Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-03-28
COUNTY PAVING STREETS.

A few days ago the EVENING
NEWS was severely criticised by the
New Brunswick Times because we
called attention to the fact that the
taxpayers of the county had paid for
the paving of New Brunswick broad
est and handsomest residential
street, Livingston avenue. The ma
terial used was not the ordinary
macadam which is used on county
roads elsewhere in the county,
neither was it limited to a strip
only ten or twelve feet wide down
the middle of the highway. The
avenue was paved with sheet asphalt
and it was laid from. curb to curb.
But before this work was done at
county expense the avenue had to be
turned over to the freeholders as a
county highway.
Imagine Perth Amboy giving up
all jurisdiction to High street
(Which is the street in this city that
the most favorably with
Livingston a%yenue), and not being
able to even sweep it without first
obtaining permission from the
Board of F~reeholders. Yet this is
the position New Brunswick finds
herself in today. For the sake of
having the county pay for paving
this thoroughfare New Brunswick
~surrenders 1t, the same as If a par
ent for the sake of having his child
wear fine clothes, deliberately gives
his offspring to a rich neighbor.
Truly the county seat should feel
ashamed.
Quoting from an account of a re-
GSlL CUunCtl Hl6SllAS AClu III NV
Brunswick. as reported by the
Times, we find the councilmen in a
quandary over the matter. After
AlesHgasEaAoliyer Of tAestreet COM
mite, had said the city had no con-
troll over Livingston enu now,
Alderman Feaster is quoted as say
fng that the county had this avenue
and he hoped they would keep 1t, as
they had fixed it up twice in five
years and it would be fifty years be-
fore the city would fix it once.
This is interesting, isn't it? Prob
ably If the county took over the
care of the whole city, New Bruins
wick might show some signs of
progress. Alderman Feaster doubt
less knows what he is talking about.
But perhaps the most interesting
comment from Alderman
Oliver, who is quoted in the Times
as saying that he understood the
county wanted to give the venue
back to the city and if so action
could be taken on this matter at the
next meeting.
In such a case who will pay for
the pavement? Will the city of New
Brunswick reimburse the county
for the amount it has spent to pave
n of New Brunswick's principal
highways with asphalt? Or is the
county supposed to make the city a
present of the pavement? Perth
Amboy will watch this transaction
with keen interest. Our High street
has been causing the city and the
property owners some concern be-
cause there is an increasing desire
that 1t be paved, yet it is SO broad
that the cost of the Improvement is
almost p%rohibitiye. High street is
no broader than Livingston avenu
in New Brunswick, however, and 1t
is doubtful if it is as long, taking it
from Buckingham avenue to the
river. The character Of houses on
High street are similar to those on
Livingston avenue, although there is
not as much wealth represented
here, which would be all the more
reason why this city should receive
the more consideration.
Now, Perth Amboy would not turn
the control of High street over to
the county permanently under any
consideration, but if the freeholders
viii take over the street for a year
or two. pave it from curb to curb
With asphalt or other permanent
material. at county expense, and
then return it to the city when the
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