Perth Amboy evening news., 1903-09-18
THE
PURCHASE.
Taxpayers Want the Westmins-
ter SeCured-One Man Objects
Because Of Taxes.
CITY NEEDS A PARK.

To further ascertain public opinions
to the advisability of purchasing the
Westminster for public use and keep
ing it as it landmark of the
colonial days, the Evening News has
secured more statements from the
property owners and tax payers.
Alderman B. NJ Cannon, when
seen, declared that there was no doubt
but that Perth Amboy needed a park.
"Both the park idea and the sugges-
tion to convert the building into a
school house are good. l have not
had time to consider the matter very
thoroughly, but if the building is
suited for the purpose, and 1 am told
it is, l see no reason why it should
not be secured AS that section of
the city between State street and the
Central railroad builds up another
building will certainly be needed
there. like the park idea. Perth
Amboy should have one. There is
room enough down there for two base
ball diamonds and tennis courts and
such sports and with the rule baseball
should not be played during school
hours, there is no reason why the two
should not go together nicely. AS l
said before, I have not investigated
the matter thoroughly, but it looks to
me like very good proposition. "
William H. Mccormick has the
following to say:
81 favor the purchase of the West
minister and its transformation into a
public park or institution. Perth
Amboy is not very large place as to
area and, as i'll the future we will
need public place of this sort, 1t
would be an excellent plan for the
city to purchase the property outright
now, and we will be saved going into
another township for such place,
besides great expense. Perth Amboy' s
rate ofsgrowth is such that in a few
years time such a splendid chance
" ill not be had because of no avail
able land. We have few enough land
marks now and to allow the proper
ty cut up into lots would seem like
desecrating sacred place. AS a
school it would be the solving of the
question of accommodating the schol-
ars for whom there is now no room. :"
Edward M. Kelly thinks the idea of
securing the place to the public an
excellent one. He says, II favor the
purchase of the Westminster as the
action will prove very beneficial to
the town in every way"
Assessor James Growney sees the
matter differently, when asked to ex-
press himself on the matter he said:
"Our people are kicking and howl.
ing now about the excessive tax. l
do not think it wise to increase the
burden of taxation as the money neces-
sary must be raised in this manner, if
it is to be raised at all. -
James Chapman thinks we'll of the
project. He says:
"The city could issue bonds for the
purchase of the place. l think there
would be plenty of people to take
them. The increase of taxation would
be barely noticeable, and what is
So. 900 or So, 600 per year when expend-
ed in such manner? do not further
the idea of using the building as Il
school because it is not adapted to
that purpose. Let it he a kind of
public hall. Our City Hall is crowd
ed and several of the large rooms
could be used for meetings. A collec-
tion of relics from around the city
would make the place an excellent
historical museum.
Mr. Chapman shows his good faith
as to the bonds by declaring his will
ingness to take 81, 900 worth if they
were issued for this purpose.