Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-13
RECLAMATION OF
MEADOWS CEASES
TO Be A DREAM
Works Board Urges Conference
for Immediate Issue of
100000 Bonds.

The meadow reclamation proposition.
which Mayor Haussling advocated in
his message and which was a great
issue in the last campaign, will, from
present Indications, o become q real
ization. There has been some differ
ence on this subject between the mayor
and the Board Of Works, and in a letter
to the board yesterday Chief Engineer
Morris r. Sherrerd states that there is
no reason for a misunderstanding, and
that since the Common Council author
led the issuing of bonds for $780, 900
these bonds should be issued n work
begun. A resolution vas passed by the
board to request the comptroller to CO.
operate with the mayor and issue the
bonds at the earliest opportunity.
Chief Engineer Sherrerd recommends
hat a conference OF engineers and civic
bodies should be held On the subject,
after which the engineers should confer
among themselves, and If they differ to
present a majority and minority report
at a public meeting. Following is the
engineers report:
Gentlemen-In regard to the develop
inent of public dock and shipping facilities
there has arisen a controversy between
the Mayor ana tue DOdTu Wulcil nStlis "
be unnecessary, and Is only oecasioned by
the fact that the boards hands have been
tied in this matter, due to the fact that
the bonds authorized by the Common
Council to be issued to the amount or
500, 900 have never been issued, and the
funds now available to proceed with THIS
has secured an option which calls for the
payment of $500 for ten acres of bay
front property, including 24o feet frontage
on Newark Bay,
How the Question Resolves Itself.
The question then resolves itself: Shall
the board call a conference of engineers
and civic bodies interested in this question
without being in the position to offer COM
pensation to these engineers; or shall 1t
await the sale Of bonds and request the
Mayors cooperation in having these bonds
sold in order that it may be in funds to
regularly employ the engineers who have
heretofore been studying this problem, to-
gether with an army engineer as suggested
by the Mayor. to consider the project In
its broadcast scope and formulate some
recommendations which could properly be
made he basis of n conference of civic
bodies?
Personally, it seems to me, from an
engineers point of view. that to call a
conference of the engineers and CIVIC
bodies cannot result in anything definite
unless the engineers who are to be asked
to that conference have been given an
opportunity to again consider the subject
some form OF a report which. II not agreed
upon by ali the engineers, could be pre-
.sented for consideration at a public meet
ing as a majority and minority report.
Discussed II with Engineers.
After talking with the Mayor some time
ago on this question | had an opportunity
TO discuss the matter with Colonel Black.
Of the Harbor Line Board, and he eX-
pressed a Willingness TO take up this mat
ter in conjunction with the other engi-
neers after proper authorization or consent
from the secretary of war should be given
nim for this purpose. II will be remem-
llered that the engineers who passed on
the project at the suggestion of the board.
particularly those who formulated the re-
port. viz. Messrs. Goodrich, Hand and
Owen. We're limited in their consideration
of this project to a scheme which con-
templated the expenditure of not to eX-
eeed $1,000, coo, aud that Mr.. Greene, one OF
the engineers called In by the Mayor, who
confirmed said report was also practically
basing his recommendation on the same
limitation of 81, 00o,0J0. Mr.. Adams in max
ing up his report presents a plan which
could not be carried out to obtain any fair
results by the expenditure Of this sum
Of money. Colonel Black is not committed
10 either proposition.
Therefore, 1t would seem to me that .
conference of these six gentlemen wo nd
not mean that those who have heretofore
expressed al OPINION, which was based on
the limited expenditure. would necessarily
he preiudiced against Il broader consi1era-
ion OF the subject II in their Judgment
such treatment of the meadow problem
would seem to be wise.
1t is therefore suggested that a specific
request be made to the Mayor and the
financial officers OF the city for the is
Suance of the bonds authorized in order
understanding that it's first move in the
matter would be the conference of engj-
neers herein suggested as q preliminary
to a public discussion Of any modified
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