Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-16
Corporation Head Answers Queries of Board of Works Re-
garding Applications for Franchises-WIl Discuss Cues
ton With City Officials on Wednesday.

Having in hand the reply of the
Public Service to a statement issued
on Wednesday requesting more de-
tailed information regarding fourteen
of the twenty-seven applications for
additional franchises, the Board Of
Works yesterday afternoon decided
to hold public hearing on the en-
tire proposition on next Wednesday
night.
The answer of the trolley officials,
which is explanatory, was pre-
scented by President Thomas N. Nc
Carter in person. It was received
without comment and filed. The let
ter follows:
Dear Sirs--I am in receipt of copy Of
the statement of the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners regarding appllca-
tons for trolley franchises. under date Of
May H. 1918, and hasten 10 comply with
the request Of the board that make an
early reply thereto. ! approach the con-
sideration Of the subject with a desire to
fall in line with the wishes of the board
so far as the same are practicable. even
though its views in some eases do not
commend themselves 10 my Judgment. !
will endesvor to reply as directly as pos
sible TO the several aud separate promo
sitions contained in the statement Of the
board.
The Public Service Newark Terminal
Railway Company is company formed to
build and operate terminal. as author
lied by the act of 1918. Every share OF its
owned by the Public Service Railway
Company. The Public Service Railway
Company has a total capital stock Of
$SS.0OO.0O0, at par, consisting of $4,000
shares All but $50 of this amount, or
very much less than a tenth of ! per
cent, is owned by the Public Service Cor
poration of New Jersey. The new ter
mnal project is a Public Service propo-
sition pure and simple. In order that
bonds to be issued to defray the major
be the first lien upon the property a
separate company was formed. Later on,
If approved by the Public Utilities Com
mission. the Public Service Newark Ter
minal Railway Company will either be
leased to the Public Service Railway
Company or merged into il. 1t is one
enterprise and the railway company's OBJ
legations will be recognized over the ter
minal property and the terminal COM
panys obligations over the railway prop
erty. No advantage, either relating TO
revenue due the city or the transfer obli-
cations, or otherwise. will be taken by
or attempted to be taken by the one or
the other, because they are in legal dc-
lion separate corporations
Assures Prompt Construction.
| should have thought that my last let
ter to the board would have dispellcd all
doubt in the minds of the board as to
the prompt construction of the terminal
Il the franchises were granted. ] say
now, however, unequivocally, that If these
franchises are granted within a reason
able time, the construction of the ter
minal. according to plans which the board
has seen, will proceed immediately and
should be completed within eighteen
months thereafter; and / further state,
as president of both companies, that If
by the time the terminal Is ready for
operation the one company has either not
been leased to or merged into the other,
between the two companies that will pro-
vide fully for the use of the terminal
and its approaches by any cars of the
Public Service Railway Company system
that its officers may desire to have make
use of the terminal.
The Public Service Railway Company
has had SO much unfortunate experience
in the past arising from obligations en-
tered into to operate certain lines of cars
to certain particular points. with the
complications out Of many of which the
board Is quite familiar, that 1t is averse
to- making definite promises, binding for
lines to the terminal Changing condi-
tons in cities growing as rapidly as New
ark Is require changing methods of OPP
Grafton. The terminal plan is designed
TO De elastic anu equipped 10 meet Sutn
changes as they occur, but there Is no
harm whatever In repeating what has al
ready been stated to the board. that it
is the intention at the outset to operate
to the terminal the following lines: Pat
erson, Bloomfield, Hackensack, Turnpike,
Central. Elizabeth, Main Line and the
three all but completed Trenton, New
Brunswick and Perth Amboy lines, maxi
ing ten In all. In addition thereto 1t is
proposed to divert to the terminal such
portion, and only such portion, of the
Orange. South Orange, Springfield, Kin
ney and Kearny lines as may be neces-
sary to free Market street from excess
siye congestion The result of this facil-
ty will be to double the number of cars
that can be operated in the centre of the
city in rush hours 1t may be that GER
tain cars on some of the lines referred
to will have to continue TO run to Mar,
ket street depot because of existing OBJ
legations. If SO, the way Is clear via
Mulberry street.
II the terminal plan is accepted by the
board and franchises lnerefor are grant
ed including the adjacent surface track
age asked for in the applications filed
with the board, the company will prompt.
ly install the surface trackage and wile
make the best use of the same possible