Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-22
BRIDGE PROJECT
STRIKES A SNAG
/ IN ESSEX MEN
Deity Laid Plans to Rope In"
This County Abruptly
Went AgIey.
ASSESSED 100000,
BUT NO DIRECT BENEFIT
New York, Hudson and Bergen
Counties Further Plan to
Bridge or Tunnel Hudson.

That Essex county should pay
Ss'9sl,fS2 toward the erection of a
bridge across the Hudson river, be-
tween West New York and Fifty
seventh street, Manhattan, practically
all of the benefits of the bridge going
TO the northern section of Hudson
county, Bergen county and the form
ing of connecting link between New
York city and the State highways of
New York State, was in substance the
result of the conference yesterday
AFTERNOON between the members of
the New York and New Jersey Inter-
state Bridge Commission, and repre-
sentatives of the Board of Freehold
ers of Essex, Bergen, Hudson, Pas
sale and Union counties.
The meeting was held in the BAN
quet hall of the Lawyers Club, lis
Broadway, New York, and was pre-
coded by luncheon, rendered the Wis
iting freeholders by the Interstate
Commission. The meeting was called
by the commission for the purpose of
ascertaining the views of the men,
bers of the different boards and for
the purpose of supplying any infor-
{ nation desired.
4 Essex county was represented by
Director Walter A. Evans. Freebooter
Richard +. Malta and Supervisor Ed
ward Shickhaus, and it was due to
Director Evans and his colleagues
that a move to give instant indorse-
ment to the $40 100000 bridge PROPOSE
ton was blocked yesterday.
Freebooter A. B. Morrison, of Ber-
gen county, after an exchange of
views lasting almost three hours, had
been in progress, made a motion that
the members of the Board of Free
holders present go on record as favor
ing the plan of a bridge to cost $42,-
00f 600. and twin vehicular tunnels to
cost $11 100000, the latter to extend
from Henderson street, Jersey City, to
Canal street Manhattan.
Bergen county, which would be
greatly benefited by the bridge, had,
through its representatives, shown it
self to be in favor of the building
OF the bridge. the estimated cost of
that county being only $2,316,212.
When the motion was made by Mr..
Morrison it was evident that it was
highly pleasing to the members of
tho Interstate Commission and for
{ mer Senator James A. c. Johnson,
of that county, and Martin Sake of
New York, counsel of the New Jer-
sey and New York boards, respec-
lively.
Essex Enters Objections.
Representative of the other New
Jersey counties were wavering as to
what they ought to do in the prem
Uses and were undecided until Di-
rector Evans took the floor and de-
clared that Essex county was adverse
at this time to taking any steps to-
ward any approval of the plans.
I'VE are here seeking information,
not as obstructionists," said Mr..
Evans. "but we do not feel that at
this time we should take any ac-
ton"
Mr.. Malta jumped to his feet with
an amendment to the resolution to
the effect that the freeholders pres
ent report the result of yesterdays
conference to their respective boards
and report the result at a later con-
ference.
The amendment was accepted by
Mr.. Morrison, but it did not seem
to please former Senator Johnson and
he spared for time trying to frame
a resoiut on that would result in some
Havorahle action being taken by the
Nounty representatives at once.
=. " rslly Mr. Johnson asked Direc-
tor Evans: What is to prevent your
1lltlgI aerS mere DlGStHl II esOiiAS5 va
record as in favor of the appointment
of a commission by the Governor to
&c ahead with this Improvement?
."The law" was the quick reply OF
the Essex director. and as Mr.. John
son and the mem ers of the commits
SION looked surprised Mr.. Evans
read chapter PAS of the laws of 1914
providing for the appointment of d
.coromiSs on.
What Mr.. Evans read was this:
"The consent and request OF any
county to the governor to appoint
such commission shall be by resolu-
ton duly passed at n regular meet
ing of the governing body of such
Acounties after such notice and in
such form as is required to duly OBJ
yligate q county to enter into any
legal contract for the payment OF
money; and shall authorize such
commission TO prepare such plans
and specifications and procure est
~ of tNe cost and maintenance
of such bridge or tunnel; the cost to
each of said counties to be fixed in
such resolution not exceed ng, how
ever, a cost to each Of the said coun-
ties of the sum of $1,000"
Putting on the Quietus.
This statement of the law by Mr..
Evans put a quietus on any effort
to jam through a motion or resolu-
ton favoring the plan at yesterday S