Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-06
SOLDIERS MEMORIAL AGAIN,


With the revival of the movemen
for a memorial to be erected in honor
of the soldiers who went from Peril
Amboy to take part in the World Wa
everyone interested ought 10 be pres
emit at City Hall Monday night wheT
the subject is to be discussed. In
matter of this kind there is always
great diversity of opinion. Naturally
everybody cannot have their pet idea
adopted, II IS q case of get together
and pick out the plan that will come
the nearest to satisfying the greatest
number.
Until Alderman Wilson sprung the
Victory Bridge idea at the meeting OF
the aldermen Monday night the two
most promising suggestions for 8
memorial were a waterfront park
along the river from the railroad
bridge eastward to High street and q
community building. Both sugges-
tions have strong hackers and there
are arguments in favor of either Of
2hem that appeal forcibly.
While @ bridge across the sound be-
tween Perth Amboy and Tottenyille is
greatly to be desired, there are sew
eral obstacles in the way of consum-
nation OF tho plan that seem to us To
be insurmountable. In the first place
such q bridge as Alderman Wilson
proposes would be an Interstate af-
fair. It would not be a Perth Amboy
memorial any moro than 1T would be
a memorial for the boys from any
other place In tho state. AS we I'M
derstand It, the idea is to nave a mem
orial for Perth Amboy boys by Perth
Amboy people.
But, the greatest stumbling block In
regard to the bridge is the fact that
the state Is already committed to the
construction of a bridge across the
Delaware river between Camden and
philadelphia and O tunnel under the
Hudson river between Jersey City and
New York. Both OF the interstate
enterprises will cost many millions or
dollars. 1t is very doubtful II the state
legislature can be persuaded to agree
20 a bridge between this city n Tot
tenville while these projects are on.
The park idea on the river front Is
objected to for two reasons. Some
people object to 1t because 1t Is To-
Gated at one end Of the city and the
eople living in that section would de-
rive most OF the benefit. h fact re-
mains, however, that a Waterfront
park has got to be located where tht
water is and the prestige such a parl
would give the city would benefit all
The community building appeals ii
many respects to the greatest number
as it would be located somewhere II
the center of tho city and would b.
generally used at all seasons Of tn
year.
With the return of the boys whom
the city would thus honor-not to for
get those who will never return an
whose memory is ever to be kept fresl
by the project under discussion
new argument is presented in favor Q
@ memorial building. The America
Legion, made up of the veterans c
the World War, need q headquarter
There ought to be q place where tn
bows who served their country in tn
great struggle a congregate and ca
their own. In a community buildir
certain rooms could be set apart fl
this purpose.
In this connection the WELDON
Home Committee is at a loss TO kno
what to do with all the money 1t h
in its treasury. One solution mig
be to give to each boy who has +
turned since the big celebration WI
held q sum equal to the noun spei
per person on the event last SUNNI
and put what money is left towal
furnishing such a headquarters as
here suggested for the boys.
Perth Amboy surely ought to ha'
some IL of a memorial and It
time the matter was given serio
consideration. Monday night an 9
tempt will be made to start somethi1
going. With the form that the mel
orial is to take settled, the city C
proceed to devise means for fnanci
the proposition.