Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-06
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THE STATE K NOTICE

eorino farther into the lmehght the big issue that Is betc
the neople of Middlesex county at the present time. With the agl
ion so well started it is up to Middlesex to see that the advantage tn
gained is not lost.
The Justice of Middlesex's claim regarding these bridges IS
rnitted by all who give the matter any thought. t IS appare" I
now is the opportunity to get something done.
Editorials that have appeared in state papers recently show he
he matter in being brought before the public. The following eoltor
published in the Hudson Dispatch, of which Secretary OF Sta
rbonas Martin is the publisher and Haddon WINS, formerly OF Il
is the editor:
"Middlesex county wants the state to take over two
bridges which are causing that county greater expense 1r
maintenance than the local uses can possibly justify
"The bridges referred to are the Perth Amboy-oouth
Amboy bridge across the Raritan river, and the bridge from
New brunswick to Highland Park, also across the Rantan
River. g.
"poth bridges were built in times before the automobile
was in vogue, in the days when county bridges were useu
almost exclusively by the people OF the county, OF coi""'''
paying for them.
sIn the days when horses die. the work the Only outsiders
of any consequence were the occasional moving vans whlch
might make a trip of fifty miles, or a little further, as a maxi
mum distance, and the bicycists. The moving vans were
inconsequential because there were so few of them, The blcy-
clsts were inconsequential because they represented prac-
tically no wear and tear upon bridges.
''But when the automobiles came along with their reck-
less disregard for distance, and with their greater develop
ment into motor trucks weighing five to ten tons, the county
bridges lost their local significance, without, however, losing
the necessity of local cost in upkeep.
"The bridge at the Amboys is on the main road from
New York to the shore resorts-Asbury Park, Atlantic CITY
etc, and the inland resort of Lakewood, not to mention the
various other places that make for distance driving.
''The bridge at New Brunswick is on the main line from
New York to Philadelphia and points west.
while there are no statistics at hand, it seems reason
%ebe4a4s lieEet that ninety per cent. OF all the traffic that goes
owe both those bridges comes from and goes IS points outside
of Middesex county.
"With the entire state using the bridges it does not seem
fair for Middlesex county taxpayers to be compelled to spend
thousands of dollars each year maintaining bridges that were
built for local traffic, and which are so unadapted to present
dav conditions that the upkeep is extensively abnormal.
''Those two bridges belong, by all the rules of logic and
common sense, to the state road system, just as the Hudson
Boulevard, by the same rules of logic and common sense
belongs to the state road system.
''The Middlesex bridges and the Hudson Boulevard
should all be taken over by the state, improved by the state
and MAINTAINED by the state FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE STATE"
The following editorial appeared in the Newark Sunday Call
last Sunday:
s'Middlesex county is somewhat unfortunate that It's
territory embraces both banks of the Raritan river where
that stream is widest, thus placing upon the taxpayers of the
county the entire burden of erecting and maintaining the
bridges necessary to intra+ State as well as intra- county traffic.
The bridges, two in number, at New Brunswick and Perth
Amboy, have assumed much greater importance as essential
adjuncts of the States highway system in the last few years,
due to the multiplication of motor ears and trucks. The wear
and tear upon them has also been several times doubled not
only because of the greater number of vehicles using them
but because of the greater weight of automobiles and motor
trucks. This enlarged use and increased weight have not
only added to the cost of maintenance of the bridges but has
now placed them in such condition that repairs amount prac-
tically TO replacement are necessary in order to render them
safe for travel. The average yearly cost of upkeep of the New
Brunswick bridge is $4,000 and that of the Perth Amboy
structure $4,000. 1t is estimated that to put the former IN
the condition that the safety of the travelling public demands
will cost $129,0 900. No estimate has been made as to the Perth
Amboy structure, but it is conceded that at the lowest the
sum required would be several times the cost at New Bruins
wick.
"Senator Brown of Middlesex has now introduced in the
Senate a bill authorizing the State Highway Commission to
take over both bridges with the idea of shifting the burden of
their maintenance, repair and replacement, when mavoid-
able, upon the State. There is a strong element of justice in
this proposal. A very small percentage of the traffic using
these bridges either originates or ends in Middlesex county.
One bridge is on the Lincoln highway, the other on the main
road from New York and Northern New Jersey to the shore
resorts. 1t is a matter'o of State concern that they be kept in
safe and disable condition, and the State in all fairness should
bear at least a very large percentage of the cost.
"Indeed, it S a question whether the States duty in this
manner does not include other costly and much used bridges