Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-05-17
SOUTH AMBOY
TALKS STREET
Residents of Portia Street
Want ThOrsughfare Opened.
Specialize the LVENING NEWS.

OF the common council last evening
Mayor Welsh, President Manhattan
and Messrs. O'Connor, Stanton and
Stuart. also Treasurer Perrine, Street
Commissioner Connors and Water
Commissioner Martin.
The first order of business after
reading of the minutes was the pass
age of motion made by Mr.. O'COnnGr
that the clerk notify the city solicitor
10 make an appointment with the
mayor and committee on streets TO
appear before the Public Utility Com
m~issioners in regard to the Main
street bridge and the fencing in of
the crossing over the Pennsylvania
railroad tracks at the foot of Main
street.
A public hearing was then de-
clared on the opening and extension
of POrtia street from Pine avenue to
the shore and the public given an
opportunity to speak on the merits
or otherwise of the petition. The
map and estimate prepared by the
city engineer were exhibited. There
were two alternate schemes shown
estimated to cost $4,000 and $500
respectively.
Mr.. Coan Speaks.
John A. COan, on behalf of the
petitioners, took the floor and spoke
1t some length on the merit of the
petition. He called attention to the
necessities of the people in the viCtn-
ity, that this was the only street
reaching from the upper section of
the town to the shore on the extreme
sCutheTly section of the city, that the
property owners on this street while
paying taxes for Improvements in
other portions of the city had not
been favored with any consideration,
and in justice to the people it would
be entirely wise for the council to
give them the privilege petitioned
for.
Terra Gotta Company Objects.
Mr.. COan Was followed by the rep
Terra Gotta Company, who did not
favor the expensive improvement
suggested. He claimed it would be a
great detriment to their property un-
less a very expensive retaining wall
was constructed to prevent the sand
coming on their property, that counts
made of the pedestrians and wagons
passing over the routes in question
were very meagre, that any improve
ment should rather be made in
Louisa street, the next parallel street
to POrtia, as being more susceptible
of development; that the total num-
Der of houses on the street numbered
but six, and that the South Amboy
Terra Gotta Company, as the largest
property owners affected, should be
given some consideration as it would
be a decided detriment to their prop
erty.
Considerable further discussion
was had on the subject, Charles
Buckelew and Jonathan Compton
speaking in favor of the petition.
Consideration for People.
Mr.. Stanton, of the council,
thought the people on Portia street
should be given some consideration
in the way of Improvement, but did
not think the council contemplated
spending any such amount of money
as the estimate called for. Mr.. Stuart
said he would not object to spending
a few hundred dollars, but the 2Oun-
ell were in no position to consider
such an expenditure as six or eight
thousand dollars. Mr.. O'COnnOr call
ed attention to the fact that the city
solicitor stated any Improvement on
the street would be divided on the
basis of t~wo-thirds the expense to the
/ property owners and one-third the
expense on the city aHd thought the
petitioners should bear this in mind.
Mr.. Manhattan did not see why the
petitioners should be compelled to
stand two-thlrds of the expense when
some of the streets in the lower sec
ton of the town were improved and
put in shape without expense to the
property owners.
May Spend $500.
The city engineer, upon the re-
quest of Mr.. Stuart, thought the
street could be made fairly passable
for an expenditure of about five hun
dred dollars and at the suggestion of
Mr.. Stuart the council will meet as a
committee of the whole with the city
engineer and city solicitor and mayor
on Thursday night to talk over the
best line of procedure in the matter
with the understanding that the eX-
pcndituTe is to be limited to a few
hundred dollars at this time.
The clerk read reply from the
comptroller of the Public Service Gas
Company stating under the present
conditions of manufacture they can
not afford to make any reduction in
the price of gas furnished in South
Amboy, that they have under con
s%ideration many improvements in the
gas department, among which is 8
pipe line to South Amboy, upon the
completion of this improvement they
will be able to give the citizens o.
South AmbOy perfect satisfaction in
regard to service and also rate fol
gas.
Want Dollar Gas.
Mr., O'Connor stated he did not
think we should live on the promises
made by the Public Service Gas Com.
pany; if they DO not get a pipe line
from Midtown into South AmbOy We
do not get any dollar gas; the Publ,
Service want the people of South Am
boy 10 use their influence in gettins
the pipe line. Mr.. O'Connor callat
attention to the fact that at the las.
meeting Col. Gilmore called attention
to Section 18 of the Public Utility
Law in regard to discrimination anC
moved that the clerk write to the
Public Utility Commissioners callinl
attention to the Discrimination