The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1913-07-29
TOWN MUST SETTLE
ROAD CONTROVERSY
Aldermen Have to Receed from
Neutrality Stand Taken.

Though the board of aldermen took
the position that the town was strict
ly neutral in the controversy over the
failure to secure the approval of the
board OF freeholders of the Morris
street depression plans, the board
has been compelled to recede from
that position. President Truesdale,
of the Lackawanna, has notified
Mayor Todd that the company is act
ing merely as the contractor for the
town in the street depression matter
and that if there is any question over
the rights to change the grade OF
the street the town must settle
it with the county.
We understand that Mayor Todd
has notified the board of freeholders
that nothing will be done in the way
of changing the grade of thestreet
or putting the bridge girders across
until the approval of the town is
given and that the town will not ap-
prove of the matter until the county
has approved the plans, except upon
ten days notice to the director of
the board of freeholders. The mayor
suggests that the county can thus
be saved the expense of maintaining
guards at the crossing.
A conference will be held tomorrow
by the town and county authorities
and it is possible that compromise
grade may be discovered by means of
which the features objected to by
the freeholders will be eliminated
and the town saved the great ex-
pense of running the grade out to
Ridgedale avenue.
Officers posted by Sheriff Whit
field B. Gillen has been guarding the
Morris street crossing of the Lack
awanna railroad night and day to
prevent any attempt upon the part
of the railroad company to disturb
the present grade of the street. This
action was taken by the sheriff upon
demand of the board of freeholders,
and grew out of the failure of the
Lackawanna and the towns track
elevation commission to take up the
matter of changing the grade of Nor
ris street, county road, with the
board of freeholders when the plans
for the track elevation work We're
discussed and the contract between
the town and the railroad signed.
The board of freeholders held a
special meeting at which the follow
ing report of the road committee
aha tctttIS WclO iCoo anu ehC 0o-~1~
ratified the action of the commit
tee:-
For the information of the Board
this Committee desires TO report the
emergency case of the railroad cross
ing on the county road known as Nor
ris street, in Morristown, and the
proposed depression of said street by
the railroad companies.
At a meeting of the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen of Morristown, the
Attorney of the railroad companies
made a public statement to the effect
that II this Board did not approve OF
the depression of said county road as
planned by the railroad companies in
their agreement with the town, the
companies would proceed with said
depression without the consent OF
this Board.
1t appeared to this committee as
though it was the purpose of the
railroad companies to treat this
Board as the Board of Freeholders
of the County of Sussex was treated
in the matter of the erection of an
overhead crossing on a county road,
where the railroad company proceed
ed against the protest of the county
authorities and erected a culvert over
the county road which encroached up
on the county road for which the
company, as we are informed, was In
dicted, the indictment being still un-
disposed of.
This committee met and consider
cd the matter and the following let
ters to the railroad companies con-
earned and to the sheriff, were Tor
warded to the said parties respective
ly. by the director of this Board on
the motion of this committee. The
following are copies of the letters
mentioned which explain themselves:
July 22nd, A. d. 1913.
The Delaware, Lackawanna q west
ern Railroad Company. and the NOR
ris and Essex Railroad Company,
William H. Truesdale, President,
New York City, New York.
Gentlemen:-I write you In refer
ence to the matter of the building OF
the overhead crossing Of your COM
panies' tracks over Morris street, In
Morristown, which, we are advised,
will necessitate the depression of said
street. The street in question is
county road, which, by an act OF the
Legislature, is placed under the con-
troll of the Board of Chosen Free
holders of this county, who are made
responsible for its grade and its
maintenance. For some reason or
other, unknown to US, the contract
between your companies and the town
of Morristown was made without con-
sulting the county authorities. In 9TH
er words your companies entered In
to a contract with the town of Nor
ristown requiring the depression and
change of grade of this county road,
without conference with, or the con-
sent or approval of, the Board of
Chosen Freeholders of the County OF
Morris.
We are this day advised by Mr.. B.
w. Clifford, chairman of the Track
Elevation Committee of the Town of
Morristown, that at a meeting of the
Board of Aldermen of that town, on
the 18th instant your attorney, Mr..
Stallman, made a public statement
to this effect: ''If the Board Of Free
holders does not give final approval
to the grade as SO established, the
company is willing to take the re-
spensibility Of going ahead with the
depression of the street"
We desire to know whether this Is
the position taken by your companies
In this matter and whether the state
ment of your attorney was authorized.
The detreasion In question will not