Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-16
PUBLIC OPINION
EDITOR EVENING NEWS:

EDITOR EVENING NEWS:
This seems to be an era Of boost
ing, and, with prosperity on all sides,
there is no good reason why we
should not all join in and do our
share of the work. And the proper
place for US to boost is without a
question our own city. But, while
we are pointing out the merits, we
often overlook the defects which
ought to be remedied. With your
permission l wish to call attention
to certain conditions which a large
number of taxpayers feel could be
very much improved. ~
A few days ago 1t was reported
that it cost the city about $4O0 to
remove the snow brought by a re-
cent storm from the streets. The
the total length of the streets clear
ed Is only a very small part of the
city's thoroughfares, and all the
other streets received no attention at
all. 1t was perhaps impossible in
the short time allowed.
In the northwestern part Of the
city, where a very large per cent. of
the city's population lives, there are
many streets and dozens of crossings
which 1t is almost impossible to
cross. In many places the water
has cut deep gullies In the streets
and sidewalks, which are dangerous
to pass in the night. Hundreds of
children must use these streets daily
On their way to school and are COM
PEELED to sit with wet feet for hours.
1t is not an uncommon sight to see
a little girl fast In the mud in tae
middle of the street where there
should be a proper crossing.
The people OF this section of the
city we'll understand that there are
streets in every city that are of
greater Importance than others, and
they are also willing hat the amount
of money spent on same shall be in
proportion to their Importance. They
| do not ask for the expenditure Of I'M
reasonably large amounts of money,
but feel that they are entitled to a
fair proportion of the money paid
for the maintenance of the city's
streets. 1t may be a good advertise
ment for the city to have a few we'll
swept and perfectly clean streets for
the out-of-town Automobiles to pass
through u city on, but the people
| who have their homes on all the
| other. streets can not live and prosper
| on the comforts OF q few more fortu-
nate ones. If there Is not enough
money to keep all the streets Of the
| city In a first class condition. Is it
| then good economy and a fair divi-
| sion to spend about $500 on a few
| blocks for the sake of cleaning, in
| Guiding washing, them a few days
| before nature would do it free of
| charge? Understand 1t is not meant
| that these streets should not be
made passable as soon as possible:
but II the ninety-nine blocks can do
without any washing whatever, why
not the other one also? Is it harder
for the people of one part Of town to
/ cross the paved streets In a little
snow for a few days than 1t Is for
those of another part to wade in mud
for weeks?
VIII some n kindly answer the
above questions aud explain how the
| difficulty can be overcome? 1t Is al
ready we'll known that the property
owners IAN flag their sidewalks, and
most Of those that live on their prop
erty are willing to do so If all others
would do likewise; but the worst
places are generally those whose
owners live somewhere else and the
crossings.
Respectfully.