Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-28
MECHANIC
STREET TO SOLVE
TRAFFIC PROBLEM
City Engineer Ordered to Pre-
pare Estimates for lmpor-
tant City Improvement.

The proposed plan to erect a nine
story office building at the corner OF
Mechanic and Broad streets impelled
the Board of Works, at its meeting yes
terday, to take preliminary steps 10
further the project to widen Mechanic
street, and the indications are that
this important improvement will be I'M
dertaken as soon as the chief engineer
can get the matter into shape.
President Denman brought the sub
tect to the attention of the board when
he read an article from the EVENING
STAR in which the proposed new
building was referred to, and he SAID
that it was evidently time that the
matter of widening Mechanic street
was definitely decided before this or
other building operations are UNDER
taken. He explained that 1t has been
apparent for some time that a parallel
street to Market street was to be
opened to relieve the congestion on that
thoroughfare. and Mechanic street, he
thought, offered the best possibilities
for such a step,
The plan should, he said, involve car
rying the street at the increased width
under the Pennsylvania railroad, thus
giving a wider outlet from both he
railroad end of the street and the
Broad street opening. The other MEM
bers of the board said that the idea
ought to be worked out at his time to
O. final sttlement, and while not going
on record as being for or against the
| project, it is generally understood from
their attitude in the past that the
members would vote for the improve
ment if the work can be undertaken
along practical lines at a reasonable
cost.
Chief Engineer Sherrerd was in
structed to prepare preliminary plans
of the work showing now the i'm
provement could best De made n also
an approximate cost of the work.
Opinions from City Counsel.
Two opinions were received from City
Counsel James r. Nugent, relative to
trolley matters that have been be-
fore the board for some time. One
related to the new 8 per cent. ordi-
nance, in which it was pointed out
that while the board had absolute con-
troll of the situation so far as entering
into agreements affecting the use of
the streets and the other phases of
the ordinance. the collection of the
money due the city came within the
province of the Common Council. 1t
was agreed by the board to hold a
conference with the fipance committee
of the Common Council or any other
committee appointed by the Council,
and determine just what action each
body should take.
The other opinion dealt with the
A.. - ...-.
discussed at some length without any
action being taken by the board. There
Is still some uncertainty al to what
is meant by a continuous ride and
there Is a divided opinion as to
whether the trolley company is obliged
to take a passenger to New York for
ten cents or whether its obligation
ends at the ferry In Jersey City. 1t
was contended by President Denman
that the company recognized its obli-
cation when 1t started to take pos
sengers to New York for ten cents and
continued to do so for several years.
The wording of the opinion and the
terms of the agreement were carefully
analysed, but without a satisfactory
understanding being reached, and It
was decided to have copies of the
opinion sent to each of the board mem
bers so that they may go yer it at
their leisure and try to determine just
what the company is supposed to do
according to it's contract with the city.
Commissioner Mungle said that If the
company was not obligated to take pas
to New York for ten cents
then the city had beer ''flim-fianamed,"
thai was the understanding hen
the agreement was made.
Meadow Reclamation Matters.
The matter Of the meadow reclama-
ton came up again when Commission
err Mungle asked Engineer Sherrerd
what he had done in the matter of a
conference with Mayor Haussling and
the engineers who have been associated
with the work since it's inception. Mr..
Sherrerd said that he had had ore
conference with the mayor, but that
since the comptroller had refused to
the $100, 900 bonds that had been
voted to carry on the work he had
1t useless to take any further
in the matter.
President Denman said that the de-
lay in the comptroller's office was mucn
to be regretted, but that as long as
refused to issue the bonds the
hands were tied and .he
meadow work held up.
A resolution was introduced author
izing the payment of $500 on account
of the purchase of the Mum tract, the
balance Of the $1,000 purchase price to
paid when the board gets the money.
This is only one instance where the
delayed bond issue is embarrassing the
hoard in following ont the meadow
work.
) Contractors who are behind on
improvements were notified that
unless their work is finished at once
they will be put on the delinquent list.