Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-04
PROMINENT CITIZENS AND HEADS OF INDUSTRIES
URGING CONGRESS To GRANT DEEPER WATERWAYS
Continued from page H.

ought to be a great port, and a twenty-five foot channel
through the sound to New York bay, and a ~thirty-foot chan
mel to the lower bay, would make Perth Amboy one of the
biggest cities in the United States"
Mr.. Scully expressed his earnest desire to have Congress
take action on the first named project this session, but he said
this is a short term for the national legislators, and he was
not sure that it would be possible. He was almost positive,
though, that he could get the measure approved before the
close of 1913. The measure for the channel to the lower bay,
which will cost about eight times as much, he thought, would
have to be postponed. cts best no; to make too great a stab
at once, - he said.
Mr.. Scully believes there is more chance of getting the TIVE
projects approved separately than jointly, as together they
would represent an expenditure of some SIS, 100000, while
the cost OF dredging the twenty-five foot channel would only
approximate 100000. AS the Rivers and Harbors commit
tee has already a budget of $43,o00,0O for maintenance, etc
which does not include any new project, and as there are move
ments on foot to get appropriations for the Mississippi and
other rivers, he believes that it is better to lake sure of getting
the twenty-five foot channel Immediately than to risk losing
both by grabbing for more. He feels sure that the thirty-foot
maritime thoroughfare will naturally follow, after the other is
successfully established and demonstrated.
One point which Mr.. Scully says is in his favor, is the re-
port of the United States engineers, who have recently finished
a survey of Staten Island sound, the Rartan and Railway
rivers. These surveys were ordered by the secretary of war.
The report states that the freight tonnage through the sound
for 1911 will aggregate about 100000 tons, and approximate
in value $515 100000, compared with 25,796,723 tons, valued
at $3.50, ST, 184, for 1910. MI. Scully believes the large figures,
which also show such a wonderful increase in traffic, will in
fuenee the members of Congress to accept his twenty-five foot
project as one which the commerce of the sound requires. The
number of tons carried on the sound during 1909 were only
1859, 768. The engineers estimate of the cost of the twenty
five foot channel is 100000; of the ~thirtyfoot route,
$17O00,000.
Another phase of the subject which makes Mr.. scully san
guine about obtaining the twenty-five foot project, is the action
of Richard Montgomery, of 81 Pine street, New York City, who
has purchased some 1900 acres of property at the mouth of the
Railway river, where he intends to build a terminal to be known
as the Montgomery Terminal, where large boats may anchor
and transfer freight to inland railways. The congressman has
just received a letter from Mr.. Montgomery giving his tentative
plans, but he desires the governmnt to first show some incl
nation to cooperate with such a venture. On the other hand
Mr.. Scully says the legislators want the cities along the pro-
posed route of the channel to show an aptitude to establish
more terminals such as the Montgomery proposition calls for
Mr.. Scully believes that armed with several of such, aided bv
the report of the United States engineers, would afford am
munition that the board could not withstand. As it is, though,
the project is pretty nearly assured for passage at this session