Year: 1879

NEW JERSEY CENTRAL FIGHTING THE PENNsYL-


vANIA AND LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROADS IN


THE JERSEY Observation-Disclosures FOR


VOTES FoGEsHADowED DEFEAT.


TRENTON, Feb IA, 1879.


The great fight between the New Jersey Central
Railroad Company on the one side and the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company on the other over the con-
strucon of bridge the Morris Canal at Wash
ington street. Jersey City. is causing much excite
ment throughout the State. The Pennsylvania has
for it's allies the Morris Canal and Banking Company
the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. and Messrs.
Matthieson Weichers. proprietors of sugar house
property abutting Washington street If the bridge
built the New Jersey Central would have
direct communication with Jersey City and
the necessity of plotting over her passengers
in ferryboat from side to the other,
the as now, would be obvated The
Pennsylvania Railroad Company does not want that,
because the result would give the Central free COM
petition for carrying passengers and freight The
great trouble is that the Central wants to bond ax
ridden Jersey City to the further extent of 100000
to pay the expense of the project Then. besides
the contract made by the State with the Morris Canal
and Banking Company in 1867, whereby certain privi-
leges granted at the disputed location, and for
which that corporation now pays into the school
fund of the State $4,000 annually, would. 1t is





Matthieson and weichers. who state that
their interests would be ruined if the
bridge should be built. They obtained deed to
their property. abutting Washington street. they
say, in good faith and honor. They employ nearly
one thousand men day the year round. They have
made great improvements and proved themselves
great help to the industrious population OF Jersey
City. Now. they contend, 'if the bridge is built. we
will be compelled to move our factory over to Long
Island other place, because our water front
would be destroyed and we could not have necessary
navigation.


ONE CORPORATION SUPPORTS THE OTHER.


The American Dock and Improvement Company
to the rescue of the Central Railroad Company
by adopting series of preanlbles and resolutions in
favor Of the bridge which. among other things, sets
forth that "this company and the Central Railroad
stock this company, have paid the State s414725
for lands under water, south OF the premises
so granted to the said canal company. besides
about s3.0oO,OO0 in reclaiming the said lands
which are cut off from Jersey City and
Hudson county by the lands under water so granted
to the said canal company; and not only are the
lands of this company rendered Of much less value
than if not so isolated but the said Central company
and the people of Jersey City and of Hudson county
and OF the communities on the line of the Central
the profit and convenience which is their right to
enjoy. and which would result from bridging
Washington street in the grant to the said canal com


lit is represented contrary to the opinion of the
highest court of New Jersey, that the lands under
water granted to the said canal company differing
from all other property in the State are not subject
compensation being given to be crossed by the con-
StructiOu but that Jersey City must
never extend further southward that its inhabitants
must never enjoy the advantages in trade and con
venience OF communication by the Central Railroad
with other parts OF the State, or the inhabitants OF
other parts of the State have intercourse by said rail-
road with that city.


"Apd the proposed bridge will leave more than
fve-sixths of the basin, which is the premises
granted to the said canal company east, or on the
river side of the proposed bridge. and vessels will
pass to the west of the bridge only occasionally and
experience in this country and England shows that
bridging Washington street will not njure the basin
Resolutions then adopted favoring the construc
tion the bridge and to the effect that the company
will pay the State the required annual rental &c But
there is nothing said about the expense. Apparently
Jersey City must be sadded with that to the extent
OF 100000 or more.


DEFEAT FoREsHADowEp.


aoainst the hl as at present draWn The b Is vry
strong in its provisions, gives unlimited power and
is mandatory. This is the prevailing opinion. Major
OConnor, of Newark Dominic Robinson of Patcr
son; Mr. Herring. of Camden; Mr.. Deacon, OF Bur
lngton, among those who share this view.
awake legislators. Judge Lathrop. a member
of the Court OF Errors and Appeals, and re-
eeiver Of the New Jersey Central directs the
and his chosen hanchmen here in the well known
occupation as lobbyists The Pennsylvania inter-
ests taken care OF by Culver Barcalow veteran
lobbyist who has corps of willing workers 1t is
said this great fight between the two giant corpora
tions will cost each over $4,000 The contest will be
renewed on Monday night in the House. The bill
will probably pass by very small majority. but
when it goes to the Senate positive defeat is almost
inevitable. The lowest price offered for q vote is
$500. At least that is the report, however true it
may be. The longer the fight lasts the better for the
lobby and hotel keepers. 1t is remarkable fact that
while it is alleged the people of Jersey City favor the
building of the bridge the Mayor and Board of Alder
men, the Board of Public Works. the Board of FL
nance and all other municipal bodies of that city,
have presented strong remonstrances against the
project. Aud the Jersey City members are not
unanimous the question:. Messrs: Mcdonald and
Meeks having taken a decided stand in opposition
1t is the great fight of the session. and may not end
for weeks yet.