Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-28
Four Different Crossing
Elimination Plans At
Big Mass Meeting Here

mittee, this being that the plans fol
the city, as prepared in 1915, were
drawn up under the personal direc-
ton of George W. Hand, who at that
time was chief engineer of the Lack
awanna railroad and called for Il
drop in the Central railroad tracks
of as much as 22 feet at Washington
street. The new railroad plans have
a maximum drop of 16 feet and 1t
is claimed by the railroads they cam
not drop them lower, it was pointed
out, although Engineer Hand, who
is now the chief engineer of the
Lehigh Valley railroad showed sew
en- years ago that this was possible.
City Engineer Larson, prior to ex-
planning the railroads plans, denied
that he had approved of the plans
as presented to the city and said he
thought the city should fight to get
all it can to its advantage before
accepting any plans. He explained
that the railroads plans were pre-
pared by railroad engineers without
consulting the city and represent
what the railroad wants to give the
city. The city's wishes are not con-
sidered in these plans, Mr.. Larson
said, and therefore should not be
adopted.
Mr.. Booz Speaker
Speaking in behalf of the plans
| which he has prepared as special
engineer, engaged by the city for
| this work, Mr.. Booz pointed out tina
| in--.making. his plans he~ has talk&T
| into consideration the possibilities of
getting from the railroads what the
| city asks. He said the plan OF For
rest l.. Smith is no doubt practic-
able, but the cost to the railroads
| in putting in effect such plan would
be so tremendous that they would
not even consider it. In making his
plan Mr. Booz said, he has tried to-
inculcate ideas which would benefit
| the city and at the same time would
not cost the railroad so much as to
make them impossible.
| Mr. Booz explained that his plans
call for the railroad dropping their
tracks four feet more than the,r
own plans call for. When this
| change was made known to the
railroads, he said. their engineers
Immediately baked at the idea.
claiming that this change would en-
| tail an additional expense of $200
| 900 and that the railroads would
not be willing to do this. THE rail-
roads will not accept these plans II
! mine" Engineer Booz told the as
semblage. "These other plans cali
upon the railroads to spend hum
dreds of thousands of dollars more,
the engineer declared, and conse
auently cannot be considered unless
the city is willing to pay part of
the cost, then of course we can
make them as elaborate as we
choose"
Three Per Cent Grades
The street grades at Market and
Smith streets, according to his owll
plans, Mr.. Booz said, are three per
cent, whereas F. l.. Smiths plans
call for five per cent. grades over
these two streets. At Washington
street even with "a foot bridge, he
| pointed out, the street grade Will pc
only four or four and one-haf per
cent, whereas with an eight foot
depression, as called for in r. L.
Smiths plans. the grades will be five
per cent and "hole," similar to
that at New Brunswick avenue un-
der the Lehigh Valley tracks, VIII
result.
MAIDS IT, Madsen, speaking In fa-
vor of f.. H. Smiths plans, said he
thought them to be a great improve
ment over the city's or railroads and
, urged that the aldermen consider
, them before finally deciding on the
: adoption OF any. William Sellers,
: a resident of Amboy avenue. be-
: tween Washington street and New
Brunswick avenue, spoke strongly
against any plans which would
: leave n depression under the Le-.
, high Valley tracks at New Bruns-
wick avenue. He maintained the
Lehigh Valley should be forced to
raise its tracks SO that the street
level would not be effected. An-
thony Cerbo. another resident and
property owner in this locahty
: spoke along similar lines.
Rasmus Hansen asked whether or
not the expense of building. ap-
proaches to the bridges would nave
: TO be borne by the city, in reply to
/ which City Attorney Leo Goldberger
; read the law showing that the entire
expense must be raid by the railroad
, except for the relaying OF water ana
sewer pipes, curhing, etc.
= Max Shapiro spoke in tavor oi
; some plans being adopted whereby
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