Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-18
MADISON TIES UP
RAILROADS PLANS
Borough Holds Out for Terms
of It's Ordinance and Crossing
Elimination Is Delayed.


MADISON, Feb. 1S.-Present indi'
cations are that the negotiations be-
tween the borough of Madison anc
the Lackawanna railroad in relation
to the elimination of grade crossings
here are In a tie-up. An executive
session of the Common Council fol
the purpose of discussing the matter
was held in the Council room on Sat
urday evening. but nothing was ac-
complished. The ordinance submitted
by Borough Attorney Rathbun to the
railroad for consideration was turned
down, but the company heads stated
that they are ready to accept any
proposition which the town wishes to
make with the objectionable features
eliminated. To this end the commit
tee is now laboring. When asked
about the ordinance that he had sub
mitted, Mr.. Rathbun stated that 1t
was a good, fair ordinance, and
sought to take no advantage Of the
railroad company"
First Setback for Railroad.
As this is the first town in this
vicinity where the company has met
with a setback, discussion is naturally
very lively on the subject. 1t is
thought by many that since the road
tried TO get the town to accept a
contract which took no consideration
OF the obrough at all that the Council
should sturdily stand out for its
rights. 1t is generally admitted that
by allowing the Lackawanna to use
Kings road as a bed for their new
road that the town is saving the
A. N-1 90
and convenience. Should they have
to jack their tracks UP gradually 1t
would take them a great deal longer
time, besides cutting down the speed
of all tranns passing through the
town.
In return for this the authorities
think that the company ought to
give them a good proposition at
Ridgedale avenue, which street the
railroad wanted TO close entirely. The
town thinks it would be a nice thing
If shrubbery were planted on the
embankment. but here the company
differs. Again, it is thought that the
town should insist on the plans being
shown for the new station, or at least
O. description of it be given in the
contract ut the Lackawanna says:
Pass our ordinance and then we will
talk about the new station" In his
report to the council, Engineer IN
rue, of Morristown, a former en-
ployee of the railroad, and who was
engaged by the borough to report
on the conditions existing through
here, stated that the company could
just as easily as not raise their pro-
posed elevation four and one-half
feet. This would not only save cut
ting at both Waverly place and Green
Village road, releases the cut at Mad
ison avenue and make an easy cross
ing possible at Ridgedale avenue, but
would also give the railroad better
grade, both coming in and going
out of Madison.
Borough Has Best of Situation. 4
In the opinion of leading citizens
and some of the council, the Dor
ough has the best of the situation as
II now stands. Madison Is no worse
off than it has been for many years
with regard TO railroad facilities.
while the company has commenced
work In the elimination of the curve
between Madison and Chatham,
which cannot be completed without
Madison's consent. Without the con-
sent of the borough, the company
cannot put spade in either Union
or Sampson avenues, both of which
would have to be disturbed under the
present plans for the curve elimina-
tion,