Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-26
ORANGE CASE
WILL Be FIRST
ONE CONSIDERED
Hearing on Grade Crossing
Elimination Set for Next
Monday Morning.

Conferences between the Lacka-
wanna railroad, engineering repre-
sentatives of the Public Utilities Com
mission and the cities of Orange and
East Orange, to endeavor to adjust
engineering differences upon grade
crossing elimination, were decided up
on today at hearings before the Public
Utilities Commission The first con-
ference will be upon the Orange prob
lem next Monday morning at 10
o clock, when the commission en-
gineers will go to Orange for a meet
ing in the City Hall. and possibly for
trip over the ground.
The East Orange conference was set
for February II in the East Orange
City Hall. The next regular hearing
was called for February IA in this
city.
That an agreement between Orange
and the Lackawanna could be brought
about without any great difficulty
appeared certain, but the East Orange
situation is considerably different
East Orange, through its counsel,
r. O. Stanley, jr., declared itself un-
alterably opposed to elevation. and
in favor of depression.
Orange, through City Commissioner
William A. Calhoun, had previously
sired elevation.
Cases Are Related.
The Orange and East Orange elm
ination is SO closely related that the
tracks cannot be raised in one city
and depressed in the other. The Lack
awanna, MaXimillian Stoneman said.
was in accord with Oranges elevation
stand.
The points of difference between
the Lackawanna and Orange involve
the extension of Hill street to Oak
wood avenue, and a guarantee regard
ing damages. Mr.. Calhoun explained
that the city was willing to bear 40
per cent. of damages, amounting to
not more than $4,000. The railroad,
Mr.. Stoneman said, wanted the latter
figure increased to 100000.
The Lackawanna announced that in
reference to the Hill street project il
would pay so per cent of the cost of
extending the street and improving
the extension. Mr. Calhoun argued
that the railroad should pay the full
cost in exchange for yhe closing of
Prince street. The railroad asks the
latter concession so that it may run
a track without difficulty into the Or
ange Brewery.
Mr.. Stanley, for East Orange, said
that elevation would be exceedingly
expensive for that municipality. 1t
would pay so per cent. of the dam
ages. according to the present scheme
Estimated damages resulting from
elevation are estimated at $250000, as
against a few thousands from de-
preston.
The city is now having plans pre-
pared by Professor Swain, of Har-
ward, showing how the crossings can
best be eliminated. His report is ex-
pected within two weeks The rail-
road is opposed to depression.
Sloping walls to remove some of the
unpleasantness from depression was
suggested by Mr.. Stanley. Munich
palities beyond Orange are opposed to
depression there, it was stated by
Allan ID. Wallace, who represented
them
In communication to the commits
sion j. ID. Holmes wrote as follows,
in part, upon the Orange situation:
owing to the nature and uses of
the property adjoining the tracks,
little of which is improved, the
changes made by an elevation viii
not be detrimental to the adjoining
or abutting property, except in a few
scattering instances.