Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-21
P Personalities Are Ex-
changed and Fights
Seem Near.
TRADE BOARD RAPED BY
NUGENT, WHO FAVORS PLAN
Improvement, Which Would Re-
lieye Four Corners, Wanted
by Property Owners.

There was a tumultuous public
hearing on the extension of Branford
place from Halsey street to Spring
field avenue in the Board of Works
room in the City Hall last night.
Advocates of the scheme almost
came to blows with those who op-
posed it, and had it not been for the
presence of a woman there might
have been fisticuffs The meeting
had the result of promoting a gem
eral feeling in favor of the exten-
sion of the thoroughfare, after it
was pointed out that the improve
ment would benefit thousands and
would serve to wipe out the no.
torious "Barbary Coast" district in
Augusta and Shipman streets and
Landers alley.
The principal benefit, however, is
the relief of traffic congestion. If
Branford place is opened to SPRING
Held avenue, it was shown, much of
the traffic now crossing Broad and
Market streets will be diverted
through the new channel.
All the property owners in the zone
directly surrounding the proposed
Improvement favor it. The only op-
position came from people in other
sections of the city, who were un-
able to see how the extension was
going to benefit them. 1t was ex-
planned that the Improvement would
benefit the city at large. OF the cost
Of s1,000,000, City Counsel Nugent
showed, the property owners directly
affected will pay S5 per cent. and
that only 10 per cent. would be
placed in the general tax levy.
Several times last night President
Ryan threatened to adjourn the
meeting owing to the disorder. There
were personal charges and incrim-
nations made. and one speaker was
compelled to offer an apology to the
Board or Works after he made a
statement insinuating that members
Of the board had been parties to a
deal for the wholesale purchase of
property in Branford place.
Nugent Explains Project.
City Counsel Nugent was one of
the most strenuous advocates of the
extension. He went to the meeting
supplied with mass of data. and in
a lengthy speech told just what the
opening of Branford place will do. He
expressed surprise that the Board Of
Trade should frown upon the i'm
provement,. and declared that the
board had never favored any big
project in the city's development. An
editorial in the Newark Evening
News. also against it. he branded
false and misleading, and declared
the man who wrote it lied, and he be-
lieved knew he lied when he wrote it.
The woman present was Mrs. Lydia
B. Grimm, property-owner of 800
Washington street She said she was
in favor of the extension and had
visited thirty property-owners in the
immediate vicinity, alleof whom were
in accord with her views.
The Market Street Business Mems
Association desired to go on record
as opposed to the project, because
they did not see an adequate return
for the investment. The lronbound
Improvement Association took the
same view. Dr. Joseph Kussy pro-
tested against their action, and. re-
ferring to them as malcontents, said
it i'll became any loyal citizen to op-
pose a project like this, recommended
by the City Planning Commission and
indorsed by the Board of Works.
Twenty years ago. he said, the. i'm
provement would have cost half what
it will now, and ten years. hence 1t
will cost twice as much.
An Aid to Traffic.
David Grotta, president of the City
Planning Commission, declared ne
was personally in favor of the exten-
sion. and said there was moral OBJ
legation on the city to open Bran
ford place to relieve congestion at
the -Four Corners" if nothing more.
The next speaker was Commissioner
Charles r. Kraemer. He dwelt on
the moral side of the Improvement
aud referred to the section known as
the "Rarbary Coast The first in
terruption came at this point "hen
Alderman Pfeiffer called out;
"That's up to the police department,
chipped and spoiled. What precautioD
not the Board of Works
IT hardly believe you want to choke
me off" said the doctor and Pfc ffer
then called: Talk on Branford
place.
Others in the room called various
kinds of advice and there was such
an uproar President Ryan threatened
TO adjourn the meeting Edward
Biau asked the question: Are we
here to talk traffic congestion or
morality?" and afterward order was
restored and DIR. Kraemer continued.
I'm here to give you reasons ana
facts" he said, "and this is one of
them. The congestion is secondary
in this case" He then explained the
n,an of the board, giving the meas
urements and showing how the prop
erty values would be improved and
the ratables increased.
New Ratables Needed.
81 do not think it will hurt busi-
ness to any great extent. The con-
qestion at Broad and Market streets
il SO great that values have been
driven to point that merchants can
hardly pay the rentals, and in the
end who is to bear the brunt but the
consumer, who will have TO pay more
money for everything. BY opening
another artery of traffic it will tend