The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-26

grade crossings of railroad tracks by
the trolley lines. which not only avoids
the constant jar of such crossings, but
reduces the cost of construction and
operation of the trolley line. The plan
of the advisory commission shows at
least twenty-five such crossings on the
east side of the canal, and on the west
side at least twenty-five. This fact
alone might prevent a private company
building through such a street and
compel the city to build its own rail-
way. In the street SO encountered the
cost and maintenance of these cross
ings alone will represent 5 per cent.
interest upon an investment of $400, 000.
AS to the sewer department taking
care of Peddie street ditch, I have as
,sumed that it will be improved; but If
IL is not done in advance of the building
of the canal, provision should be made
for it. MY experience with filling by
the dredge and pump method has
taught me that material go per cent.
soft and 40 per cent. sand and gravel
cannot be held in place without either
bikes or bulkheads. I
1T is true that my plan does in
volve the construction and mainten-
nance of a draw through the Central
Railroad of New Jersey, which would
have to be replaced in future years
with a permanent structure. The cost
of this bridge is largely dependent
upon the attitude of the railroad. The
consulting engineers think it would
cost $4,000. An adequate bridge could
be built for $50, 900. 1t is difficult to
say in advance of negotiations with
the railroad which sum is the correct
one. A drawbridge is always a dfsad-
vantage, and it is for hi reason hat
my plans contemplate the ultimate ele-
walton of the railroad, so as to avoid
as far as possible this inconvenience.
In my opinion it is very vital to
the success of the whole plan that the
first development should be near the
city. The 1900 feet extra haul which.
going and coming. amount to double
that, will do more to hinder the sue
cess of the plan than any delay to ship
ping caused by the proposed draw
bridge.
The percentage of land devoted to
streets and railroads is dependent en-
tirely upon the size of the lots. The
plan proposed by the advisory commits
sion does not provide for the cross
streets. For that reason the percentage
devoted to streets is small in COMPARE
son by the plan as proposed by me-.
Either plan, 1 apprehend, is susceptible
to change TO meet the requirements
and demands of the purchasers. If my
plan is studied 1t will be noticed that
manufacturing sites of various sizes
are provided for. The average percent
age of land reserved for streets and
railroads Is less than 40 per cent. of the
Whole area-n.7 per cent. for track,
29.5 per cent. for streets, where the lots
are small, and 5.s5 per cent. for track.
and 14.6 per cent. for streets, where the
area of the lots are large. The area
devoted to railroad yards is about IS
per of the whole area contem-
plated to be reclaimed.
AN inspection of the plan of the
advisory commission shows about Is
per cent. devoted to streets, with no
provision for cross streets, and about
/ per cent. devoted to railroads east of
the Central Railroad of New Jersey and
&c per cent. west of the Central Rail-
road of New Jersey, with no allowance
for area devoted to side track. The
area that the city will have for sale
diluOA MY pan IL dDOul lMO-l1lTQS OF
the area reclaimed. Experience in
other places has shown that such a lay
out is economical and wise, and I should
anticipate that experience in Newark
would justify such a layout.
"As 1 have said earlier in this letter.
in my opinion the city should take all
the land contemplated to be improved
before starting any of the work. If
this is done it will not be necessary to
purchase additional land for widening
the canal or to acquire land on which
to dump material excavated from the
canal.
THE shape of the canal and basin.
as shown on my plan, plate 2, is such
that the canal tends to clear itself. The
shape of the canal as shown on plate 2
of the report if the commission is such
that it tends TO fill up, especially as the
Peddie street ditch win lend its assist
ance thereto.
THE area of canal and basin to be
maintained by either plan is practical
ly the same.
In my opinion the exact layout of
the streets, the. exact size of the fac
tory lots. Cannot be determined at the
present moment. and the only thing.