The Penn's Grove record., 1912-09-06
ACQUIRE TRACTS
FOR CITY DOCKS
Development of Water Front
Will Be Commenced at Once.
TO BUY OR CONDEMN LAND
Nine Lots Desired for Pier Purposes
and City Has $4,000 Available
for the Purchase-Department
Of Streets to Do Work.

Especial Trenton Correspondence
Trenton.-By virtue of two resolu-
lions passed at the session of the
Commissioners, work will begin i'm
mediately on the development of the
city's waterfront and also in provid-
ing for the future development of
shipping interests along the river.
The first resolution passed was intro
duced by Mayor Do1nelly demanding
that the Departmental Streets at once
begin the work of providing a termi-
nus for the 12-foot channel which the
government has about completed be-
tween Trenton and Philadelphia. The
terminus is to be in the form of a
pier. Next the Mayor introduced a
resolution calling for the acquiring of
land necessary for the immediate de-
velopment of the water front either
by purchase from the present owners
or by condemnation proceedings hat
are to be instituted as, soon as posi-
BILE in case purchase cannot be ac-
complished. The land fronting on the
river which is desired for docking pur-
poses is owned by Charles c.. Hill,
William Dolton estate, Nat Clegg, Will
liam ]. Lee and Charles McAllister,
there being nine tracts in all. The
Mayor said the city had $4,000 at it's
disposal for the purpose of acquiring
land and the building of a dock in
South Trenton, and he declared it was
time the city did something in this re-
spect. OF the amount on hand $50, 900
was provided by the old Common
Council.
Lawyers at Work.
The Commissioners were all of one
mind, and all CT the discussion indi-
Gated that they were ready for prompt
action. The legal department began
to investigate the prices desired by
the n of the land and will report
within a fortnight. If such a report
is not satisfactory, the next step will
be the condemnation proceedings.
This action was the outcome of a let
ter received by Mayor Donnelly from
Engineer Joseph E. Kuhn of the
United States Government Corps, re-
questing this city to demonstrate it's
good faith under the promise made to
provide a terminus. The government
has done all that it contracted to do
the channel will be ready for traffic
by October 1 and the Mayor already
has applications for dock privileges
and also for locations along the shore
for stone crushers. AS soon as the
terminus is completed, extensive
transportation by water to and from
this city will begin.
For Belt Line.
In addition to the resolutions apply
ing to the terminus and water front
land requirement, the Mayor offered
a third resolution that asks the city
to hold all streets along the water
front in reserve for a belt power line
that will carry both freight and pas
sengers. The resolution asks that the
franchise for such a belt line be Of
fered to the highest bidder with the
stipulation that 10 per cent. of the
gross earnings of the company go to
the city. In case. no company shall
desire the franchise under such con-
ditions, the resolution provides for the
city building and operating the road.
The plan of the belt line is to transfer
the merchandise and other shipments
by river to various parts of the city
after the manner so successfully in
use in Baltimore, New Orleans and
other cities that have taken advan-
tage of waterway transportation. The
Commission also unanimously adopted
this resolution, and bids will be asked
for the franchise as soon as the legal
department can arrange for it.