The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-04-16
CHANGES NECESSARY
IN elevation PLANS
Conference Brings Out Several
Points Needing Correction.

Erie and the Morris County Traction
SCo. as we'll as many citizens. To ac-
commodate the crowd the session was
held in the police court room.
Alderman Shelley offered a resolu-
tion that was adopted providing that
the track elevation commission be
retained as an advisory to the spe-
cial committee of the aldermen hay-
ing the negotiations in charge.
Clerk N. C. Toms read the propose
agreement between the Lackawanna
and the town section by section and
there was a discussion over each
item
The question of clearance under tn
bridges was the first point considered
Alderman Shelley gave figures he and
Street Commissioner Frapwell had
made of the clearance of bridges in
Newark and Elizabeth. The lowest
they found was at Elizabeth where
the bridge for the Central railroad
was thirteen feet two inches above
the street. The Market street bridge.
Newark, was thirteen feet six inches.
The bridge at Denville is fourteen
feet, that at Ledgewood fifteen feet
and the Lehigh Valley bridge at I'm
ion thirteen feet six inches.
Frank E. Stults, of the commission.
said that the height provided for in
the agreement, twelve feet five inches
for the Morris street bridge, the COM
mission had been advised by its en-
gineers was the regulation height.
When Mr.. Gilfillian, of the trolley
company, announced that his company
had cars running on its lines that
were twelve feet seven and one-half
inches high there was smile.
Michael F. Riley called attention to
the town ordinance that provides the
limbs of trees be thirteen feet above
the road and asked If the proposed
clearance would accommodate a man
riding on top of a load of hay or a
tally-ho
The section regarding changing the
grade of Blatchley place brought UP
considerable talk. Mr. Thomas said
that the plans as arranged for by the
commission did not contemplate any
change of the grade of this thorough
: are nor any other street so that
nro,,artv NopAd be damaged except
in the case of Shes Washington hotel
land.
Max M. Stallman, counsel for the
Lackawanna, said that any change of
grade of Blatchley place would be
only on the park side of the street
and not on the building side.
A lot of people were surprised
when James Clark asked what was
to be done with the grade of Del
aware street. Only a few of those
present had ever heard of the thor
oughfare. Town Counsel Edward K.
Mills pointed it out on the map as
running parallel with the Lacka-
wanna tracks north from Ford avenue
The Lackawanna representatives said
they had never heard of it but it was
finally decided that the grading of
Ford avenue could be arranged so
that this thoroughfare which Mr..
Clark uses daily to reach his property
near the Lackawanna tracks, could
be cared for.
Alderman Clifford Mills asked If
Ford avenue could not be changed
first, making the point that If Nor
ris street was closed to traffic teams
and autos would have to use Ford av-
enue and the present grade up to
the railroad tracks is so steep there
would be serious difficulty.
The Lackawanna engineer replied
that he did not think Ford avenue
could be done first though no an
swer definitely could be made off
hand. He did say, though, that only
one-half of Morris street would be
closed to traffic at time and this
satisfied the aldermen.
Mr. Thomas brought out the point
that if Ford avenue was done first
there would be no dumping ground
for the earth excavated there for
xuf1 oh ic 10
per load from the railroad This
item of earth excavated from Morris
street and Ford avenue would net
the town $4,000 Mr.. Thomas asserted.
Charles W. Ennis called attention
to the fact that if the present tri-
angular park at the junction of Nor
ris and Elm streets is retained it
would be necessary to build retain
ing wall along one side of it. He
said that in his estimation this park
space should be given over to vehic-
ular traffic
Il have heard no good reason why
Morris street should be depressed" /"
said Michael f. Riley. If the pres
ent street level is maintained it would
only be necessary for the railroad to
start its grading little further back
each way
''In the first place if Morris street
is not depressed it would mean a
heavy grade for the railroad said
Mr. Thomas. "Then it would be i'm
possible to construct the station with
out stairs AS planned anyone going
east can reach the track level with
out climbing stairs. There is COM
plant in other towns about the rail
road being on a high embankment,
dividing the town in two sections.
AS planned here this elevation work
will be no eyesore and will not be
Objectionable to property owners
Il am opposed to depressing the
street." said Mr. Clark, II think the
work can be done without it for the
railroad has an upgrade both ways
from the Morristown station
The section providing for private
driveway was next read Town Coun.
sci Mills said that an additional agree
ment would have to be made by the
Lackawanna with the O. w. Ennis Co
and the Beef company giving them
rights-of-way to Morris street If Saw
mill lane is abandoned.
Mr.. Stults asserted that the orig
inal plans provided for a public street
and Mr.. Ennis said he was using his
property in the rear of the station
every day and some means of access