Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-12-07
NEWARKERS WILL
ASK STATE AID IN
PLANK ROAD FIGHT
Committee to Call Upon Commits
sioner Stevens Regarding
Present Conditions.
CONTRACT TOO LOOSE,
is ONE CONTENTION
Horses Suffer and Merchants
Face Ruin, Is Claim
Made.

Not content with the temporary re-
lief promised by filing in the holes
which have made the Plank road al
most impossible, the Newark shippers
held another meeting today and de-
cided to have a committee consult
State Road Commissioner Stevens and
learn If he could give any assistance.
Alderman Albert Biertuempfel re-
ported for the committee appointed
to look into the contract for the repairs
which have been in operation for some
time. He declared the contractors
were living up to the contract, but the
document itself was faulty, as 1t al
lowed too many loopholes. The con-
tention of some of the merchants that
under the contract the contractor was
obliged to maintain traffic while the
improvement was going on is err
roneous, asserted Mr.. Biertuempfel. He
explained that the contract provided
the work should not interfere with
traffic. The investigation of the con-
tract will be continued by this COM
mittee.
Former l ayor lillian H.. f. Fielder
declared tibet former Judge Gottfried
\ o16SIB 1ioii iioAt -
appointed to wait on the joint bridge
committee of Hudson and Essex
freeholders, was unable to be present,
and had requested him make a re-
port for the committee. Mr.. Fielder
stated hat in view of the stories re-
garding thu diff -rcnces between Essex
and Hudson freeholders OF the bridge
committee he had expected something
os a fight when tn meeting took place
In Jersey City on Tuesday. The Hud-
son members received them with opel
arms, he declared, n had politely
listened to their grievances and offerel
their help in solving the problem.
The speaker told of the appro-
priation of $1,000 voted to be uced In
making immediate repairs and how the
Hudson ~'reeholders had tentatively
promised to expend more money If that
sum did no. prove sufficient. Hhe
members {. the contract committee and
the committee which visited the free
holders were warmly commended for
their work.
Chairman j. II. Wood asserted that
many of the merchants who depend
largely on their ability to get their
goods to New York faced ruin through
the present condition of the Plank road
, and that the road should be repaired
with planks. as the stone would keel
| sinking in. He urged that the Legis'
lature be presented with a bill provid'
ing for this Improvement as early al
possible during the next session. Mr.
Wood also took exception to the rule
proposed by the joint bridge committee
providing that no load weighing more
than five tons should be allowed to
travel over the Plank road. Nc action
was taken on the matter. The com
mittee composed of former Judge Colt
fried Kruger, former Mayor William
H. L. Fielder and Franklin Phillips
were appointed to wait on the Newark
Board Of Police Commissioners and APP
peal for mounted police supervision at
his end of the road. The Hudson au-
thorities will also be asked to police
the road.
Horses Suffer from Conditions.
Colonel Edwards, of the S. p. C. A,
declared that the suffering endured by
horses going over the ~disgraceful Planl
road had been called to the %attentioa
of the society, but they have been un
able to place their finger on the re-.
sponsible person.
IF you can point out the responsibl
man to me- said Colonel Edwards, Il
will give you my word hat an action
against him will be started at once"
The grievances of h members of
the Fruit Traders Association who
had to use the Plank road were de-
scribed by Peter R~athgaber, who de-
clared that several cents extra were
charged the Newark merchants for
each box of fruit because of the con-
.dition of the road. After a committee
had been appointed to see Commits
sioner Stevens, ii was decided that
counsel would be engaged if thought
necessary after the visit to the COM
missioner. The meeting adjourned,
subject to the call of the chairman,
after the following committee was APP
pointed to see Commissioner Stevens;
j. H. Wood, August Voelker. former
Mayor william H.. F.. Fielder. Alder
mar Albert Biertuempfel, Colonel Ed
wards and ]. j. Hill.