The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-09-16
MAYOR HAUSSL|NG .
URGEsCONFERENCE
ON MEADOWS PLAN

of the project considered as a who're,
may be speedily resolved. St%enographic
reports of the session would be valu-
able for future consideration.
such a proceeding may provide the
solution of what may be regarded as
theg preliminary phase of the problem,
l feel 1t my duty, however, to lay be-
fore you my. views upon this Whole
question of meadow reclamation-views
which, entertained as Impressions at
the outset, have become fortified by
constant study of the situation and by
the advice of experts and others. l
am thoroughly convinced that it would
not only be desirable, but necessary for
the city to acquire the whele of the
great meadow tract now in private
hands. including the frontage on the
bay, and the riparian rights appertain-
ing thereto, to the end tina the entire
district may be developed in a consist
ent and progressive manner for the
greatest benefit of all concerned, and
to be a perpetual asset of the city of
Newark,
THE plan l propose is briefly this,
That the city shall at once begin the
preparation of a bill which shall give
legislative sanction to the issuance of
he bonds necessary for the raising of
money, and to secure to the munich
pality the riparian rights now held by
the State. That this bill shall confer
power on the city to give due notice of
the lands which it intends to take, thus
avoiding the cost of payment for such
improvements as private owners might
elect to make.y That the bill also, while
providing for the ultimate sale by the
city Of such lands as have been filled
and made ready for occupancy, shall
at the same Line prohibit the perma-
nent alienation of any of the docks or
other waterfront property, this to be
leased under terms which may seem
advantageous, and to be held forever
as a permanent revenue producing as
set of the municipality. The bill also
to give power to the city either to enter
into contract with private corporations
for the erection of power plants and
other ~adjuncts of a manufacturing dis.
trict, and the building of a system of
freight yards and transfer railroads, or
the furnishing of such facilities her.
self.
Courage Is Needed.
f'The scheme here presented is a large
one, but the problem Is also large and
needs to be dealt with in a courageous
n far-sighted manner Permit me to
say to any who may feel timidity In
embarking upon such a mammoth en-
terprise, that the public, l am con-
vniced, will unqualifiedly approve a.
proper plan for the development of his
whole territory. The advantages of de-
veloping the tract as a whole, instead
of by piecemeal, so enormously out-
weigh any other proposition al to be
convincing on their face. In the first
place, there is to my mind an absolutel
necessity for the comprehensive CO.
~ordinated scheme of full development
of the efact. This can only be accom-
plished with the municipal ownership of
the lands in question. Any private de-
velopment of the great bay frontage
might seriously affect the value of the
city development. making 1t necessary
in the end for the municipality to pur-
chase improvements, as well as land
and waterfront.
Ownership by the city, again, would
preclude the speculation in property
which would almost necessarily follow a
merely partial development, and would
insure the building up of the territory
with manufactures and warehouses
upon such conditions as would secure
the greatest benefit to all concerned.
The city as a whole also would reap
the largest profit. Furthermore, the
city, as al integral part of the State,
can doubtless procure without great
difficulty, the grant of the riparian
rights, something private owners nay
not be able to accomplish in a few
years. Lastly, the city should be in a
position to derive a constant revenue
from the leasing of docks and piers
along the whole of her bay frontage,
Any one who studies the mar of this
section of the country, and analyses the
relation of Newark Bay to the great
harbor of New York and adjacent
waterways. can not fail to arrive at
the conclusion that the value of such
property will increase enormously with
in a very short period of time.
No serious Obstacles,
There are no financial obstacles that
may not be surmounted without great
difficulty. The area of the meadow
tract is about 1000 acres. A very great
part of it can be purchased now at very
reasonable figures, but, even allowing,
for example, that the cost would aver
age nouU an acre., only @1,uUu,VUU WOuth
be involved in the purchase of the
tract, and it SHOULD be remembers ed
that the requirement of a considerable
area is already provided for in the de-
velopment of the section involved In
the plans now under consideration. IT
is more thar probable that the whole
tract can be purchased and developed
without any great increase in the tax
burdens of the municipality. Moneys
derived from the sale of reclaimed land
and the lease of dock and pier privl-
Ieges, could, after due deductions arc
made for sinking fund and interest
charges, be turned into the general de
velopment fund, to be applied to fur
Their Improvement. Thus the enter
prise could, in a way. finance itself tc
a large degree.
"There are many other details con,
nected with the proposition which
need not be discussed now A suf-
icient outline has been given to enabl,
competent judgment to be passed %
1t. I repeat what l have already said ir
another form, that the plan. in my
opinion, is not only feasible and de-
sirable, but necessary. If we are to gair
the fullest benefit of the movement to
make Newark a world port"