Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1914-12-24
PAL|SADESPARK
CALLED PLOT TO
SERVE WEALTHY
Property-Owners Charge Park
Board Uses Highwaymen's
Methods.

ALBANY, Dec. 24.-Counsel for the
Conklin-Foss Trap Rock Company
charged before Supreme Court Jus
tice Sewell yesterday that the effort
of the Palisades Interstate Park
Commission of which George D. Per-
lEins is president, to condemn the
company's $1O,000,000 quarries at
Haverstraw is part of a scheme of
rich men who have estates on the
east side of the river to acquire quiet
and beautiful scenery for their own
comfort. 1t was said they objected
20 the blasting.
This was part of an argument
which persuaded Justice Sewen to
deny a motion made by the commits
sion to dismiss restraining order
granted by him last week This
order prevents the commission from
taking any further action in the pro-
ceeding to condemn the quarries
until an application for a perma-
nent injunction is decided at Bing-
hamton on January 5.
Counsel for the quarrymen will
contend that the Palisades Park
commission act Is unconstitutional
because it does not furnish the funds
TO carry out the purposes of the, act
and that the commission has not
enough money to pay for the quarry
should it be condemned. They also
will attempt to show that the COM
mission is an unconstitutional body
because 1t consists of ten members,
five from New Jersey and five from
New York.
Upholds Condemnation Commission.
Nobody can possibly be injured by
6n fx3fv nF n
commission, because the commission
must advertise for thirty days be-
fore opening hearings, and before the
expiration of that period the perma-
nent injunction matter will have been
disposed Of" said eX-Deputy Attor-
ney-General Kellogg, who appeared
for the commission.
'tThe appointment of q condemna-
tlon commission would require the
Conklin-F -Foss company Immediately
to spend large amounts of money
getting expert witnesses" said Lynn
J. Arnold, of counsel for the bond
holders. "The company could not af-
ford to delay ten days before max
ing q start at getting it's proof"
He declared the village of Rock
land Lake, with a population of 1,6OO,
would be wiped out If the quarry
was condemned, because the male
population is employed at the quar-
ries.
Mr.. Arnold said the commission was
using highwaymen's tactics to get
ho.d of the quarry and that competi-
tors already were telling customers
that the company could no longer
contract to furnish stone because Its
property was about to be con-
denned.
"The commission is trying to club
the owners of few properties who
don't want to sell into dicker!ng with
It at private SALE" said Charles e.
Hotchkiss, of counsel for the quarry
men. I'VE will produce affidavits
showing that the Palisades Park
Commission is trying to change the
specifications on public contracts SO
as to get rid OF the demand for trap
rock and substitute inferior stone
Commission Offers se27.OO0
It also was charged that since the
Injunction was applied for the COM
mission had increased its offer to the
company by several hundred thou
sand dollars The commission has
offered 1927 900 for the upper quarry.
Justice Sewell said the only ques-
sion apparently involved was that or
damage to the company should the
condemnation board be appointed.
immediate appointment of this board
would be detrimental to the COM
pany, and therefore he denied the
motion.
Mr.. Arnold wrote letter to George
A. Blauvelt IF the firm of Carmody,
Kellogg g. Blauvelt. asking him as
attorney for the park commissioners
whether or not the primary object
of the Palisades Park Commission
was to stop blasting along the river
hank which could not be st5pped in
an action at law or in equity. and
was a private scheme to do something
Indirectly which could not be done
directly, and whether or not the com
mission proposed to acquire the brick
wards at Haverstraw to preserve the
scenic beauty. He said that II he
was not Furnished with this informa-
ton he would applv for q court or
der to take the testimony of the In
tlividuai commissioners ard private
contributors to the park fund.