Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-28
FIGHT ON BAY
BRIDGE BEFORE
HARB0R BOARD
Central R. R. Structure De-
cIared Menace by Newark
Delegation.

Argument relative to the elimina-
tion of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey bridge over Newark bay, con-
meeting Elizabethpart and Bayonne,
was heard by the New Jersey Harbor
Commission in the City Hall, Eliza
beth, yesterday. Representatives from
Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City and
Bayonne were present. Newark and
Jersey City representatives favored
the substitution of a tunnel for the
bridge. Bayonne delegates opposed
the tunnel proposition on account of
the topography of the approaches
They favored the construction of
new bridge, much higher than the
present one, and with a wide middle
span. Elizabeth did not openly favor
either bridge or tunnel.
Dr. Charles F. Kraemer, president
of the Newark Board of Works,
opened the discussion by presenting
SET of resolutions adopted by the
Board of Works and forwarded to
Washington. The Elizabeth Trade
Board also had adopted similar reso-
lutions.
The resolutions said the bridge was
a menace to navigation and delayed
traffic. The resolution asks the gov
ernment to make an investigation or
the bridge. The city is interested IN
the elimination of the bridge, as 1t is
a hndrance to Newark's meadow
reclamation and bay front develop
ment.
DR.. Kraemer. in his remarks assert
ed that the bridge was an impediment
TO navigation and consisted more of
a dam than a bridge. He declared
boat. were continually delayed by the
draw being closed. He also pointed
out that the bridge. not being built
perpendicular to the direction of the
current, acted as a net to eaten re1use
coming down the bay. He then Went
into details to explain how the bridge
is interfering with the city's devel-
opment of the bay front and mead
ows. and ended by favoring a tunnel
Chief Engineer Norris r. Sherrerdi
of the Board of Works, upheid the
contentious of DR.. Kraemer. Tne en-
gineer. however, declared the bridge
Could be eliminated entirely and the
railroad could go around the pay 10
good advantage.
James NJ. Reilly, secretary OF the
local Board of Trade, told OF the pians
the board had made for the develop
ment of the bay and OF the long Hsh'
| that had been made for the ellmliid-
| ton of the bridge. He said that SNIP
pers all along the bay were opposed 70
| the maintenance of the structure, and
had been trying for years TO nave II
removed.
Arthur S. Owen, chief assistant en-
| gineer of the New Jersey Central rail-
road. spoke in behalf of the railroad
| In the course of his remarks he ad-
mitted that about 4.S00 piles had beer
removed since 1900. Only a few OF
these had been replaced He said the
railroad was willing to do its share tc
improve conditions along the bay, bu'
| it wanted the cooperation of all trade
organizations and municipal bodies.
Harbor Commissioners Richard Z
Jenkinson, of Newark: j. Spencer
| Smith, of Tenafly; William l.. Saun'
ders, of Plainfield; w. Parker Run
yon, of Perth Amboy, and Charles 5
| Boyer of Camden, were present at the
hearing.
e. A. Ransom, of Jersey City, secre.
tary to the commission. and Il. )
| Cresson. chief engineer of the COM
mission, were also at the hearing
Newark was represented by DR.. Krae-
mer. Engineer Sherrerd, Secretary
| Reilly, Joseph H. Wood, George F
Reeve and Harry r. Kingsley. Major
| General Dennis f. Collins, president
| of the Elizabeth Common Council; III
| A. DeRaismee and A. ]. Coleman, sec
retary of the Elizabeth Trade Board
Ernest H. Roe, secretary of the Jer-
sey City Chamber of Commerce. ano
Harold c. Stevens, secretary of the
| Bayonne Chamber of Commerce were
alsi present.
Mr. Wood submitted to the commits.
sion a statement describing the condi-
tions found by diver to be existing
around the foundations of the bridge
The statement declared that the ole
| piling has caused the gathering of de
| tritus, which interferes with the nat,
.ural current in warm weather anc
causes the formation of ice blocade:
in winter.