Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-06-04

for relief Mr.. Mason said 1t had
been suggested to depress the Lehigh
Valley track system about eight feet
and the Central lines about twenty
five feet. Asked by Mr.. Holmes
what he would do with sewers now
about twelve feet below the surface-
he said 1t had been intended to sy-
phon them under the railroad tracks,
The surveyor admitted in response
to questions from Mr.. Holmes that
he had prepared the grade crossing
maps from q layout of the city and
other maps in his office. Here James
S. Wight took a hand in the ques-
tioning in behalf of property owners
who did not want their coal and ice
yards, grain elevators, junk yards,
etc, affected by any change in the
grade of the railroad. He asked the
witness what it was proposed to do
concerning sidings. Mr.. Mason said
that had not been definitely consid-
cred, but the railroad could con-
struct four track system in
stretch sixty feet wide, or sidings
might be constructed on the grade.
In conclusion, Mr.. Mason, in response
to questions from City Attorney
Hommann, stated he often had oc-
casion to go over the crossings In
question, and was very often held ups
Senator William e. Ramsay caused
peels of laughter in the assembly
chamber, when In testifying he said
the gates of railroad crossing in this
city were probably operated all the
time and mostly downward He said
he did not consider the grade cross
ings safe and they often held up
long lines of street traffic for longer
periods than was allowed He de-
clared there was considerable shift
ing of cars on the Lehigh Valley
and Central lines between Washing
ton street and Market street which
made Ii extremely dangerous
Patrolmen William Clooney, John
Martin and John F. Murray and De-
tective Sergeant L. A. Long, testified
to taking count of traffic over the
crossings in question and giving the
figures mentioned in petition. City
Electrician Jay B. FRANKIE substan-
tiated information he supplied for the
petition, concerning the extension Of
electric lines about the various cross
ings In question. Alderman f. Will
liam Hilker. testified to taking photo
graphs of the crossings which were
entered by Mr.. Hommann as a part
of the exhibits. He told of the angles
and directions in which the pictures
were taken. When asked if the pic
lures were taken from point where
a pedestrian or driver would natural
ly be at the time of hesitating to look
out for trains. he said they would
have to be nearer to the tracks.
Mayor Ferd Garretson was the last
witness summoned in behalf of the
city and after his testimony the city
rested. He was called on the stand
a few minutes after O'Clock and
told OF how railroad traffic as at pres-
ent conducted in this city was dan
gerous and caused much inconven-
ience. He said numerous people
had been struck at the various cross
ings that funeral lines were very Of
ten cut in two, holding up entire pro-
cessions. He declared that on the
morning of the -ay he was served
with an answer of the Central rail-
road, he was held up for twelve min
utes at the Washington street cross
ing of the Central and Lehigh Valley
railroads He declared the Public
Service Railway Company had ap-
pealed to him as mayor when trolley
cars were held up eight. ten and at
times twelve minutes at the Smith
street crossing OF the Central rail-
road He also claimed numerous COM
plants had been made to him con-
cerning shifting on the Central and
Lehigh Valley lines and that as a re-
suit he had written to the superin-
tendent of the Central company.
While 1t was admitted that the
city had complied with the rules con-
cerning procedure in this case, it was
deemed best that it present detail
drawings showing Just what is de-
sired in the way of relief. With this
in hand the railroad lawyers will
proceed to tear apart what the city
may build. AS the case stood yes
terday there was nothing for them 10
tear apart. They had to admit the
crossing were there and that they
had caused many accidents, so, as in
the case of filing answers to the city's
petition, the only thing left for them
to do was to attack the legality of
the proceedings.
Among those who attended the
hearing besides those mentioned yes
terday were Postmaster William H.
Pfeiffer, C. NJ. Llddle, w. Guy Weav-
er, Dennis ]. Flynn, Julius T. Sim
men, Charles Simmer, John Buchner,
]. F. Burns, DR.. William E. Ramsay,
urt,lIno, II Ouackenhush and M J.