons
have been caught IN the switch every
day and both the drivers and the ami
mails injured.
General superintendent of Works
Shipman. who was instructed some
time ago to look into the matter re-
ported that the new switch had ar
rived and would be put in in a day
or two.
In the meantime the traction people
have a man at the switch with a red
flag to keep drivers from getting their
wagons caught.
1T is a shame that the switch is
allowed to remain said Mr.. Halpin
before the meeting. There have been
more people hurt there and more
wagons wrecked than anywhere else
In the city"
After hearing Mr.. Halpin Chairman Book
asked Superintendent Shlpman to see that
the new switch was installed as soon as
possible, and in the meantime see that
the company took all precautions to pre-
vent accidents.
There have been a total Of forty-nine
accidents at this switch in the last two
months.
Commissioner Lambert said that the
cross-over at Summer and ave-
nues was In bad condition, and Superin-
tendent Shipman was instructed to notify
the company.
AS was told in the EVENING STAR
the switch at South Orange, near Bergen
street, is another death trap, several men
being sent to the hospital for treatment
after being thrown from their wagons.
A new switch was ordered placed there
) and at Springfield avenue n Tenth
street by the Board of Works at the
same time as it ordered the Washington
street improvement, but the traction COM
pany declares that 1t had been unable to
get the new switches from the factory.
If the old switch is not removed by the
end of this week Commissioner Halpin
will ask the board to nave it removed
and let the company do without a cross
over at this point until the new one ar
rives.
This the trolley company will oppose
because the grant to lay tracks in Wash
ington street was made to the old Con-
solidated Traction Company, since merged
In the present North Jersey Street Rail-
way Company.
Tho ordinance was nasspd in 1892. and
Justice Reed in 1896 rendered q decision In
which he stated that the ordinance was
invalid because of lack of specifications
and irregularities, and consequently the
company retains the cross-over and even
the tracks only by the right of pre-
scription and adverse possession and its
removal for even a short period would
revoke even their tentative right.
If the company refuses to make changes
deemed necessary by the board the cross
over can be permanently removed by the
Board Of Works, as the law of New Jersey
states that Right to maintenance on
grounds of adverse possession or prescrip-
ton cannot accrue against the public
Protest against the paving of South
Fifteenth street, between Springfield ave-
nue. and Eighteenth avenue, and of Nine
teenth avenue were made by property
owners. who claimed that there were not
enough houses on the streets to warrant
the pavements. and that the assess
ments would be made on property owners
on property that brings no returns.