Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-03-07
TCCONT|NUE On
R. R. R. R. PLAN
Hercules Superintendent De-
SireS More Action for Serv-
ice to ParIin Works.
CRITICISES THE TROLLEY
Says Line Would Aid Mails,
Freight and Passen-
gers on Line.

gers on Line.
Far from dropping their effort to
nave the Raritan River Railroad run
Trains to this city, the men who are
PACK OF the effort are planning still
Iurther steps to bring the matter to a
nead ana have some steps taken to
bring about the operations of trains OF
that road on the Central Railroad of
New Jersey line running into this city,
and making this city the eastern term
mus OF the line, thus allowing far bet
ter transportation for the hundreds
of men employed at the Parlin Powd-
er works.
In letter to H. ]. Taggart, traffic
manager Of the Hercules Powder CON-
pany at Wilmington, Del Superinten-
dent John H. Shaw Of the company's
plant at Parlin calls attention to the
matter claiming that the plant in this
section has not lost interest In the ef-
fort, and that though somewhat dis
couraging reports from certain sources
have attempted to thwart the plan, he
Is certain that with proper action, the
company and all others concerned will
be able to get the plan in operation.
He calls attention to the exceedingly
poor trolley service to the plants at
Parlin, and likewise points out the
value of the road as a freight and par
ticularly as mail service route to
facilitate the deplorable mail service
existing between this city and the
county seat.
Mr.. Shaw's letter. a. copy of which
has been sent to the EVENING NEWS,
the Board Of Trade and G. ]. Hannah,
the British inspector at the plant who
started the agitation, follows:
Parlin, March 3, 1913.
Mr. H. J. Taggart. Traffic Manager,
Harculas Fowler Company.
Wilmington. Delaware.
Dear Sir:-Your letter of March /.
We have not lost interest in, or hope
OF, having the Raritan River railroad
operate shift trains to Perth Amboy.
However, we have been somewhat dis
couraged by the strong opposition
arising from the Industrial plants in
and about Perth Amboy, who claim
that we will draw to a large extent,
upon their skilled labor, and who, We
understand, are strongly opposing our
move, bringing their influence to bear
on the Central of New Jersey railroad,
who is inclined to heed their protests.
The Raritan River ofhcials seem to
be unable to go further with this
proposition, nor do they seem willing
to commit themselves for fear of con-
fusion between their railroad and the
Central.
This we can state emphatically; the
Central of New Jersey does not give
service suitable for connecting with
our shift trains in South Amboy. They
either should do SO or else consent to
fair arrangements, whereby, the Rar-
itan River can operate their trains to
Perth Amboy, and believe il we were
to take it up with the Assistant Di-
rector General with enough weight
behind the movement We might get
his hearing and consideration.
The Board of Trade OF Perth Am
boy Is highly enthusiastic over our
proposition, but they, like us. have
been brought to a temporary stand
still.
There is no doubt about our need
of this proposed arrangement. The
Public Service Company's street cars
schedules have been out of the ques-
ton. Their power situation has been
horrible, and their rolling stock in bad
shape. We have had valuable en-
ployes leave US time and time again
because OF their inability to reach the
plant, owing to the bad service. Many
of our mechanics rejoiced in the hope
that the RaritaD River would operate
trains to Perth Amboy, but on recent
discourse have left our employ.
The street car service is such that peo-
pie who start from Perth Amboy with
over 100 per cent time margin, via.
the street cars to South Amboy have
missed the Raritan River shift trains
at the latter point, owing chiefly to
electric power. I have known our
own people to be marooned on the
Mile bridge between South and Perth
Amboy for over an hour at q time
The trestle is no wider than the car
itself, and, therefore, the passengers
cannot get off and walk without dan
ger of falling in the river. AS our
high type of mechanics as well as
clerks, stenographers, ETC.. live in
Perth Amboy as well as in South Am
reason why Perth Amboy should not
be one end OF the line as well as New
Brunswick.
There are many other reasons for
which the Perth Anlboy people were
glad to assent to our proposition. One
was for quick mail service between
Perth Amboy and New Brunswick. As
it is now, mail has to go into Jersey
City and then down on the main line
to New Brunswick in order to go what
should be only twelve miles, namely:
to New Brunswick by the Raritan
River railroad. Mail matter is only
one of the thousand important items.
If the objection raised by the factories
OF Perth Amboy could be overcome,
we believe that Perth Amboy would
be more than compensated and that
their factories would have larger
skilled labor field to draw from. A
few mechanics or laborers we might
draw from Perth Amboy would be
more than Offset by the numbers who
would come from New Brunswick
and other points on the Raritan River
into Perth Amboy to their daily work.
I believe I have given you our full
views of the situation. and am pleased
to help all I can to bring about this
change.
Thanking you for your interest in
the matter, remain,
Very truly yours,
JOHN s. Gk1AK.
superintendent