Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-24
pERTHAMBOY'S TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

In taking up the matter Of better transportation for Perth I'M
boy the Board of Trade has hit upon something that is OF vital inter
est to the city. Improved railroad service between this city and Ne"
York is of first Importance. Hardly of secondary interest IS the pro-
test against the use of the old ferryboat Tottenvilc as a substitute or
auxiliary boat between this city and TOttenvine.
Train service was greatly curtailed when the government TOOK
over the railroads during the war and as long as it was for war emerg-
cncv the people accepted the situation as true patriots should. But
INV with YER effort being made to get conditions back to normal
,he trains that were taken off, some of them of the utmost Importance
to the business community, should be restored
Perth Amboy with a population of over $4,000, and with large
Industrial interests is treated like a way station The Central All
road is bad enough, but the Pennsylvania railroad is even worse
Perth Amboy has no service to uptown New York n the Pennsyi-
vania railroad in the morning and South Amboy gets the express
thc nm flown station in the afternoon while Perth Amboy must be con
tented with the Camden accommodation. The business men OF TINS
city. who are large shippers of freight, have it within their power TO
compel the railroads to recognize Perth Amboy IN the matfr " pas
eongor service if they will stand together. 1t is plain from past ex
periences that we will get nothing without fighting for 1t.
As for the ferryboat, the old Totenville was old and wofh o"'
when it was secured by the Staten Island Rapid Transit. 1t Is en-
trelv foo large for the route here, being unable to make the turns ana
dodge the bargcs that are anchored in the sound. Its roof leaks ana
tc Iigbtine is outrageous. 1t cannot begin to keep the schedule and
hundreds of men employed on one side or the other of the sound are
1nt to all kinds of Inconvenience whenever 1T is put INTO service
The Rapid Transit continues to operate this boat IN spite oil re-
peated protests on the part of the public. The company has adopted
the policy o. "the public be damned and it brazenly asks US what
are we going to do about it.
Is there no power in this country big enough to see that the po
nleis rights are protected in this matterY 1t being an interstate Terry
to Now Jersey authorities claim no jurisdiction as the Rapid Transit
isa New York corporation. New York does not seem to care and the
Rapid Transit does about as it pleases, even to the extent of blocking
yer attempt to organize "a new ferry.
Ii civic organizations in both Perth Amboy and Iottenvlie VIII
fake this matter mp in earnest, now that the Board Of Trade has started
something perhaps some improvements can be brought about II nee
essarv carry the matter to the federal authorities If there IS not state
authority OF either side of the sound sufficient to handle the matter.
While we are about it, let's improve the Staten Island service IN
everv narticrlar Persons from this city using the Rapid Transit to
travel to New York pay for a continuous trip. That means that there
should no a boat ON the Totenville side to meet every incoming train
1t is am outrage to keep people waiting sometimes twenty minutes to
trains should be made to wait for the boat from this side when the
schedule calls for train service to New York. Sometimes when extra
boat trips are put on to accommodate the lucrative automobile tranc
a boat leaves this side five minutes or more before the time scheduled
then when people arrive at he ferry in time to take the boat at the
appointed time. they are informed that the next boat Wl d. o. la'e
for the train. This is a service that ought not to be tolerated ut as
long as Perth Amboy remains an easy mark for the Rapid Transit such
service will have TO be contended with.
This subject of transportation for Perth Amboy is a most import
ant one. The Board of Trade cannot give too much attention 10 IL"
II involves every means of carrying passengers that Perth Amboy has,
from the Central and Pennsylvania railroads to the Staten island
Rapid Transit and trolley and bus lines.
II is time the matter was taken up in real earnest and something
really worth while accomplished for the city. AT present we are the
laughing stock for every stranger that comes here. Hundreds Oh
country towns boast of far better transportation service IN every par
tcular than we have. +.
Let everybody get behind the Board of Trade in this matter and
nut Perth Amboy ON the map. 1t may require drastic action, but it
is time to insist that Perth Amboy be given a service on all lines
worthy of the city's Importance.