Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-31
EAST ORANGE AND
LACKAWANNA ARE
NEAR AGREEMENT
Modified Plans for Track Ele-
vation Find Immediate
Favor.

With the presentation of revised
plans for abollshiug the grade cross
lngs running through the city of
East Orange, the officials of the
Dackawanna railroad last night
paved the way for :, speedy agree
ment between themselves and the city
authorities for a solution of the prob
lem. So hopeful VIE the members
Of tie City Council that il was freely
predicted that at the special meet
ing of the council. called for next
atonday evening, tie tentative plans
preached last night would be accept
ed il seems as IL n change In tho
situation had cone over night, for
bCfaro the session last Z S lt, at which
George j. Ray, clief engineer of the
ROAD, produced the latest Lackawan-
ma proposition, the two negotiating
parties seemed hopelessly at odds and
an appeal to the piiblic Utility Com
mission seemed inevitable
At the meeting officials will give
their views on the tentative PROPOSE
tion offered by NJ. NJ. Stallman. at
torney for the company. which stipu-
lates the city vii pa yhalf the prop
erty damages incident to the chang
ing Of grades of streets. and in ad-
dition meet the charges for resurfac-
ing, repaving and reguttering the
streets disturbed by the work as we'll
as caring for the sidewalks. This lat
ter provision Is provided as city
responsibility under the terms of the
Fielder act. The decision to meet
again next Monday night was arrived
N during City Council conference
following the open meeting, at which
Messrs. Ray and Stallman outlined
the company's plan for doing the job.
which they estimate, vii cost the
Leckawanna railroad s. 600, 900
Record Crowd jams Chamber.
Two hundred and fifty men and
women, comprising the biggest crowd
that has iammed it's way into the
council chamber, heard the argu-
ments of the Lackawanna officials.
Twice the number inside the chamber
and corridor could not squeeze their
way within hearing distance and re-
turned home.
Il was the first time in eleven years
that officials OF the company and city
n ct In public to talk over the prob
lem that has so long been one Of the
leading problems confronting East
Orange
Extending every courtesy to the
LticBa wannaas officials Chairman
Frederick $. Sareiby cut on attempts
te quiz the engineer and lawyer on
the merits of depressing the tracks,
which plan the city officials favor.
II was with the understanding that
the. theme Of the discussion was to
be elevation that President Trues-
dale. of the Lackawanna, sent his
representatives to the meeting.
Officials and spectators alike were
surprised by the revised plans and
proposition offered by Messrs. Ray
and Stallman Until the meeting the
belief was general that the argu-
ments of the representatives would
be on the proposition and plans pro-
yiding for the abolishment of the
grades which We're offered to the city
a decade ago. Mr.. Rays plans showed
the company proposes to depress the
tracks at Fourteenth street, this city
and Fifteenth street, East Orange;
move the latter street crossing $50
feet to the west; start elevation at
Greenwood avenue, continue the de-
preston at Maple avenue, and pass
over the parkway as at present.
small Drop mt Junction"
At Mum avenue the elevation re-
quires that the street surface be de-
pressed only foot and three-fourts
of an inch, Just a matter of taking
up our ties, which We have right
to do" commented Mr.. Ray in ex-
planning the proposal. At Main street
a. f.ItH f4WH., In ha.
road to NEE the elevation, although
1t was generally believed, because of
the ancient plans of "A decade ago,
that the roadway In the heart Of the
Junction" business section must be
lowered seven or eight feet The
streets west of Main street would not
have to be changed, excepting at Hal
stead street, where a slight reducing
of the road surface-a foot and ten
inches--is required to give the over
head clearance.
All the other streets remain at the
present grade The city depots will
remain as at present, II was eX-
planned, but the East Orange station
will be moved west, nearer Arlington
avenue. The changes east Of the
parkway furnish the most serious
objection The engineer stated that
the depression through Maple avenue
would require that the present high
street level there would have TO be
elevated about ten feet to allow the
tracks to pass underneath.
At Grove street, to allow elevation
of the tracks over the street, the lat
ter would have to be dropped about
eleven feet, and at Greenwood ave
nue the drop of the street would be
about twelve feet. Mr.. Ray naively
remarked in his explanat on that If
the city wanted better clearances for
rigs than the allowance Of twelve
feet six inches the street might be