Perth Amboy evening news., 1914-11-24
Will Give Work for Unemployed
Men as Property Will Have to
be Given Extensive Improve
mems.

Of thorough park system for Perth
Amboy were taken by the Board OF
Aldermen at their adjourned meet
ing last night. A resolution was
adopted to request the Board Of Wa
ter Commissioners to turn the old
water works property In upper Smith
street over to the council for public
park and playground purposes. AL
derman at Large w. Guy Weaver sub
mitted tracings of two maps to show
the present and proposed layout OF
the property in question and 1t was
decided by a majority OF the alder.
men to proceed with its improvement
at cost estimated at $4,000. AL
-derman John J. Clark let it be un-
derstood that this was the beginning
of public park system for the city
and the aldermen were also working
for establishment of public recre-
alton places at the foot of Market
street and In the northwestern sec
ton In the vicinity of Amboy ave-
nue. and Alpine cemetery.
Work For Unemployed.
Institution of the park and play
ground proposition at this time was
brought forward as part of move
ment to aid in providing work for
some of the unemployed in the city.
Aldermen John ]. Clark and John
Kutcher pointed out that the scheme
would be highly beneficial for that
purpose alone, If for no other. Mr.
Clark contended that If Elizabeth
could expend thousands Of dollars
for the cleaning of sewers as a means
of giving work, Perth Amboy could
take similar steps Mr. Kutcher sup
ported him and said 1t was neees-
sary that some action be taken to
add to employment in this city.
Alderman William c. Wilson was
the only person to take exception to
the scheme, expressing belief that 1t
would be better to start park on
the aims house farm. He declared
that neither trees nor other vegeta-
tien would grow in the Eagleswood
section and he contended a park
without trees would be poor one.
He maintained steadfastly against
other argument that trees in the
western section were killed by smoke
from factories. Alderman-at-Large
Weaver said he believed that trees
did not suffer there any more than In
any other part of the city. Mr.. Will
son declared they did and would
not grow there. Suggestion was
made that this subject be referred to
state or national forestry expert.
but no definite action was taken
along that line.
Mr.. Clark pointed out to Mr.. Will
son that this was but the beginning
of chain of parks and public recre-
alton places for the city and that 1t
was intended to establish a park In
the vicinity of the AIMS house prop
erty and Alpine cemetery, as we'll as
the foot of Market street. The fifth
ward member declared that improve
ments for the former water works
property as proposed would increase
its value to the extent Of $4,000.
His resolution instructing the city
clerk to communicate with the water
commissioners, requesting that they
turn the property In question over to
the aldermen, was adopted unani-
mously.
The scheme as proposed, according
to the tracings submitted covers three
items, as follows. 1000 feet Of storm
sewer, $1,000; $500 feet OF fence,
$500; 3,000-foot driveway, $4,000;
total, $16,600. The scheme embraces
the filing in of the pond now on the
premises. the leveling of the land
and the construction OF driveway
about It,
Tract Composed Of 121s Acres.
The tract in question Is composed
of twelve and a half acres of land.
most Of which is now covered by the
former water works reservoir. AL
dermen stated last night that a large
storm sewer would have to be con-
structed In that section in the near
future. In view OF this fact It was
pointed out that the park proposition
would therefore cost but $4,000
The maps displayed provided for
driveway 1000 feet long and horse
shoe In shape, extending from Smith
street along the easterly side of the
land, back to near It's northerly boun-
dary line and around to the wester-
ly side, returning to Smith street.
The old pumping station, the alder
men declare, they would convert in
to washing rooms and comfort sta
ton. They would fill in the pond
gradually until 1t was eliminated en-
tirely. Mr.. Wilson contended that
the pond should not be wiped out
entirely, believing that park with
out a lake would not be worth much.
With the partial filing and leveling
Of the property, playground about
4S0x120 feet in size is provided for
at the easterly side of the tract.