Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-04-08
Harbor Board Would Do More
Than lust Seize Waterfront
Street-PIan Action.
FORM CRESCENT FOR CITY
City Attorney Wight is Drawing
Options to Consideration by
Property Owners.

More than year ago the Board OF
Aldermen, at the instigation OF
Chairman John j. Clark, of the street
committee, placed sign posts along
the route of Raritan street, and
thereby seized it. However, most
Of the thoroughfare lay under the
shoal water and the city has received
no benefit of it's reclamation" from
the Raritan. Last night, however,
the Board of Harbor Commissioners
decided on a comprehensive plan for
putting the street on the map" and
making 1t thoroughfare of practical
use to Perth Amboy. Plans were
laid for converting the present intan-
gible street into thoroughfare sew
enty feet wide, forming a crescent
around the southern shore, from the
Central railroad to Water street, at
the foot of High street The plan
had the endorsement Of Mayor Ferd
Garretson and City Attorney Andrew
Wight, who were present, by request,
to discuss the proposition.
The commissioners have for long
time had in mind other plans for
placing the street on the map, which
included one in which the board was
to purchase canal boats to act as fill
ers, and place them along the shoals
where runs the thoroughfare. By do
ing this the board would have assert
ed city ownership to the street, and
made an appreciable start in max
ing a solid fill wide enough for the
limits of the thoroughfare. This
idea gave way to the plan endorsed
last night, which contemplates the
cooperation of the property holders
along the northerly side of Raritan
street.
To Take Action at Once.
A motion was adopted authoriz-
ing President Peter c. Olsen and City
Attorney Andrew Wight to draw up
forms of options to be signed by
property owners along Raritan street.
| by the agreement of - option 1the
property ownefs viii relinqn7sh all
rights and privileges that they might |
possibly have in the proposed widen |
Ing of Raritan street to seventy feet. |
The agreements, however, for which |
q consideration of one dollar will be |
given to make them legal, will not !
become effective until clause in the |
option is carried out by the board. |
This provides for the securing of I,
permission from the New York |
Harbor Line Board for the extension |
Of the bulkhead line, or line of solid |
fill, seventy or more feet into the |
river, the placing of a bulkhead at |
that point, and the filing in of the |
street. II the project is carried out |
the property owner would not only |
gain wide street making their prop
critics more accessible, but might gain
a stretch of land on the southerly
side of Raritan street, if the board /
gets an extension of the bulkhead |
line more than seventy feet and fills
in to that point. 1t may take one
Or two years to secure permission
from the harbor line board for the ex
tension of the bulkhead line, which |
would also likely mean the exten-
sion of the pierhead line, as the har-
Dor line board does not make
such changes without long consider
alton. Colonel Black, chief engineer
Of the board, last year informed Mr..
Olsen that under no condition would
he harbor line be extended to make |
for private enterprises
However, Mr.. Olsen believes that
with persistent effort the board will
be Influenced to act favorably on
he request of the local board to ex-
end the line of solid fill for the
,ity's benefit.
City Attorney Wight is today draw
ng up the options, which the prop
,rty owners along the route of Rari-
an street will be asked to sign. Sew
raj have already consented to sign
hem.
The route of the street In question
S shown on maps from the State Ri
tarian Commission, and begins near
he Central railroad, where 1t is of
ormal width. The bulkhead line
uns inshore gradually from that
oint with. the course of the shore +,
inc. The street is practically all un-
er water between First street and i
tate streets. Near the foot of the h
after it gradually widens to width I
+ about five feet near the foot of
iigh street.