Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-08
WRANGLE OVER
STREETS SALE
Harrison Town Council, by
Majority Vote, Grants Re-
quest of Elevator Plant

Although Councilman John J. DAILY,
of Harrison, last night made the
statement that a representative of
the Otis Elevator Company of Har-
rison, two years ago offered $4,000
to the town for the vacation Of parts
of Middlesex and Somerset streets
and Railroad avenue, contiguous to
it's plant, a majority of the members
of the Harrison Town Council voted
down a resolution offered by Mr..
DAILY that an offer submitted last
night and amounting to $4,000, be re-
ferred to the street committee. The
same members voted to accept $4,000.
To some extent the action of the
council in accepting the proposition
was in opposition to a stated opinion
of Corporation Counsel Hugh G. Bar
rett. William T. Day, a local law
yer. appeared before the council in
behalf of the Otis firm He read the
offer of the company for the vacation
of the portions of streets mentioned.
Councilman Clarence 7. Van Deren
moved that the communication be
received and the offer accepted.
company's representative and re-
quested that the matter be allowed
to lay over. I'VE can get 100000 he
declared. Mr.. Van Deren insisted
that no authoritative offer had ever
| been made except the one read last
| night He did not question Mr.. Days
veracity, he explained, but believed a
verbal statement would not hold.
THESE streets have cost the town
nothing said Mr.. Van Deren, land
| the riparian rights on Somerset street
were bought by us for $500. / con-
slider the offer a fair one" Council
man Edward F. McKeon pointed out
! there is a total of twenty eight lots
! In the property wanted and he be-
| lieved the lots should bring more
| than s175 apiece. IT don't think 1t
fair to accept $1,000 when $4,000 was
offered" he added.
! Councilman Edward ]. Rice told
o. having talked with the represen-
tstive of the company who had made
the offer to Mr.. Daily. This man
| told me- said Mr.. Rice, that he had
made the offer, but his directors had
not authorized him to do it." Mr..
Day, when questioned. declared he
had not heard before of the $4,000
| offer.
MIR Day would make no other
statement" declared Mayor Joseph
p. Riordan, who took a hand in the
| suuabble at this juncture. II agree
with Councilman DAILY and believe
$4,000 to be small enough for the
property. I sincerely hope the MEM
| bers of the council will not vote
away this property We can afford
| to hold out and get more money from
this concern. We are the board of
| directors of this town and should
| look out for the interests of the peo-
pie he concluded.
Mr.. DAILY said ii would be a good
| idea to embody in the agreement for
| the street vacation the stipulation
that the Otis concern continue to al
low the Passaic River Yacht Club to
| have it's headquarters at the present
site, which is on property sought by
the Otis concern. Other members of
the council declared the yacht club
would be taken care of,
i The amendment to lay the matter
| over was finally put by Mayor Rior.
dan and lost. Those who favored the
motion were Mayor Riordan, Coun-
| Gilman Frederick C.. clifton, Council
men Daily and McKeon. Opposing
were Councilmen O'Connor, Sullivan,
Rice, Henry and Van Deren. Mr..
/
motion be put When Mr.. Barrett's
opinion was asked he declared it
might be better not to accept the Of
fer until after the notice of intention
was published.
GAS a matter of fact" said Mr..
Barrett ''the passage of the inten-
| ton notice is an acceptance Of the
offer and this procedure would give
| the people Of the town a chance to
1
he concluded. The contention made
was that If the offer was accepted
| by the council the people would have
no chance to offer objection. Pub
! fishing the notice of intention after
the offer had been accepted was
characterized as a farce by Mayor
| Riordan
rs this property for sale?" que
| ried Patrick McGuigan, who was in
the saudience. II am one he con-
| tinued, who helped to build up this
! town. Why don't you give the people
| a chance to buy some of this prop
| erty? | win give 81. 600 for 1t. | asked
| several about it, but cannot get salts
| faction. There must be something the
matter. I'm not here to bulldoze any
| one, but | think you ought to give the
| people a chance His remarks were
| greeted with applause.
Members of the council explained
no one but the Otis company can buy
the property in question, as they own
| the property on either side of each of
! the streets sought. IF you offered
| million dollars" said Councilman
| DAILY, addressing Mr.. McGuigan, I'VE
could not sell you the property" The
vote on the Van Deren motion was
finally put and carried by "a vote.
A notice Of intention was then
|