The Brooklyn Road

New York, 1895

A Bill to Permit the City to Purchase the Turnpike.

Mayor Schieren of Brooklyn gave a hearing Monday on the bill now before the Legislature to permit the city to purchase that part of the old Jamaica and Brooklyn plank road lying within Kings county. Thomas S. Moore, representing the Brooklyn, Queens County and Suburban railroad company, appeared in opposition to the bill.

He said the bill was not a satisfactory one, because it was not specific in its provisions for paying for the property it was proposed to acquire. It does not state when the payment shall be made. It might be ten, twenty or thirty years. There is also no provision for the interest on the bonds which would have to be issued. The bill is obnoxious, because it enables the city to take possession of the street without paying anything for it.

The railroad company, which acquired the old Jamaica Electric railroad plant secured at the same time a right to the turnpike. The turnpike is not kept in good condition, and there have been many attempts to have the city acquire it. Alderman Clark said he was decidedly in favor of keeping the bill just as it is, for if an attempt was made to change it because of technical objections it was not likely to pass this legislature.

Mr. Moore insisted upon amendments. He is to see the corporation counsel and let the mayor know the result of the meeting with him. It is probable that some changes will be made.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 5, 1895, p. 8.