Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-11-05

THE Jersey Central Traction
Company shall furnish, free of
charge, to the Board of Chosen Free
holders of the County of Middlesex,
electrical power adequate to open
and close the draw in the bridge"
The time limit for this ordinance
expired September Is, 1908, but
August 5, 1909, it was extended until
July 8, 1910, shortly after which
time the cars were in operation. We
have not heard of anything that
changes the meaning of the franchise
and it would seem proper for the
freeholders to at once notify the
Jersey Central Traction Company to
make the necessary connections that
the draw may be swung by electricity
as soon as possible.
The delays complained of at
present are getting unbearable. IN
some instances South Amboy people
could travel almost to New Bruins
wick while they are crossing the
river to Perth Amboy. Needless to
say the trolley schedule is almost
continually disrupted, to say nothing
of the delays to the hundreds of
people who use the bridge daily in
other vehicles.
A ten horsepower gasolene engine
is decidedly too small to do the work
required on the bridge. Traffic both
through and on the bridge is con-
stantly increasing. A draw to be of
any use must be operated quickly.
ELECTRICITY is the right power to use
and 1t seems to be within h a
of the freeholders. Why not have 1t
Installed at once?
We remember distinctly when the
hearings were on before the free
holders In relation to granting the
franchise to the Jersey Central that
lighting the bridge with fifty mean
descant electric lights and furnish
ing the motive power to swing the
draw were two of the strongest argu-
ments offered why the franchise
should be granted. Other agree
ments were that the franchise should
not be exclusive; that it should run
for a period Of only twenty years;
that that part of the bridge used by
the traction company should be
planked at the expense of the trac-
ton company and that a Ave cent
fare should be maintained from any
lpoint on the lines of the Jersey Gem
trail Traction Company in South
Amboy to m point on the same line
in Perth Amboy. The EVENING
NEWS pointed out at the time that
we did not believe there was a more
liberal franchise, from the peoples
standpoint, in the state than this one.
The freeholders did well to adopt Ii.
The value of the agreement is seen
now when the power to turn the
draw is found insufficient and the
freeholders have electric current at
their command without cost to the
county.
In regard to fares it is interesting
to note what the franchise has to say
along this line.
Section 2, paragraph 8, reads as
follows: 1.-THE fare from any place
on the lines of the tracks of the Jer-
sey Central Traction Company In
South Amboy, to any place on the
lines of said company in Perth Am
boy for one continuous passage
shall not exceed the sum of five
cents"
AS far as we are informed. the
Jersey Central is living up to this
agreement. But the Public Service
Railway, which is now using the
Jersey Central tracks to maintain {
service across the bridge, in SONS
instances is collecting three fares
from certain points in South Amboy
to certain points in Perth Amboy
This is decidedly contrary to the
spirit of the franchise. AS far a. the
bounty is concerned. the only com,
pany recognized as having a right
on the bridge is the Jersey Central
1t would seem that when the Jersey
Central enters into an agreement