The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-14
TRADE BODY
HITSCOUNTY
LAWMAKERS
DilatOry Tactics Charged in
improvements for
Plank Road.
MARCH ON FREEHOLDERS
Original Motion Recommended
Hiring Of Legal Counsel to
Investigate and Force
Essex Officials to
Take Action.
MARCH ON FREEHOLDERS

CoNhty was CRITICISED severely
last night at h meeting of the Board
OF Trade after the special committee of
that body, appointed to investigate the
progress of he work on the Plank
road, reported that no progress had
Deen made, and the suggestion was
made after the freeholders had been
severely arraigned to employ counsel
TO force thec county body to take imme-
date action in making the principal
highway between Newark and Jersey
City available for use.
When the report of the special COM
mittee was read 1t was found to be
comprehensive and covering the SUBJ
ject thoroughly, and it was the con-
sensus of opinion of the members that
it was time to take drastic measures.
While the portion of the report adj
vocating the procuring of counsel by
the Board of Trade to force action in
the road matter met with the approval
of the members, it was stricken from
the report before it was approved, on
the ground that 1t would be too ex-
pensive and establish a precedent thai
the Board of Trade wished to avoid
and, further, that the result aimed at
could be accomplished without taking
such radical action.
For a time there was talk of the
board marching In a body to the Free
holders when they next meet and de-
manding that their alleged dilatory tao
tics be abandoned in favor of immedi-
ate action. James Howard, chairman
of the committee, however, was not to
be -thwarted in his intention to have
counsel placed upon the case, and, after
the recommendations of the committee
were passed on and the original resolu-
tons had been carried, he introduced a
resolution to employ counsel to investi-
gate the matter and appear before the
Freeholders as the attorney for the
board. This was adopted, as it en-
bodied a clause to the effect that no
money for such services should be paid
out of the treasury of the Board of
Trade.
James H. Wood, a committeeman,
spoke at some length upon the meas
ure. He said, in part:
~ consider this one of the most i'm
portant matters which has ever been
brought before the Board of Trade.
This body. since l have been on it, has
been very neglectful in looking after
the Plank road. Committees and other
civic organizations have appeared be-
fore the Freeholders, who nave the
road in charge, year after year. Final
ly they succeeded in having plans
adopted. The matter Their rocked along
until the Freeholders were ready for
bids.
'Then what happened? The plans
were suddenly locked up in a Hudson
County safe. everybody forgot all about
them, and that is the end. Why, we
can hardly get courteous treatment
from the Board of Freeholders when
' we appAcach them on the subject.
"a few comparisons would prove Of
interest. Four years ago 800 wagons
passed over the bridge in twenty-four
hours; now 1,037 pass over it in twelve
-ours-near double the number, in
half the time. The road is twenty feet
wide, flanked by innumerable tele-
phone and telegraph wires and a heavy
feed wire. This is not right. A wind
of twenty miles an hour across the
meadows is a gale, and such gales rip
down the wires In my experience I
have counted nine dead horses on the
mile and three-quarters of this road.
"You thought you were paying high
toll when you had to pay twenty-five
cents to travel on the road. Now the
road is unsafe, and you are paying
double the toll, as you cannot haul half
the load that you could when it was
operated by a private concern which
Kept it in repair"
George W. Tompkins was heartily in
favor of adopting the resolution de-
handing action, and approved what
Mr.. Wood had said. He brought the
subject nearer home to the members
when he said:
1.-THE Turnpike road will soon be
shut up on accoun of the bridge.
The Passaic River will probably be I'M
navigable within a few months. The
Plank road is in wretched condition.
Now, what highway have we left?
How can we get to New York? I'll
tell you there is going to be a howl
that al be heard a long way when
winter comes unless the Plank road is
put in condition at once"
Mr.. Howard was asked if the county
counsel had been approached. He re-
piled in the affirmative. saying that the
county counsel had said hat the
money stringency had prevented the
work at the present time. That's a
temporary excuse" added Mr.. How
ard, like a mosquito landing on his
nose"
I0eTe was DuI one ulSSelIiiB Nole
when the resolution was passed, and
that was cast by j. A. McCurdy, who
insisted upon referring the whole prop
osition to the street and water commit
tee.
The report of the committee was
couched in strong terms, and was con-
sidered more radical than most of the
routine resolutions which are presented
to the body. Mr.. Howard said that he
mad wanted to fill in the names of the
Freeholders and thus mail the men
who are neglecting their work. but
he found. upon investigation, that there
were over thirty men on the board, and
inasmuch as the individual responsible
ity would be small, refrained from his
purpose.
Following are the report and resolu-
Nions:.
l"From all quarters the question is being
lked. what Is causing the delay In carry
Bg out the Improvement of what is known
as the Plank Road, between Newark and
Jersey City
Each successive committee during the
past five years has interested itself. first,
in helping TO secure legislation. and later
In urging action by the joint bridge COM
mittee, who have the contemplated inn
provement In charge.
A matters stand at the present time,