Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-06
PUBLIC MAY GET NO
| VOICE IN CHANGES
Too Late to Argue Railroad
Changes, Madison Council
man Declares.
Especial to the Evening stnr.I

MADISON, April I'm a statement
today to a representative of the Star.
councilman Charles F. Snyder, chair
man of the railroad committee OF the
Common Council, fatty declared that
the decision on certain phases Of the
railroad situation will not be referred
ito the people at all.
This decision on the part of the rali-
road committee came as a result OF
the public hearing he'd last Wednes-
day in the Council chamber. 1t was
brought out at the hearing that the
short time allotted was not suf1clent
for the people to make up their minds
on the questions submitted to them
DIR. Snyder stated that 1t was the
sense of the committee to postpone
the referendum from April 10 ApTli
s1S. II was later learned that the
election might be put off until a later
date, and today the chairman OF the
committee stated that it will now be
entirely dispensed with.
Fight Over Ridgedale Avenue.
The announcement of the election
came as a result of much difference
of opinion as to whether Ridgedale
avenue should be allowed to be closed
by the railroad. This is now the prih-
cipal bone of contention between the
two contracting parties. Announcer
subject of open debate Is to now
much, if any, of the property dam
ages Madison should bear and an es-
Innate of the possible cost TO the
town. At a secret session, he'd rev
weeks ago, the majority of the Coun-
ell was In favor of the closing OF
lRidgedale avenue So much dlssen-
sion followed this decision, however,
that 1t was thought to be the best
way out of the difficulty to consult
the opinions of the voters. therefore,
an election was announced, postponed
and finally called off entire.y. There
was much difference OF opinion as TO
whether or not an election should De
held. Many thought that it would By
a needless expense and that the Coun-
ell was better able to decide, as they
have all arguments and plans before
sthem petition signed by slNty-four
taxpayers has been presented to the
tCouncil opposing the closing or
Ridgedale avenue and further pro
testing against the borough paying
any part of the property damages.
The obvious course suggested by
the opinions of the citizens at
Wednesday, meeting and the petition
presented to the Council is for that
body to tell that railroad officials that
the people VIII not stand for the clos
ing of d public street, and that they
wish q guarantee that Madison,s
share of the property damages shall
moi be over a certain figure after a
suitable division of the damages Is
agreed on.
Engineer Suggests Plan.
oBrough Engineer a. j. Jones mas
suggested a plan which will be Only
OF trifiing more expense to the rail-
way company, and which he THINKS
will enable Ridgedale avenue to pass
beneath the tracks. The present pro-
posed grade Of the company comes on
a decline toward Madison from Chat-
ham, then strikes a level in front oil
the proposed new stations location,
then strikes an incline and thence on
level to their present grade, just
above Rldgedale avenue. lie shs-
rests that instead of coming on
Level to their present grade above
Ridgedaie avenue that they incline
steadily from the station to their
preeent bed. This, he states, will give
chem a better grade than that pro-
messed NJ present. Tho tracks will ele-
ratc. recording to his estimate, about
~ i''r Nos in every hundred Ieet
~vbinb is not "A formidable grade.