Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-02-21
MUCH To BE ADVANCED
IN SUPPORT Of MEASURE
At HEARING MONDAY NIGHT
Amounts Expended on Two
County Spans Are Appalling,
Supporters Point Out

Senator Thomas BrOWn'S Dill winch
would compel the state highway COM
mission to take over, as part OF the
state highway system. the two Mid
dlesex county bridges which have
been a tremendous burden on the
county since their erection and which
will come up for hearing on Monday
night will find supporters of the meas
uer armed with facts and figures that
show a formidable appeal that the
county be relieved of the tremendous
expense and the state take over what
Is believed to be it's fair and honest,
as well as it's legal duty, the cost of
maintenance and operation of the two
structures.
Middlesex county has paid out for
street bridge, since they were built,
approximately two millions of dol
lars.
From available figures the state
owes the county on road refunds
from last year $4S,266 in addition to
100000 still due on the Cranbury
Turnpike. On this money the county
pays interest at the rate of ten per
cent. and has since the building of
the roads largely because of the fact
that the county has not been reim-
bursed by the state.
Four per cent. of this Is paid on
the bonds themselves, fioated to pay
for the pavement, but because the
state is not reimbursing the county,
fl ON year to year the county is forced
to borrow money on antcipatory
notes from banks and must pay SIX
per cent. interest on that paper. ex-
tending the notes from monts I'd
month and year TO year because the
money anticipated from the state is
not forthcoming.
U der the state law it is obligatory
n no fat 10
on improvements within six yerrs.
But the law also says that the state
need not pay interest, but only the
principle due. The state has not paid
over the principle while the county is
unable to take up all the bonds or
the notes and is forced to borrow
money because county funds are
spent where the state money should
be used. The state draws but two
per cent. on this money in state
banks.
The money, under that statute, is
now due the county of Middlesex.
The highway commission has said
that the county could expect this
money shortly. 1t seems to have been
Highway Engineer Thompson's main
reason for asking that Senator
BroSn's bill be Withdrawn, since the
county would have this money paid
back and with 1t could do the neces-
cary work on the bridges.
IL is this point too that has riled
the supporters of the senator's meas
ure. They vehemently protest that
money which is overdue and on
which the county has paid such q
large amount of interest should be
paid, regardless of what action Is
taken on the bridge and should in
no wise mitigate against the state
control of the bridges.
Cost OF the Two Bridges
Interesting figures on the cost Of
the two bridges show that a total ap-
proximating two millions of dollars
has been expended on their cost,
operation. repairs and maintenance
since they were bnilt
The Amboys bridge was built in
1902. Its original cost was $232.100
for the section which is not under
the control of this city. This money
was raised on twenty-year bonds on |
which the county pays annual inter- |
est of four per cent. or s9.2S4, maxi |