Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-09-08
WHAT THE CENSUS SHOWS

some interesting figures art
brought out by the report Of the
census bureau that has Just beer
issued in regard to Middlesex coun-
ty. As in every other part OF the
country, it shows = decided trend
toward the cities. While the rural
districts have grown but little, il
any, the incorporated places have
made rapid strides. crsnbury town.
ship. one of the finest agricultural
sections in the state, actually shows
. decrease in population during the
past ten years. having but 1855
people this year as compared with
1.424 in 1910.
Here Ia one instance where the
war activities failed to make good.
The trend toward the cities during
the past few years was doubtless
due to the attraction of big wages
brought about by the war, particu-
larly in the munition plants. But
food grown on the farms was just
as necessary for winning the war
as the munitions and other equip
ment- II is true that the farmers
held up their end in fine style, but
they were not assisted by any sur
plus of labor. Rather. the regular
farmhands were the ones who
crowded into the cities, and the
farmers weres compelled to get
along as best they could almost
alone. The government ran all its
other war activities on basis of |
cost plus ten per cent. profit. so that
the manufacturers did not care how |
high the wages went; they had the
guarantee Of the government that
it would pay all and still allow ten
per cent. profit.
Not 50 the farmer. Except for
the cotton planters of the South, a
limit was placed on the price that
sould be charged for farm products.
fhe farmer got no guarantee OF
cost plus ten per cent. II he had
had such a guarantee he might
have been able to have held his
help on the farm. Instead, the
farm workers fiocked into the cities
and the result we see today in the
population figures.
For Perth Amboy the interesting
fact is brought out that the sixth
ward has greater population than
any other two wards in the city, ex-
eepting the fourth and fifth, and
these two combined surpass the
sixth by only a small margin. Perth
Amboy's difficulties are increasing.
Just what is to be done to keep the
city abreast with the times is some
thing yet to be solved. The people.
by their indifference in the matter,
would have nothing to do with the
commission form of government,
which is the way most progressive
cities solved the matter. To con-
tinus much longer under existing
conditions is bound to mean a set
back. A city cannot stand still. We
are either going forward or back
ward. The present census figures
are a warning.
It is evident that. the enormous
growth OF Woodbridge township
during the past ten years is due
largely to the overflow from Perth
Amboy. This city has contributed
generously to the population of
Woodbridge proper, Sewaren, Fords,
and Keasbey, not to mention the
numerous boom" sections in the
township just over our borders. This
tendency to get out into the out 8
skirts is going to increase during
the next ten years and, unless some !
thing is done to bring Perth Amboy
up to date. the next federal census :
is going to show a still greater dis {
crepancy against Perth Amboy.
As long as the city is handicapped |
by its present antiquated charter.
which was adopted fifty years ago
to meet the requirements of a coun-
sry town. it is going to be dificult
for any administration. no matter
how capable in itself. to accomplish
anything worth while. Yet. some
thing will have to be done IL Perth
AmDoy is going to progress with
the other municipalities of the
country