Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-08-12
AVENUE
MAY Be IMPROVED
WITH STATE AID
Estimates of Cost of Work to Be
Made at Next Meeting of
Hudson Freeholders.

AS the result OF Freeholder John W
Roche, of Kearny. taking the position
of director of the Hudson County Board
of Freeholders, the road committee OF
the board and County Counsel John W.
Griffin recently went over the two and
one-quarter miles of roadway on the
east bank of the Passaic. and as the
outcome of special cffcrt on the part
OF both the Kearny freeholder and the
county counsel. there seems to be an
excellent prospect of having Passaic
avenue overhauled in very thorough
manner with State aid. The improve
ment, when completed. will make a fine
highway from Clarks Thread Mills, at
the northern boundary of East Newark.
to the Belleville bridge.
The present road is a macadam one
laid by Hudson county, but 1t is In bad
condition, particularly that part from
Bergen avenue south to the East New
ark line, over which latter section
there is much heavy trucking from the
mills in that part of Kearny. 1t is
proposed that this southerly end OF the
road be paved with a wood or Bel
CLAN trap rock block covering, that will
withstand the traffic, and will require
but little cost Of maintenance; while
on the remainder Of the avenue 1t Is
proposed to lay an amiesite or other
pavement with a bitumlnous or as
phaltum binder, which will keep down
the dust and minimize the wear and
tear on tho road.
Cost Is Greater.
1t is contended that the annual cost
of maintenance under present condi-
tions is greater than the interest and
sinking fund charges would be on
bond issue for a suitable block pave
ment in the factory section, and which
latter would not require repairs or re-
placement for many years. In his lot
ter to Colonel Gilkyson, State road
commissioner. Mr.. Griffin said
LAS you know. we have contract
for the improvement of the Belleyilie
turnpike to the Belleville bridge; the
River road and the Belleville bridge
meet practically at this bridge, and,
with the Belleville turnpike constructed
of amiesite and the portion of the
River road spoken of likewise con-
structed of amiesite, we would then
have the only roads from Hudson con-
Meeting with this bridge In fine. per-
manent condition. AS these roads con-
meet the bridge with widely separated
sections of the county 1t Is essential
that one road be in as good a condition
as the other.
Hudson County, by reason OF the
character of the traffic over its roads.
has not been able to use the State
aid road act in their construction, and
thus has received very little State
funds. 1 know that you will make an
effort to give us as much of the State
funds as possible in order to make up
for the manifest inequality in the dis
tribution of these funds
In a letter just received by County
Counsel Griffin from Colonel Gilkyson
the latter says:
II realize that with the improve
ment of the Belleville Turnpike the.
River Road will receive a great deal
Of additional travel. In fact. IL 1t were
In good condition / believe that 1t
would be used very much for pleasure
driving and automobiling, since its
location along the banks of the Passaic
makes it extremely desirable.
Tie DOdFu VI SllOStH pEccHOlOcLb III
Bergen County proposes taking over
that section of the River road extend
ing from the Hudson county line to
and the Improvement you
would have reference to
the general scheme of having deslr
able highway leading on up to tha
northern part OF the State through
Bergen county.
IT do not know at this time just
what to say regarding the use Of
block pavement; that is to say,
the State could join the county
n paying for pavement of this char
acter. However, / shall be pleased to
give that question consideration. In
he meantime you can have your engi-
leer make an estimate of the probable
cost OF the Improvement. setting forth
The various items of expense. l wish
% thank you for the interest you have
taken in road matters in your county,
and believe that we are in a fair way
Of securing results"
At the next meeting of the Hudson
ooard Freeholder Roche will move to
nave the necessary estimates made,
and he feels hopeful of bringing about
The much-needed improvement in the
naar fYifr1ra