Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-04-24
NO PARK HEARING,
THE MAYOR HINTS
Petitions Being Circulated in
North Amboy to Have Park
at Merritt Tract Put Through
GARRETSON SAYS LITTLE
North Amboy Residents Were
to Send Big Delegation if
the Hearing Was Held.

6tS tiSSAi NY ssoS ttSiAs
Indications today were that there
would be no public hearing on the
subject of buying the former Mer-
ritt tract OF land in the northern
part of the city for public park pur-
poses. Mayor Ferd Garretson said
that he had carefully considered the
proposed purchase from a financial
standpoint and he intimated that he
did not care to get into discussion
as to whether the property was or
was not dump. He has been be-
sieged with people talking parks dur
ing the past week and from all of
this he gathered about the same in
formation which would arise at a
public hearing. There are several
petitions out in favor of buying the
former Merritt land in the northern
part of the city and the taxpayers in
charge of their circulation declare
that they are being literally signed.
Mayor Garretson preferred to say
little about prospects for a public
hearing when seen today, declaring
that he had not yet definitely de-
cided as to whether he would call a
public meeting or would have the
subject disposed of Monday night
without such a meeting. He in
timated strongly, however, that
there would be no public meeting SO
far as he was concerned, believing
that If held it would develop into
much useless argument which he
did not want. The mayors inten-
tions for calling public meeting, If
he had done SO, would be for the pur-
pose of hearing sound argument up
on which he could base an opinion
as to whether it would be wise or
unwise for the city to make the In
vestment in the Merritt land, which
the Board of Aldermen has decided
to make. So far as the line of chat
ter about the land being dump and
the like is concerned, the mayor has
heard enough of that from all sides
since the Board of Aldermen meet
ing last Monday night to suffice
without having it aired fa her at a
public meeting. Indications were
that the mayor had formed his opin-
Jon, after having carefully consld-
- - lns deal - : n - : tinassisi sss
standpoint He preferred to say
nothing more for publication than
that he had not definitely decided
whether there would be public
hearing or would not. In regard to-
his statement on Thursday that he
was considering the holding of pub
lie meeting seriously, Mr.. Garrett
son said today that he could change
his mind as the trend OF evidence
changed. He has intentions of issu-
Ing statement Monday.
Members of the Western Improve
ment Association discussed the pur-
chase of the Merritt tract at meet
ing last night. They came to the
conclusion that in view of the fact
that 1t was composed largely of low
land, the city should purchase
some of the hill section adjoining,
SO as to have some high land. It
is likely that several members will
attend the adjourned meeting of the
council Monday night to watch pro-
gress on the park project.
Anton Massopust, one of the most
prominent residents and taxpayers In
the northern part of the city, called
upon Mayor Garretson this morning
to inquire about the prospects for a
public meeting. He wanted to know
today so as to have ample time to
engage speech making talent, for he
claimed that North Amboy was COM
ing down Monday night two thou
sand strong" supplied with capable
legal talent to argue why and
wherefore North Amboy should have
park and why the Merritt tract
should be purchased without any loss
of time. Mr.. Garretson informed
him that he would finally decide the
question in time for publication in
the NEWS Monday and the residents
could thereby tell whether there
would or would not be a public meet
ing.
Mr.. Massopust declared that he
was circulating petitions for the pur-
chase of the Merritt tract and de-
clared that there would be a flood of
them at the council meeting Mon
day night. He appeared as an en-
ergetic and enthusiastic booster of
the park project for the, northern
section and he expressed desire that
1t be carried through now.
Mayor Garretson received the res
olution to authorize the purchase of
the Merritt land this morning I'm
der the law he has ten days in which
to approve and sign or disapprove
of it.
The following letter has been re-
ceiyed by the NEWS relative to the
park project:
For Park System.
EDITOR EVENING NEWS:
The subject that seems to be fore
most in the minds of all at the pres
ent time is parks. We hear all kinds
of talk about park sites, from. city
lot to 50-acre plots. and in every To-
cation, also all kinds of prices But
while we are in the park buying
business would it not be wise to use
care and get something that will al
ways increase in value. We have
chosen as our motto, "Paeemaking
City" Let's live up to it, and make
the park system complete once for
all, giving each section of the city
park so that in the future all can
enjoy.
(Cont.nuea on page ~