Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-17
G|LLEN ASSERTS
NEWARK SHOULD
HAVE PREFERENCE
Objects to Elimination of city's
Right to Buy Morris
Canal.

Board Of Works Commissioner
Charles P. Gillen, at yesterdays in
terurban conference meeting in the
City Hall, caused a stir when he
alone opposed the proposition to
eliminate Newarl<'s preferential right
to purchase that part of the Morris
Canal running through Newark upon
its proposed abandonment Although
the Morris Canal committee of the
conference has not taken any definite
step in this matter, 1t was proposed
to place the matter before the mu-
inequalities interested.
The bill presented to last year s
Legislature contained q clause that
gave Newark the preferential right
to buy. Many in the conference be-
lieved that If this right was given to
Newark other municipalities through
which the canal courses would want
similar privileges. Commissioner GIL
len argued that no such idea should
be taken by Newarkers and that he
was in favor of giving Newark the
preferential right to buy the canal
course in Newark. The commissioner
claimed that Newark needed the
canal bed for q high speed railroad.
Extension of transit facilities for
passenger and freight traffic in New
ark and adjacent territory was urged
in a preliminary report made to the
conference by Its committee on
TRANSPORTATION yesterday. The re-
mort like one from the committee on
Waterways, was general in tenor and
IL Is the expressed intention of both
committees that the sole purpose Of
both reports is to have a basis for
future discussion and further elabora-
tion or changes.
Along with these two reports and
a progress report from the Morris
Canal committee, the conference
heard q tentative outline of a plan
looking toward permanent organi-
zation. This report was made by
City Engineer Morris r. Sherrerd,
chairman of the organization com
mittee, who proposed that bill be
drafted permitting any county to
have a planning commission created.
Engineer Edward S. Rankin, of the
Board OF Works, contended that such
a plan would not be feasible, be-
cause of the fact that at least three
counties are interested in the de-
velopment plan in and around New
ark. E. P Goodrich, consulting en-
giueer Of the City Planning Commits
sion. suggested that an inter-county
commission would possible prove
more effective He advised, there
fore, that the question Of special leg
isiation be looked into, under which
head the establishment of such 3
body might come. The report of
Mr. Sherrerd's committee was re-
ferred back for further action.
The transportation comm tees re-
port, which was submitted by the
chairman. Christian w. FeigenSpan,
first of all pointed out the necessity
of better passenger traB7portat on
facilities in the southwestern and
northwestern sections of the city. In
the southwest an extension of Clin-
ton avenue Is suggested and in the
northwest a route is outlined either
ON or partly parallel to the canal
and in conjunction with a loop bring
ing into closer contact Nutley,
Bloomfield Montclair, East Orange,
Irvington and finally running into
Newark.
Thomas A. Collins, city engineer of
Elizabeth, submitted the report of the
committee on waterways. II is ad-
vised In the report that the following
four points should be taken up before
the subject Of improving the water
ways In the Newark area cOulu 10
approached in detail: The Federal
government must be induced to re-
move distractions at the entrance to
the Newark Bay; the Federal govern
ment should be induced to dredge the
entire bay to a depth of at least
twenty feet outside the harbor; the
removal Of the Objectionable bridge
of the Central Railroad and the prepa-
ration of a scientific street plan for
the meadow area.
The conference also heard dele
cation from Harrison, urging the
building Of a bridge over the Passa!c
River and connecting. Centre street
with Hunterdop street, Harrison. The
delegation was composed of former
Assem- btyman Joseph A. Riordan,
Councilman Clarence I. Van Deren
and Mayor elect John j. DAILY. Mr..
Riordan outlined that such project
would not interfere with navigation,
as a cantilever bridge, which could be
built at cost of from s200.070 to
$3.50, 900, would answer the purpose.
He stated that about $4,000 Newark
ers were employed in Harrison and
many of them were daily greatly in
convenienced