Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-09
UTILITY BOARD
HAS HEARING ON
TERMINAL PLAN
Public Service Seeks MOdifica-
tion of Exceptions Taken by
Inspector Belts.
MARKET AND MULBERRY
STREETS CURVE A SNAG
Company Also Objects to
undertaking Washington
ST. Because of Confusion.
IsnecIal to the Newark stnr.l

Especial 10 the Newark Star.l
TRENTON, Dec. 9.--The Board of
Public Utility Commissioners this af-
ternoon began a hearing on the ques-
ton of the approval of the franchises
granted by the Board of Street ana
Water Commissioners, of Newark, to
the Public Service Railway Company
for certain extensions and changes
of trolley routes in connection with
what is generally known as the New
ark terminal plan.
The Public Service Corporation was
represented by Thomas N. McCarter,
its president, and also by l.. ID. How
ard Gilmour, associate counsel.
Mr.. McCarter and Mr., Gilmour
sought to have the Public Utility
Commission modify the exceptions to
the general scheme taken by Chief
Inspector Philander Belts, of the
Public Utility Commission. These ex-
ceptions related principally to the
Park place. Warren and High streets,
Market and Mulberry streets, Bowery
Ferry and Market street curves.
Il. II. Goodrich, of the City Plan
ming Commission, objected to por-
tion of the plan which provided per-
manently for tracks upon High street
and which brought forth from Mr..
Mccarter a rather caustic remark
that he could not understand why
Mr.. Goodrich was down here object
ing to any part of the franchise plan
iIfasmuch as the plan in toto had
been approved by the City Planning
Commission.
Commissioner Gillen, who opposed
the granting of the franchises when
the subject was before the Street and
Water Board, was here, and made a
few remarks which indicated he OBJ
jected to a great many phases of the
franchise grants, but President Ralph.
Donges, of the Utility Board, said
that the matter of franchises in gen.
eral were not now being considered,
bst that the commission was attempt
ling to hear what might be said for
and against notifications of the fran
chise recommendation by Inspector
Belts.
Street and Water Commissioner
Charles +. Kraemer was also present,
as was Morris Sherrerd, the Street
and water Commissions engineer.
The recommendation of Chief In
spector Belts against any curve at
Market and Mulberry streets did not
seem to meet with favor either with
Engineer Goodrich, of the City Plan
ming Commission, or Commissioners
Gillen. Mr.. Gillen explained that the
, plans called for taking up one of the
curves at that corner when the new
street is laid out, so as to permit the
formation of loop.
object to Double Track.
The most interesting discussion of
the whole hearing was over the plan
of Inspector Belts for the double
tracking of Washington street, with
a view of diverting to Washington
street a considerable proportion OF the
present traffic on Broad street. Pres
ident McCarter, of the Public Ser
vice Company cited the jog in WASH
ington street at Market street as the
chief obstacle to the scheme. He
said he would practically block traffic
Nat Market and Washington streets
"a make confusion more confounded.
1hief Engineer Danforth of the
Jfiplic Service Company here, inter-
b,osed for the first time and said that
4 the double tracking of Washington
( street under present conditions would
\ not only be undesirable, so far as
creating congestion at Market and
Washington streets, but that it's pur-
pose the taking of cars off Broad
street, was not what the people
wanted.
The plans in the aggregate, he said,
as embodied in the ordinances of the
Street and Water Board would re-
duce the number of cars on Broad
street from something over 500 a day
to about $50. and this would relieve
congestion on Board street without
any further diversion of cars to
rWashington street and the discom-
moding of people who preferred to
travel on Broad street when it is
feasible rather than being compelled
to use Washington street, two blocks
away.
The time to double-track Washing
ton street was when the plans now
suggested with further growth of the
city produce a new congestion that
would make necessary a new line
parallel to Broad street.
President McCarter said that some
day when the jog at Washington
street is Strengthened out his COM
pany would be very glad to acquiese
In the double-tracking of Washing
ton street.