Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-30
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BRING FREE PORT HERE

wal. ho reod;nstmento of war conditions and the coming OF peace
.o United States finds itself in a position to secure a large portion d
the worlds trade. A great merchant marine has Oeeh oun' u "u
American flag is once more restored to the seas
rno rrobem o is to hold this advantage and make the most
oft
One of the first essentials, It is admitted, is the establishments OIL
what is known a $ a free port. That is, a certain area located on a s"'-
able barbor is set apart where goods may be landed from foreign ports
md nrenarod for e exporting without the payment of tariff duties.
Practically every port on the Atlantic coast has made a pa o III
FIRST free port. The great advantage in having the free port close '"
is the vast number of industries that are attracted 'hither aN III"
thousands of men that are given employment.
Now York wants the free port and is trying to find a suitable ioea-
ton. But New York is already so overerowded Win om"'' -"
,onv of the steamship lines already there are threatening to go else
where unless something is done to relieve the congestion. bal'"oi'
ID ph;,odoln,ia have been making strong bids for the free port. NO"
Newark throws her hat into the ring, claiming that FORT ="
Terminal. where the government already owns a tract O land Ia " ="
probably be idle once the wal activities entirely cease Is 9"' ue N"'
ton for a free port.
wbv NOT NJ Il a claim for Perth Amboy in this regardE
An things considered, Perth Amboy is the logical place to establish
, free port. In the first place, the harbor facilities are here inc dreog
; hot would he necessary in Raritan bay to accommodate Inc great
Get vessel that floats would be a comparatively simple matter. ut OK
pcnse would be trifing in comparison with the advantage to DC s""'u
Tn the second place, the great ship canal IS soon u De instruct
across New Jersey with an entrance into karltan pay ca''o
If is constructed. is destined to carry more o""@
way in the world. ma II
In the third place, The government already owns a asst rac' ="
tbe cry point where this ship canal will enter hafltah "a at mis
Tho nroposed waterway will run through what Is now IN "ncsp"
shell loading plant for several miles. What Is more, the iartne
inland. bordering on the proposed waterway, could easily De 70
Tho Government possessions. With this ship canal dug numerous
basins could be added all through that sectiono Il Ion iano' maNhs
the greatest terminal in the world. |
One of the advantages would be the nearhess u lie open o
Whsf Sse e,,ssT s theAsng distance a vessel has to travel Ire 'e
oeean before reaching Baltimore o Philadelphia, the snort "Trip up
Ra,it.n hay a distance of but fifteen or eighteen miles, stands ot IN
striking contrast. Il
Again. the labor market is here; there r. all the advantages OF
the great metropolis of New York without the congestion ina goes
ptb II Also there are excellent railroad facilities
Perth Amboy has the strongest kinds of arguments Tor gong aitef
that free port if the business men Of the city would only get behind the
proposition and push it.
That site al Morgan which is now proposed to be used As a storage
bv the Ordnance Department of the government, Is too valuable a site
for mn such purpose, especially when the ship canal is constructed.
And it is not necessary to wait until the ship canal is built before plan
ming for greater developments.
The canal is certain to come and it may come sooner than Is now
expected. The government property directly at the terminal OF the
canal and bordering ON deep water of Raritan bay, within twenty
miles of New York and eighteen miles of the open sea, ought to be the
location of the free port of America.