Newark star-eagle., 1916-01-31
RAILWAY ROUTE IN
ORANGE INSPECTED
!; BY UTILITY BOARD
Orange and LackaWanna Of
fcials Present to Discuss
: Changes.

road, with the Orange Board OF 1Oil-
nlissioners and Engineer Charles \.
Mead of the Public Utility Commits
sion, went over the iight-ofWay of
the steam road in Orange this morn
ing TO discuss the damages to be
awarded property-ow for the pro
posed elevation of the tracks. For
the first time the city officials had the
typewritten list of auoNau ces the
company expects will be made by the
city officials who are to apportlon
sums due owners of land and build
ings for the changes in grade and
closing of streets.
While the estimate of the railroad
folks is, of course. not final, since the
commissioners who are to assess the
sums have not as yet met. II was
quite interesting to learn that the re
vision of amounts now brings the
proposed total of damages TO about
$4,000 AS the property damages
maximum is one of the serious bones
Of contention between the railroad
and city the significance of the vari-
GUS sums is apparent.
The railroad has named $4,000 as
the proper maximum, while the city
maintains it ought to be asked 10 pay
anly 80 per cent. of 100000. Ii the rail-
road engineers have estimated with
any degree of accuracy, and the city
officials appeared to feel that even
some further slicing might be possible,
the differences of opinion over the
correct maximum 10 be decided upon
Is not so serious.
Discuss Stret Closing.
One of the first things the officials
did. following the gathering at the
Orange city hall. which was quickly
adjourned, the men getting right down
10 the study of damages at Prince
street, was the question of closing
that thoroughfare. Commissioner
Harry D. WethlinE raised the ques
ton of the necessity Of closing that
street, as the company plans, The
railroad folk said one reason for clos
ing the street and then extending
* fIilI street from its present terminus
ct Prince street. through to Oakwood
ayenue. which improvement. the com
Dany estimates, will cost but A.3S4
including the purchase of land for
The street extension, was to enable a
switch to be put into the Orange
Brewery at the present grade of the
brewery property fronting ON Prince
street
TO get the siding in, if Prince street
is left open, to accommodate the north |
orly sections of the brewery, where |
coal bottles. etc, are taken from the
cars the company must have elevated |
tracks with consequent changes in |
The brewery property. The tracks |
would be more than story in height !
aboye the present levels, the railroad |
folks averred.
How about the other business con- |
Germs who are to get switches con |
tinued?" asked Commissioner Weth- |
ling
"They don't care SO long as the |
switches are continued" replied Chief |
Engineer George r. Hand, You folks
are the only ones who did not want TO |
make changes in your property
Changes Necessary.
Commissioner Wethling said that II
tho street remained open his concern
@cuid naturally have to make changes
10 meet the new conditions, and the
discussion was ended.
II developed that the typewritten !
figures showing approximate damages
had not been previously given the city |
officials. 1--WE always had the figures, |
but you never asked for them" was
The explanation given by Engineer |
Hand to Commissioner Wethling.
The start of talk on property dam
ages began with the North Orange |
Baptist Church property, fronting on |
Prince street and South Main street. |
The church is To be given no damages, |
the railroad folk said as closing off |
The side street south of the property
was not believed to occasion any |
claim for any. The land south of the
tracks will be considered with the
opening of Hill street. Property nearer
he steam road, however, will figure
in the allowances. Going TO Hickory
street, il was stated no damages will
be paid there either, and Commerce
street, which is to be closed, the lots
lust south of the tracks will get about
$500 each.
At Center. Cone street and Essex
avenue. no damages will be oc-
casioned, the railroad folk declared,
as the street changes will not create
any unusual condition. At Center
street only slight change to the
street will be made. not even the curb
line being affected. In Cone street,
100, the crown of the road will so
lower, but properties will not be in
inred in the opinion of the railroad
engineers. The street level at the car
racks win 60 down about a foot.
The men who went over the line in
cluded Macmillan M. Stallman. coun-
sci for the Lackawanna: Mayor Dan
iel +. Minahan and Commissioners
Wethling, Murray and Kearney
Commissioner Calhoun was laid up
with an liberated tooth and the grip.
city Counsel Arthur b. Seymour and
City Engineer Fred r. Crane were
also representing the city. city En-
gineer William ID. WilliGerod joined
tho group at Hickory street and went
over the route, while Borden u, Whit
ing, now town attorney of West Or
ange. and formerly city counsel of
Alast Orange, who figured in the East
Orange situation, was an interested
observer at the Orange depot for a
few minutes.
At the council chamber session
Nayor Minahan opened the session
with a brief statement and Engineer
Meade suggested getting right out on
the tracks, and the men Immediately
iourneyed there. The walk adjourned
at noon at the Orange depot. when
luncheon was taken, and at ! O'Clock
The men started off again from Essex
avenue to finish the task.
TIE Utilities Commission suggested
the meeting of today, following the
gathering of the Orange and railroad
folk last week in this city. Conf
dence was expressed that the Orange
problem bids fair TO be settled soon,
and then the utilities body will use its
GOOD graces to end the East Orange
deadlock.
Asked why the company stood out
for the $50, 900 damages maximum, de-
spite the company's figures as USED
today, Engineer Ray called attention
TO the fact that commissioners. not
the railroad, will finally settle the
amounts.
IF the company were the ones to
fix the damage sums, of course the
situation would be different, he re-
marked informally.