Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1910-08-12
Argue M after al
Public Meeting
Last Night.
ONE OBJECTION

Action was taken In the form of a
resolution adopted at Joint open
meeting of the Board of Trade and
the council chamber at city hall, en-
dorsing the proposed sale of the So
called WET Dock" property by the
Board of Aldermen. But one excep-
tion was heard when a ballot on the
resolution was called for, the dis
senting vote being made by Emil
Frey, secretary of the Central Labor
Union, who objected to the sale be,
cause of the small price offered the
city. Mr. Frey's objection, however,
was overruled and the resolution
carried.
Following is the resolution:
Whereas we believe. that it will
be for the best interests of the city
of Perth Amboy to have the proper
ty known as the Wet Dock occupied
by live industry which will employ
labor. improve the property and pay
taxes, and whereby also the affairs
Of the Middlesex County Bank and
the Perth Amboy Shipbuilding and
Engineering Company may be set
tied;
BE it resolved that we endorse
the proposed sale thereof by the
Board Of Aldermen and urge upon
them the advisability of making the
same at once"
Harry Conard, cashier of the First
National Bank, was present and
showed the advisability, financially.
of effeeting sale. The former de-
positors of the defunct Middlesex
County. Bank, he said, would be
given something like twenty per
cent. dividend, and the affairs of the
shipbuilding company formerly occu-
pying the "Wet Dock" would be
cleared up. Mr.. Conard vouched for
the drug company, the intended pur-
chasers of the property, saying that
the corporation was reliable, and
a teir promises were good. Mr.. Frey,
However, was opposed to the sale
and spoke for a half-hour or more,
his sole objection, however. being
the smallness of the price offered,
5000. M
Albert Leon, secretary Of the
Board of Trade, made clear to the
audience that the sale price matter
ed little, inasmuch as the city would
In few years receive revenue far
beyond the price suggested by Mr..
Frey, which 1t would not get were
the property to remain idle for a
score or more years In anticipation
of purchaser. .--
President of the Board of Trade
D. r. Olmstead opened the meeting.
He reviewed the history of the Wet
Dock since the city acquired 1t, deal
ing with the report of Special Mas
ter Thompson, and the arguments
advanced pro and con, concerning
the sale of the property. Mr.. Ohm
stead stated that contrary to opinion
the plot was not entirely surrounded
by other land, but crossed street,
one part being above, and the other
below the thoroughfare. He stated
the purpose Of the meeting and ask
ed for opinions for and against the
proposed sale.
A. F, MunoZ responded and said
he was unable to see why the report
of the special master declared the
city had little or nothing to sell
when records on Ale in the county
clerks office set forth that the prop
erty was four and three-quarter
dCl C5 ia ciLCse LAG. dVNini W. SAN~s~ W -
room for investigation to ascertain
the exact size OF the land. Further
more, Mr.. Munoz declared, 100000
was offered for the Wet Dock prop
erty fifteen years ago and today II
commands but $1,000 Mr.. Olmstead
Informed Mr.. MunoZ that the mas
ter's report had nothing to do with
the sale as 1t was merely a matter
OF clearing title.
Mr.. Frey said that the master g
report on the title mattered little as
no one disputed the city's title to
the, land and no one laid claim to 1t.
There Is no other title in exist
ence," said Mr.. Frey. "If the city
does not own 1t who doesf The
Perth Amboy shipbuilding Company
does not own 1t, because they recog-
nize the city's ownership by leasing
it, The city wants to sell property
worth $780, 900 for $4,000"
Arguments on the other hand
were advanced by Mr.. Leon, who
said he advocated the sale rather
than have the property idle and re-
(Contiu1Iad on mage &