Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-03
HIGHWAYS, TUNNEL AND TAXES

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pay for it. however, a state tax of ten cents OIL every $'ooo valuauoh
has been imposed. This is to continue for five years.
Another pet scheme of the governor has been a vehicular tunnel
.,,aor tho Hudson river between Jersey City and New York, and a
bridge over the Delaware river connecting Camden with Philadelphia
The governor succeeded in getting the Legislature last year to agree to
take up both these projects as soon as New York and pennsylvania
we're willing to bear their share of the cost.
Just at present the vehicular tunnel under the Hudson is looming
IN a $ a possibility of the near future. The recent strike of the harbor
workers, during which traffic across the river was completely at a
standstll. brought home to New York the great advantage of tunnel
connection with the Jersey shore for vehicles of all sorts.
Governor Edge has been making the most of the opportunity. lie
has made several trips to Albany to urge his scheme and to endeavor to
win over Governor Smith, of New York, who is inclined to balk at
agreeing to any such expensive proposition until he sees where the
money is coming from.
Tho nronosea tunnel. it is estimated, will cost about $12Ooo0oo.
This means s6,O00,O 900 for each state.
II was Governor Edges original idea that the Hudson I'VE Jun
,d and the Delaware bridge would come Immediately after the high
way system had been completed so that the people would not have a
double burden to carry. AT that time 1t looked a II 1t would TAX a'
least five years to stir up favorable legislation FOR n tunnel amo rug
scheme. by which time the limit for the state tax to establish a state
highway system would have expired.
Just why the governor, or anyone else, should think That te dlrect
tax for the state highway system would cease after live years Is not eX
planned. Granted that the income from motor vehicles VIII Keep "0
system thus established in repair, it is not to be supposed that the peo-
pie of the state, especially those who are being taxed to establish TINS
system, but who derive no direct benef from it because none OF the
routes a s now laid out are anywhere near their homes, are gong to be
content. Naturally, when the present proposed routes are completed
there will be a elamor from other parts of the state for state roads to
be built there and the system will go on expanding until every OF
of The state is covered. This is going to mean more direct state tax to
continue the extension of this state highway system.
But from present Indications, the tunnel project is not going 10
u;+. .ao for The FIRST five year of state road tax to expire. And, APP
nsreutlv( Governor Edge has changed from his iriginal idea and will
aatr1ocs4e sssther sta sr!axto run concurrently with the state road tax
TO meet the expenses of the Hudson river tupael
Governor Edge does not display tie same hesltaney that Governor
Smith. of Now York, shows. Apparently, the New Jersey executive Is
not bothered as to where the money to pay for the tunnel IS coming
from. He would simply add it to the taxes and go ahead.
But the governor enthusiasm sometimes outruns ms better JUG
ment. He is TO be admired for the ambition shown and n desire 10
do things" but there is a limit.
These are enormous projects and they are worthy Ones too. Inc
state highway system should have been established long ago. Hat IL
been the roads would not be in their present hodgcpodge condition and
the people would not be carrying such enormous burdens with eom-
raratiyely little to show for the amount of money that has been spent.
That there should be some direct means of communication be
tween Manhattan and the Jersey shore lis apparent tie all II ave seer
the vast congestion of vehicles of all sorts at the respective ferries over
the Hudson.
The original estimate for the state highway system was $l50O'
ooo II will doubtless cost a great deal more now. New jerseys por-
lion of the Hudson river tunnel, as already stated, will be about So
o0o. As the tunnel project is, in a measure a continuation II Tho hlsn-
way system, here is a total of 2l,000oo0 to be sadded upon the tax
,,ayers of New Jersey all at once, provided the tunnel project is taken
up now. This is a pretty big amount to place in the tax budget even
Sc it is spread out over a number of years.
1t must go in the tax budget because the constitution Of the state
forlids the issuing of bonds by the state of any greater amount than
100000. As a matter of fact, the pay as you go method of public
improvement is a good principle to work on if too much is not at
tempted at once.
For anything Of such a permanent nature a a vehicular tunnel
under the Hudson, however, by which the public for generations to
come are going to be benefited, there is no reason why the cost of con-
struetion should be borne entirely by the present generation.
Not only should the present generation not be called upon to pay
the entire cost Of this tunnel, but the taxpayers of today should not be
expected to carry a double load, such as the state highway system and
the tunnel project at the same time.
Itis all well enough to push public Improvement at this time in
order to take up the slack in the labor market caused by the closing
down of so many munition plants and the returning soldiers, but IT
would seem that one big project at a time is enough.
Let the state get behind the highway system a already laid out
md push it TO the limit. There will be work for thousands OF men IN
this project alone. The complete reconstruction of the bridge over the
Rartan river between the Amboys, which structure is a part of Route
No A. would go a long ways toward starting things going in the con
struction line. Even putting the present structure III repair for the
coming summer traffic will be a big feature in the way of furnishing
employment and that is a task that belongs rightfuly to the state.
As for the tunnel under the Hudson, there is every reason 10 be-
feve that New Jersey is just as anxious for tas New York-even more
30, Judging from present aetivities-although New York, without a
doubt, win derive the greatest benefit from it. But when it is sug-