Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-17
BIC PROJECTS
At So. AMbOY
Waterways and Annexation
of Part of SaTeviIIe Dis
cuSsed at Big Civic Dinner

OI FdTl VI SdyIcVIiic us
cussed at Big Civic Dinner
BY Special Correspondent.
SOUTH AMBOY, Dec. 17-Before
an audience of 100 men and women
interested in the advancement of
South Amboy. gathered together at
a civic dinner arranged by the local
Chamber of Commerce, agitation for
the annexation of Sayreville as a
part of South Amboy was launched
by City Solicitor Francis Z. Coan,
while Congressman John II. Small,
of North Carolina. pointed out the
necessity of increasing public senti-
ment in order to secure deeper
waterways in this part OF the coun-
try. Prior to the speechmaking an
elaborate turkey dinner, prepared
and served by the women of the
Presbyterian church, was partaken
of. Donald w. Reed, president of
the Susquehanna Coal Company,
presided as POSTMASTER. Music was
furnished during the night by an
orchestra of Rutgers College men.
The speakers of the night were
State Senator Thomas Brown, of
Perth Amboy: City Solicitor Coan
and Representative Small. The
guests were: Mayor Francis Fl. Cor
don: Congressman Thomas J. Scully;
/. T. Madsen Theodore Spawn;
Jean Dubois and Secretary Orin
Baker, of the Perth Amboy Cham
ber of Commerce.
Congressman Small in opening his
address emphasized the need of
stronger public sentiment in the
state of New Jersey for deeper
at.1 arA
The bill for deeper channels in this
part of the state, he said, first came
up for action in 1913 at which time
a favorable report was received but
failure on the part of the New Jer-
sey residents TO push this proposed
project resulted in the measure be-
ing "pigeon-holed" and it lay dor
mant for years. A stronger public
sentiment must be forthcoming IL
results are expected, Congressman
Small declared, the giving as an IL
lustration the recent labor legisla-
tion enacted by congress, only after
the labor men in the country had
made themselves heard. The eigh-
teenth amendment, which was look
ed upon as a joke by many, he said,
was put across as the result of pub
lie sentiment being increased in all
parts of the country.
The transportation problem, Rep
resentative Small asserted, is one
of the most serious problems con-
fronting the United States today. 1t
is generally admitted. he said, that
the railroads are unable to cope
with the situation. There are two
other methods of relieving these
congested transportation conditions,
he said. One means is presented in
public highways, maintained partly
or wholly by the government. The
other solution is the development of
the waterways this country is so
fortunate to abound in.
The speaker told of the congestion
now existing in New York harbor
and explained how the proposed in
tracoastal ship canal from Morgan
on Raritan bay to Bordentown on
the Delaware river would alleviate
conditions. This canal, he said.
would be thirty-three miles long
and connect two of the most used
rivers in the country, the Delaware
river and the Hudson river. New
Jersey. he said, is willing to do its
share toward the financing of this
new project and has offered to spend
100000 or more to purchase the
necessary right-of-way from Cheese
government will finance the actual
construction of the canal. With
this canal completed, Congressman
Small continued, the last link would
be added to the chain of canals and
inland waterways from Maine to
North Carolina.
Solicitor Coan Speaks.
City Solicitor Francis Coan open
ed the speech making of the even
ing. taking as his subject The an
nexation of a portion of Say"evil;e.
which is one of the objects of the
Chamber of Commerce. He likened
the proposition to the results of the
great war, out of which came the
plea for self determination for small
cations as a boom for democracy
He showed that the only way to ac-
quire part of Sayreville would he TO
make that part of the township
want to join with South Amboy.
Under the self determination idea,
he said, Sayrev.lle, will have to
work for annexation and welcome it