Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-28
PORT DEVELOPMENT

deal of enthusiasm over the newly formed North Jersey Port
Development Association. After our experience with the
Staten Island Sound Deeper Waterway Association of a few
years ago we have good reason for wanting to know exactly
how the new organization proposes to go about the develop
'ment of the New Jersey waterways that form a part of the
Port of New York. The idea is an excellent one provided the
development is not confined to the Hudson side of New York
bay and to Newark bay.
We fully realize that the way to get results is through or
ganization and cooperation provided there is real cooperation,
but if the main object is to obtain something for the Hudson
county and Newark bay section with Rartan bay and river to
be taken care of at some time in the dim future after the rest
have secured all they want in the way Of government appro-
priation, then it would be better for Middlesex county to keep
out of the organization and go it alone even though the outlook
might not be so bright. At least we would be working for the
project that we have nearest to us and our energies would be
along the right lines.
We well remember that the Staten Island Sound Deeper
Waterway Association secured the cooperation of Perth Am
boy in the interest Of a deeper channel through the sound by
agreeing that once this project was completed, the attention
of the organization would be turned to deepening the channel
up the Raritan bay so as to join with the deeper channel
through the sound.
1t was significant, however, that the association insisted
that the deepening of the channel should begin at the northern
end and that after the work had been completed as far as
Bayway, where the Standard Oil has a big plant, the heads
of the Staten Island Sound Deeper Waterway Association be-
gan to lose interest in the project and it was only a perfume,
tory effort that was put forth to have the improvement car
red on through to Perth Amboy. But even at that the plan
finally terminated in providing only q turning basin at Perth
Amboy thus leaving Perth Amboy at the dead end of the
deeper channel so that no boats of deep draft could come into
the port of Perth Amboy without first going into the port of
New York and coming down through the sound.
Now comes the new organization, also made up of men
from the northern part of the state, with the announced pur-
pose of developing the New Jersey waterways that form a part
of the port of New York. Officially the port of New York
extends to Perth Amboy and includes both sides of the Rar-
itan bay, but, actually, we seldom get such recognition. 1t is
only when New York wants to use us for some selfish purpose
that the fact is recognized that we are included in the port of
New York.
1t is no dsparagement of the gentlemen who are prominent
in organizing the North Jersey Port Development Association
to say that their interests lie almost entirely in the Newark
bay section of the port of New York. The fact that there is a
big agitation on at the present time for the development of
Newark bay and vicinity largely explains the reason for this
organization at this time. We doubt very much if any of
these men who are active in the new association have given
Raritan bay and river a second thought as to the possibilities
of real development here. They have in mind mainly the i'm
provement of the west bank of the Hudson and the shores
of Newark bay, together with the Passaic and Hackensaek
rivers.
Perth Amboy and Middlesex county is invited to come into
this organization and throw their full energies into whatever
the organization may devise. We are pretty sure what that
means. We are to be asked to sidetrack our own project for
the time being until Newark bay and tributary rivers get the
improvements with the understanding that after they are done
the association will use its best efforts to have Raritan bay and
river developed.
But that is just the kind of a deal we entered into in re-
gard to the Staten Island Sound Deeper Waterway Associa-
ton and we got a very raw deal, indeed. Naturally, we are a
bit skIttlsh about going into another organization for water
way development merely on promises of something for the
future.
OF course, it may be said that Perth Amboy needs the in
fuence and power behind this newly formed organization more
than the organization needs Perth Amboy. Still, Perth Amboy
does not propose to spend her time and money boosting Newark
bay while her own harbor has greater possibilities than Newark
bay will eve have, yet continues to be ignored.
Besides, with the whole state committed to the ship canal
project and with the federal government itself vitality inter
actnI IN IA Pa,+o, xnon1 oa~-oo &c Al a-4z -1 1865