Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-23

that river and New York Bay. 1t
has been so outrageously treated in
the past that today it controls but
one dock upon that splendid water
front
1T would seem unnecessary for
anyone to urge that, for the proper
development of a locality situated as
Jersey City is wharfage and dock
area. as well as an opportunity to
obtain waterfront property, are nee
essary to the prosperity and progress
of the city. That was recognized as
early as 1865 by the authorities of
this State, when the commissioners,
who We're appointed to ascertain the
rights of the State and of riparian
owners to lands lying under water,
made this statement
we direct special attention to the
large basin reserved by our plans
south of the present improved part of
Jersey City. For an accurate descrip-
ton of that part of our designs we
refer again to the maps and reports
explanatory of the same, or the SUI
perintendent Of the survey. We adopt
that reservation of water space, with
its piers, bulkheads and crossings as
laid down and described in said maps
and in said report, not desiring to
report details thereof. a large
part of Jersey City and an interest
ing and rapidly growing district OF
the adjoining municipality now Dor
dering upon the westerly and north
westerly shore of which is an abrupt
recess, and unless some reversation
of the kind here proposed Is now Sc
cured by the firm authority of the
State the southWeSterly part
of Jersey City, and an important por"
ton of the town of Bergen (subse-
quently Incorporated with Jersey
city, now upon the confines of the
bay, will, by the agency Of private
enterprises, be shut off far away from
the privilege and advantage of pub
lie navigation. BY the proposed basin
n valuable and extensive waterfront
will be secured on the south of the
city. It's facilities for commerce will
be greatly enlarged. one or more pub
lie docks may be acquired to assist
the present rapidly expanding bust
ness of the city. Strange as 1t may
seem, 1t can lay claim at this time to
but a single public wharf of moderate
dimensions. The just anticipations of
those who are riparian owners along
this part of the shore will not be UNI
reasonably disappointed IN the inter
ests of the proprietors of the corpo-
rate privileges in the vicinity literally
provided for the increasing
or very extensive business of the
canal company and the railroad COM
pany can make location upon deep
water in this vicinity would naturally
tend to occupy the more valuable line
of deep water in front of the recess,
and as a consequence interpose "a
solid barrier of embankment on the
south, and thereby hem in very
large area of the water space of the
harbor from access to the public"
what was anticipated by this COM
mission did happen. The railroad
companies attempted to occupy the
more valuable line of deep water In
front of the recess (South Cove, and
as q consequence interposed solid
barrier of embankment on the south
OF the cove and hemmed in very
large area of the water space of the
harbor from access to the public.
Only after years of litigation has Jer-
Sey City been enabled to demonstrate
it's legal right to the grant which was
made as result of the report of that
commission.
Would Sell basins.
LAS has been stated, the commits
sion recommends the two tidewater
basins. known as the Big Basin and
the Small Basin be given to the
railroad company upon the payment
of q certain sum Of money to the
State. No benefit of any kind innures
to Jersey City. These basins are SC
intimately associated and connected
with the proper development of the
South Cove grant heretofore received
from the State. that under no circum-
stances should they be taken from
Jersey City. The area OF the basins
in question is something over sixty
acres; the value Of the land, as fixed
by the commission report, Is some
thing over s3,000,000. Indeed, 1t is
urged, so far as the so-called Small
Basin Is concerned, the canal COM
pany has today no legal right to the
possession of that basin, as consti-
tuted at the present time. The Small
Basin lies partly within the confines
of Dudley street, as extended. on the
north; South street, as extended, or
the south; Hudson street. as extended
on the east and Washington street or
the west 1t is urged that the streets
in question are regularly dedicated
and open thoroughfares of Jersey
City, through which the canal com.
pany, under it's charter has no right
except to thirty-two-foot right-of
way. As a matter of fact, the Small
Basin embraces all OF the land within
the limits of those streets, and the
State would have no right to make s
grant of tie land to the canal com.
pany, or its lessee. Upon the aban.
donment of the basin for canal pur.
poses, there is a reversionary right In
the city.
The Present situation
ITO briefly restate the situation
then 1t is this: A large and import.
ant municipality of this State border.
| ing upon the Hudson River, and con
trolling but one public dock. is nov
confronted with a situation wher'
the State is asked to give for a gross
! ~ Inadequate consideration valuable