Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-17

TUE CTTY.s EYESoRE.

Mayor Dorsey's appeal for a clean
err and more attractive city in con-
nection with cleanup week" now
is not asking the impossible of
the people. Admitting that it is diff
cult to grow grass and that even trees
have to struggle for an existance here
shrubs of all kinds seem to thrive.
privet hedge is easily grown and
makes a beautiful border. Their are
many ways In which we can overcome
such handicaps as we have and make
Perth Amboy desirable for residences
as we'll as for manufacturing.
But to do his there must be CO
operation. A whole bloch may be
spoiled, as. far as appearance goes, by
one Indifferent property owner. In
this respect the acant lots ought to
receive special attention. These lots
represent unimproved property and
as such are taxed very lightly yet
they are increasing in value every
year. the owners becoming richer not
through any efforts of their own put
because of the progress of the city.
The least these property owners can
dc, therefore, In return for this added
wealth that the city is actually forcing
upon them, Is to keep their property
clean so that 1t will not be an eye
sore to the community.
AS the mayor says. this Is a city OF
working men and women and we have
not the grand homes and extensive
grounds of which many of our sister
cities may boast" but when strangers
come to the city and express a desire
TO see the most attractive residential
section. they are invariably taken
down High street from City Hall park
TO Caledonia park and then around the
bluff for a view across the bay.
Yet, right In the midst of this most
beautiful section with a park at either
ends, is an eyesore that practically
amounts to a city dump. The residents
have become so accustomed to see
ing this outrageous condition on the
west side of High street near Woodruf
place that 1t has ceased TO impress
them. But what an awful Earring 1t
must be to the average visitor with any
sense of the fitness of things. after
walking down High street from Clty
Hall Park and seeing all the beauti-
full homes, to suddenly come upon this
open place overgrown with weeds
cluttered with dead limbs of trees ana
rubbi of all kinds and with an alley
In the rear exposing ash heaps n
debris of all kinds
This vacant land near the foot OF
High street has increased In value
wonderfully in recent years. 1t mas
meant additional wealth to the owners
without them turning Il hand TO Sc
cure il. 1t would seem that the least
Thai could be expected of these owners
would be to keep the property cieanel
up. Once cleared of the debris, resi-
dents In the vicinity should see TO II
that no more dumping is done there
1t is 50 easy, when one wants TO get
rid of something. to throw 1t over IN
the lot" but it only detracts from the
appearance of the whole neighbour
hood.
There are other spots like this III
different parts of the city that ough'
to receive attention. Next week is th'
time TO do it. Why not make a specia
effort to clear the vacant lots during
~.clean-up week" this year? Perti
Amboy is going to be just the kind o
a city the people who live here choos'
to make it. The opportunity Is Offered
next week to add greatly to the city
attractiveness.