The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-14
WANT BRIDGE TO GO
TRADE BODY ACTS ON ONE
OVER NEWARK BAY.
Petitions Government to Condemn It for
Benefit of Navigation and
Shippers.

TO petition the Wal Department to con-
denim the Central Railroad bridge across
Newark Bay on the score that 1t is a
menace TO navigation and a cause of
trouble to shippers during the winter
months, 1t was figured that the filing of
such a resolution with the Federal au-
thorities would result in the granting of
a hearing. during which the bad features
of the present bridge and the need of a
new structure could be pointed out.
The resolution was introduced by George
W Tomkins. chairman of the committee
on river and navigation interests. 1t was
accompanied by a report of the committee
on the trip of inspection which was made
October %, down the river and across the
bay, to the Bush termina at Brooklyn.
In commenting upon the deepening and
widening of the river channel. the COM
mittee. In It's report. says:
w have before us, and on record in
the War Department, reports made by
Colorels Livernnore aud Lockwood, to the
effect that the river and bay. to accom-
modate present and prospective commerce,
should be deepened to twenty feet, and
they so recommend. This committee en-
tertains no doubt but that on completion
of the sixteen-foot channel the twenty
foot channel will be adopted and put into
prosecution"
The communication was taken by the
members as significant of a still further
appropriation to be made by the govern
ment to deepen the hanne four feet more
when the present work is completed. Such
an Improvement, Ii is considered, would
mean the saving of thousands of dollars
annually to merchants and manufactured
of the city in freight rates.
Speaking of the resolution authorlz-
ing the filing OF an application with the
War Department, Mr.. Tomkins said:
THE purport Of the resolution is not a
raid upon the Central Railroad, but a
move to obtain justice and right, At the
time this bridge was erected, which was
away back in the sixties, Cornelius Walsh
meeting of several civic associations at
which the citizens of Newark protested
against the building Of the bridge, and Mr..
Walsh, possibly In the interest of his cam
didacy, brought over the president of the
company. The president told the members
that the bridge was intended to be a tenn
porary structure which would remain there
only a short time, and the member went
away satisfied that the president would
keep his word.
Now that same bridge still remains Its
piles are driven so close together that a
rowboat cannot pass between them. As
the result of this impeachment to navigation
ice forms In the river. and as it cannot
pass out except beneath the draw, boats
are unable during the winter months to
ply between New York and Newark, and
company has violated the law by filling
In beyond the government bulkhead line
last winter, when the structure was
thought to be In danger
joseph H. Wood and r. c. Jenkinson
spoke in favor of the resolution, the
latter stating that, while the Lehigh Val
ley Railroad took out the old piles as fast
as new ones were added. the Central
Railroad left them in. saving them off at
the water line, and really menacing boats
which made the trip. I'VE can prove that
1t Is a menace and I nuisance, and I think
we should heartily adopt It," he said.
The committee was instructed to ask
the cooperation of Mayor Haussling and
President Arthur R. Denman. of the
Board of Works, In the plan. The reso-
luton adopted was as follows:
Whereas, this board has advocated
improvements la the Passaie River and
Newark Bay, and the United States
Government is now working under a
contract involving an expenditure of
Sl.250,00o. to widen and deepen these
waters for the accommodation of ves-
sells of larger draught and heavier ton
mage, thereby promoting the material
interests Of the cities and towns located
on these waterv avs, and
Whereas, the real benefit from these
improvements canno be secured with
out an open, unobstructed channel per-
hitting all types of vessels engaged in
the carrying trade to enter this port,
and their loading and unloading at
our wharves and terminals, and
Whereas, present constructed bridges
across the bay constitute Instructions
which practically nullify the benefits
to be derived by the city of Newark
and other communities, therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the committee on
river and navigation interests be and
are hereby authorized to file an ap-
plication with the Secretary OF War
for the issuance of an order against
the Ce ltral Railroad Company of New
Jersey to show cause why the present
Objectionable bridge constituting an
obstruction to the navigation of New
ark Bay SHOULD not be removed, and
a new bridge built, to be Elevated above
tide, which will provide sufficient
clearness or head-room through and
under the draws or other spans for the
passage at all stages of tide of COM
mercial barges and lows Of regulated
height, such bridge to be constructed
on piers placed at Wild dis
lance to permit the free exit of ice
during the winter months, and with
d-raw-openings sufficiently wide to al
low the free passage of all classes of
vessels that now or hereafter may navi-
gate the XIII Won Kull, or to provide
for the construction of a tunnel I'M
derneath this waterway for the passage
Of their trains and the removal of said
bridge.
'Resolved, That the committee be in
structed to communicate with his
honor, the Mayor, and the president
of the Board of Works, TO determine
a plan for concerted action Jointly by
the city and this Board Of Trade In
securing the carving out of this inn