Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-05-18
lQPPIDS|T|ON To
RAR|TAN STREET
seizure BY CITY
Aldermen Learn That MAIDS Nell
sen Has Taken Part Of
Street Back.
HAS PUT A FENCE AROUND IT
Evident Today That No Agree
ment Has Been Reached
for Bldg. Inspector.
WILL TAKE BALLOT TONIGHT
Likely to be Deferred Until the
Next Meeting is the
Contention.
WILL TAKE BALLOT TONIGHT

1t was make known among mem
bers of the Board of Aldermen today
that MAIDS Nielsen is the first to op-
pose the city in the seizure of Rari-
tan street and has taken a portion of
1t back for his own use. 1t also be-
came evident among the city fathers
today that no agreement had been
reached regarding the selection Of a
building inspector. Indications were
at late hour that the subject would
come before the council tonight, that
ballot would be taken and that fur
ther action would then be deferred
until TIE next meeting.
Contending that he had bought
and paid for property at the westerly
side of State street and upon a por-
ton of what the city officials claim
to be Raritan street, MAIDS Nielsen
objected to the seizure of that part
and has fenced 1t In as his own land
In so doing he reclaimed 1t from the
city. The line of action to be taken
by the city will depend entirely upon
Mr.. Nielsen's attitude, officials de-
clare. They will negotiate with him
and eDdeaVor to reach a settlement
in an amicable way. Should he re-
fuse all offers made, the city will
tear down the fence and again re-
claim that portion Of Raritan street
City officials declare the city must
ard will have the thoroughfare. They
have legal advice on the subject and
eelare they can cause to be torn
down such fences and other barriers
as may be raised In opposition to
their claim.
Raritan street was reclaimed by
tthe city January 19, last. 1t Is about
2,400 feet long, extending from the
loot of Linden street to the Central
railroad tracks. At the time of re-
claiming 1t, officials discovered that
It crossed some land which, it was
tlaimed, was private property. TEey
were surprised to find that Mr.. Mel
zen had purchased three lots, por-
ton Of which were on Raritan
street, from the state He held
deeds for them In which they were
numbered "A, A 5 and 46. Chairman
John J. Clark, Of the committee on
streets and sewers, claimed that the
lots originally fronted along Raritan
street and that they were then known
as Nos. /, and 8. He contends that.
the state should not have sold the
land in question, in view of the claim
that they were part of public thoro-
nghfare. In the opinion of him and
other aldermen the property owner
should be reimbursed for whatever he
might lose in cutting the street
through the land he had purchased
and the city would then seek to be
compensated in turn by the state.
Up to this time there had been no
visible opposition to the reclaiming of
the street. Aldermen were surprised
to learn that Mr.. Nielsen had con
Btructed a fence across the thorough
fare, In reclaiming a portion of it,
The outcome is being awaited with
interest by other real estate holders
AS it is not the intention of the city
fathers to cause loss for Mr.. Mel
sen, every effort will be made to
reach an amicable adjustment
There are at least eight candidates
in the field for the building inspec-
torship and it seems that almost ev-
cry member of the Board of Alder
men is supporting a different one As
no agreement was in sight today, II
was stated among the aldermen that
q settlement could probably not be
reached at the regular meeting to-
night. AS the need of a building in
spector at this time is declared ur-
gent. an effort will probably be made
to select one. One alderman pre-
dicted that the first ballot would
show disagreement and that the
subject would then be deferred.