Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-06-03
Both City and Railroads Prac-
ticaIIy Complete Arguments
Before Public Utility Board.
TALK ABOUT NEW DEPOT
$50, 900 Station is Included in
Elimination of Crossings
Here, R. R. Officials Say.
CASE OPEN UNTIL JUNE 80
Removal of Crossings at Eliza
beth Likely to Halt Opera
tons in This City.


Both the city and railroads have
| completed argument before the
Board of Public Utility Commission
erB for and against the elimination of
five dangerous railroad grade CROSS
ings in this city. The rendition of
testimony was completed yesterday
when the commissioners sat at Jersey
City. The case was left open until
June 30 for the presentation of such
other plans. estimates and evidence
| as the city, railroad companies and
the Public Service Railway Company
may find 1t expedient to enter on the
record. 1t was brought out at the
hearing In the court house of Jersey
City yesterday, that the plan (epar-
ed by the Central Railroad Company
of New Jersey is almost similar to
that of the city's engineers. That of
the railroad company is not object
ed to, except on two counts and they
| involve the depression of two streets
| farther than the city mad planned
and the lessening of headway at 9TH
er points to such a degree that troll
ley cars might not be admitted
The Central railroad company put
on two witnesses to prove that
financial conditions at present did
not warrant the carrying on of the
grade separation work in this city at
the present time. They were w. G..
Besler, president of the jersey Cen
trial, and Edward T. Stotesbury, a
member Of the Morgan firm of bank
a rr nF
trails finance committee. The latter
lread statement In which he ex-
pressed belief that It would be ex-
ttremely unwise to issue unsecured
notes at this time The war had a
great effect on the money market. he
declared, and he stated that money
was costing the Central railroad
more than six per cent. The banker
also declared that it would be Diff
ficult for the company to secure more
money for financing the elimination
work in view Of the fact that such in
Ivestments, being unproductive of
revenue, were unattraetive to men
with money. In conclusion, Mr..
EStotesbury said he was opposed to
any such large expenditure when
money had to be obtained for short
terms and It was not known how the
projects would be financed after the
short terms had expired.
President Besler declared 1t would
G unwise to carry on the Elizabeth
ort and Perth Amboy elimination
work at the same time, for both
financial and traffic reasons. He
read from long lists of expenditures
and demands upon the company,
which ran into the millions of dol
lars. He declared 1t would cost
s6,736,000 for the replacing of
bridges and over 100000 for gen.
eral work
Engineer Hand, employed by the
city, told the commission yesterday
in response to questions from Attor-
ney Reynolds for the Central Rail
road Company, that it would require
about 100 tons Of 81" beams for
carrying tracks over concrete at
Washington street and this, he be-
lteved, would cost about $4,000. In
submitting figures to offset the city's
estimates, the Central engineers af-
terward declared that approximately
200 tons would be necessary and
similarly large quantities were
figured over those of the city for
other work, particularly with regard
to concrete bridge work and a con-
crete wall where new sidings would
be constructed for private business
interests between New Brunswick
avenue and Smith street.
Where Mr.. Hand and the other
city engineer had estimated ten per
cent for contingencies, the railroads
xo.l L. \
dition thereto, five per cent for ex-
tras. Mr. Hand testified that he con-
cluded the necessary filing material
for the raising of the road bed would
be procured from some southern
point not more than ten or fifteen
miles distant. He had not picked
out the exact spot. He also testi-
fed that automatic signals would be
installed temporarily in connection
with the temporary tracking Mr..
Hand estimated further that it would
cost about $4,000 to raise the Le-
high Valley tracks 20 meet new
grades at both Washington street
and New Brunswick avenue. He fig
ured that there were 5000 feet of |
track, averaging six tracks on the |
Lehigh Valley, which he believed |
could be raised at cost of thirty |
six cents lineal foot. He fig
ured that two tracks could remain |
in use while the others were being |
raised. Traffic on the Central line
would be handled on temporary
tracks running parallel to present
line, during the construction work,
according to Mr.. Hand. So far as the
task of raising the northerly end of
the Raritan river railroad bridge was
Mr.. Hand concluded that
his could be done while the bridge
was in use.
tContInned on page ~