Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1914-12-18
WOODBRIDGE Wins
TROLLEY FIGHT; TO
STOP NEWARK CARS
Decision on Connecting Link Of
Track at Sewaren Will Halt
Public Service Fast Line Cars
from Perth Amboy to Newark.
Spec,ui to the EVENING NEWS.

Spec'ui to the EVENING NEWS.
Woodbridge, Dec. 18:-Under a
decision rendered by Vice Chancellor
Howell and forwarded to Township
Attorney Ephriam Cutter yesterday,
the Woodbridge township has won
it's action against the Public Service
corporation and the concern must re-
move a connecting link of track at
Sewaren, over which Newark-Perth
Amboy fast line trolley cars are op-
Grated. The court ruled that mas
much as the Elizabeth & Trenton
Railroad Company operated to Sc
warren as a railroad, 1t could not
operate over the same way over or
dinary street lines under franchises
which extend between Woodbridge
and Perth Amboy. AS a result OF
this decision, there Will come break
in the fast line system between New
ark and Perth Amboy, which will
cause cessation of operation.
The entire squabble between the
Public Service officials and the Wood
bridge township officials dates back
for several months. AS the fast line
system was being constructed officials
here requested that transfers be CIV
en- so that but single fare or five
cents would be charged for ride
over the two lines between Port
Reading and Woodbridge proper and
also between Port Reading and Perth
Amboy. The Elizabeth & Trenton
Railroad Company operated over pri-
vate property from Elizabeth to Sc
warren. There the cars were run
around curved track and on to the
regular trolley system of the Pubic
Service Railway Company. The Pub
lie Service holds lease with the rail-
road company for 999 years.
Public Service officials claimed
that inasInuch as the Elizabeth &
Trenton concern was legally incor-
porated under the laws governing
railroads in this state, It could not
give transfers to trolley line and
therefore none could be given be-
tween Port Reading and Woodbridge
proper and between Port Read-l 8
and Perth Amboy. Woodbridge Of
ficials protested and appealed to the
Public Utility Commission to prevent
the making of the necessary connect
/. link between the two lines at
Sewaren The utility commissioners
rendered a decision in favor OF the
railway interests and appeal was
taken to the supreme court of the
state.
In their determination to prevent a
connecting link unless their demands
were complied with, local ofncials
placed a steam roller at Sewaren to
block the way of railway workmen
and took other drastic means to pre-
vent the making Of the necessary con-
nection. The railway interest brought
the fight into the court OF chancery
after several workmen had been ar
rested while endeavoring to make the
connection at Sewaren and they OBJ
tanned a temporary order. restraining
the Woodbridge officials from inter-
fering with the railway interests in
the work at Sewaren. The connect
ing link was accordingly put down
early in July and the fast line system
has since been operating between
Newark and Perth Amboy. The fast
line cars are now used to convey New
Brunswick car passengers on State
street in Perth Amboy.
Final hearing on the action for the
restraining order was held before
Vice Chancellor Howell in Newark on
December 1, last. The argument then
resolved itself into question OF law
rather than one Of facts. Arrange
ments were made for the presenta-
ton of briefs, pending the coEsidera-
tion of which decision was reserved.
Vice Chancellor Howell then ruled
that inasmuch as the Elizabeth &
Trenton Railroad Company operated
as a railroad as far south as Sc
warren, 1t could not operate In SINH
lar manner over ordinary street troll
ley car systems and he diected that
the connecting link at Sewaren be re-
moved.