Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-07
HISTORY OF NEWARK CITY PLAN COMMISSION
AND HOW ITS WORK HAS ADVANCED SINCE 1911

In March, 1911, the Legislature
passed an act which authorized the
Mayor in cities of the first class to
appoint a commission of not more
than nine citizens ito prepare a plan
for the systematic and future devel-
opment of said city"
On June l, 1911, Mayor Haussling,
in compliance with the law, appoint
ed nine citizens as members of the
city Plan Commission. These men
met and organized. as follows:
David Grotta, president
Austen H. McGregor, vice-president.
Samuel E. Robertson, treasurer
Frederic Bigelow.
John Cotton Dana,
Christian W. Feigenspan.
Frederick j. Keer
John F. Kehoe
GustaVus Staehlin
Newton II. Porter acted as secretary.
Various changes have occurred in
the personnel of the commission since
its original reappointment. Messrs.
Joseph NJ. Byrne, Richard Stockton
and Augustus V. Hamburg have sue
ceeded to the places left vacant by
Commissioners Bigelow, Kehoe and
Robertson. Commissioner McGregor
succeeded Commissioner Grotta as
president; Mr.. Robert L. Ross sue
ceeded Mr.. Porter as secretary.
Mr.. Il. p. Goodrich and Mr.. George
b. Ford, both of New York, We're en-
gagged as experts in March, 1912.
Preliminary Report.
On June /. 1912, the experts issued
their first report to the commission.
This report was in the nature of an
outline, describing the fields which
the experts proposed to study, and
the problems to be met, together with
detailed description of work done
to date and the lines along which
studies were being made This report
included a list of maps already made
or under way. consideration of GER
tain street openings and widenings
and brief statements on canal, mar
ket ana trolley questions.
Market Report
In September. 1912, the commission
forwarded to the Mayor and Common
Council the report of its experts on
the market problem. Abolition OF the
present retail market was favored
because, by actual counts of patrons,
1t was found to serve less than 4
per cent. of the population of New
ark; because the retail market is not
the best means of meeting the prob
lens of food supply, and because
food in the market was no cheaper
or fresher than elsewhere, despite the
fact that the rents are low and the
situation is such as to afford good
business opportunities.
In place of the retail market was
suggested the erection of a wholesale
market east of the freight yard at
South Broad street, where the citys
food supply could be handled in a
systematic manner with considerable
efficiency and economy. Because of
the fact that public opinion did not
warrant the abolition of the retail
market, further suggestions have
been offered for the erection of re-
tail markets in the various COM
munity centres about the city. For
example: Eighth avenue, near Shelf
field street; Broome street, near Eight
zenith avenue; Springfield avenue.
near Tenth street; Ferry street, near
Hamburg place.
Traffic Report.
On November g., 1912, a report ON
traffic conditions was submitted to
the commission by the experts. Con
ditions at the intersection of Market
and Broad streets were considered in
detail in a sub-report. entitled IAN