Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-11-27
TO REBUILD A CITY.

~
plan to virtually rebuild Jersey City, is a
headline in the Jersey Journal of that city that
arrests attention. 1t is especially interesting to
anyone having any idea of city planning.
Under this striking headline we read as fol-
lows:
"a comprehensive plan for the industrial and
transportation development of Jersey City," sub
mitted yesterday to the city commission by the
board of engineers appointed last March. con-
tains a number of important recommendations,
among which are: Through streets and high
ways. civic centers. parks and Fairgrounds look
ing to a Jersey City beautiful, as we'll as a Jersey
City progressive and efficient. tunnel routes
through the city connecting up the proposed
tunnel under the Hudson river. a rotary high
way, n housing system and the abandonment of
the Morris canal to make way for a high speed
motor vehicle highway. to encircle the city"
1t seems that only a summary of the report of
the board of engineers was given because to
have read the entire report would have taken
several hours. In the summary was the recon-
mendation that a LAY" commission Of nine men
be appointed to work with the board of en-
gineers in furthering the development project
five to be appointed by the city commission and
four to be appointed by the Chamber of Com
merce.
Perth Amboy would do well to study this de-
velopment plan for Jersey City. That the peo-
pie here are deeply Interested in a city plan
there is no doubt. The EVENING NEWS has
carried on numerous campaigns in favor of a
city plan; the idea has been thoroughly explain
cd and the reasonableness of the idea is fully
understood.
The Board of Aldermen had an appropriation
of 81, 500 in the city budget last year for a city
plan. but due to the fact that a commission was
never appointed the money has been used for
sapnatbing aIca Tho aldar,,a, ,rou,i.a i.ruor
sum next year.
At a recent meeting of the Chamber of Conf
merce that body went on record as favoring at
least $4,000 as next years appropriation. 1t
is interesting in this connection to note that
at a meeting of the city commission in Jersey
City a resolution was passed to provide the
board Of engineers with sufficient funds to
carry on its work. This sum, it was stated. will
be about $25. 900.
If Jersey City can be made beautiful as well
as progressive and efficient, surely there Is hope
for Perth Amboy. What 1t will cost Jersey City
many millions to do. Perth Amboy can do at the
expenditure of thousands. 1t is up to us to get
busy before 1t is too late.
II is interesting TO note that in addition to a
city development plan for through streets and
highways. civic centers. parks and Fairgrounds.
there Is a plan for a belt line railroad encircling
Jersey City that should prove OF the greatest
benefit to the industries there. fitting in, as it
does. with the port development plan which the
New York and New Jersey Port Development
Commission has been working on so long. Great
marine terminals are also included so that. with
the adoption OF the plan. Jersey City is in fair
way to become a great and prosperous COM
munity.
This is exactly what is being done by all up to
late cities at the present time, only so many of
them have neglected a plan for development so
long that the cost of carrying out the program
now is staggering. Yet they are tackling it with
a determination that means success. How much
easier It will be for Perth Amboy now when the
city is just starting an era of great development.
to adopt a plan and see to 1t that all the work
done is along specified lines so that everything
will work toward the one end OF making Perth
Amboy Beautiful, as well as Perth Amboy Pro-
gressive and Efficient.