Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-05-14
HERBERT TELLS
OF n. J. ROADS
Candidate for Congress on G. o. P.
Ticket Brings Campaign to This
City.-Tells Of State Highway

/ John w. Herbert, chairman OF the
State Highway Commission. who has
a voting residence in Helmetta ana
is a candidate on the Republican tick
ct for congressman from the third
congressional district, spoke to about
150 local Republicans last night, de-
voting most of his time to discus
sion of the road work in this state.
He was the principal speaker at the
regular meeting of the Perth Ampoy
Republican Club in the rooms mere
Smokes were distributed early In the
might by the club.
| President Morgan +. Larson presid-
ed over the meeting and John Pfeiffer,
chairman of the county committee,
| explained the clubs policy of wei
coming all candidates and permitting
them to address the club members.
Mr.. Herbert then took the floor.
Tho speaker declared that he has
been a resident of this county for
thirty years, that he was born In Mon
lmouth county and that both his father
land mother were born in Middlesex
county. He told OF spending his boy
lhood on farm, graduating from Rut-
gers with the degree OF bachelor OF
science, graduating from the Column :
bia Law School In New York, his
practice at the bar of New Jersey.
his being made vice president and
treasurer OF the Helme Snuff Factory
and finally his appointment to the
state highway commission. The only
political Office he ever held was that
OF mayor of Helmetta, he said, but
he felt qualified to represent the peo-
pie of this district In Washington.
Mr.. Herbert started from the time
| the commission was first named by
lGovernor James +. Fielder to revise
1.-THE road laws in 1916 up until the
present day. At that time, the speaker
said, II was planned to have sixteen
routes of highways through the state
(which would represent total mileage
l'of 655 miles. 1t was estimated by the
state engineer at that time that the
Icost of completing this program would
Ibe $4,000 q mile or total of about
I $40, 100000.
In order to pay for this road work
1t was decided to place tax of one
mill on everv dollar of ratables In
the state. this giving the state So
200 900 towards the carrying out of
the road program. 1t was later de-
cided to make a new route, from
ll1orristown to PRINCETON. which made
the total mileage 700 instead of Cos.
With the increase in cost of materials
land labor the building of one mile of
road is now from $4,000 to 100000.
Mr.. Herbert said. whereas when the
state road program was laid out IL
Twas estimated at 100000. Thus, he
pointed out the cost of carrying out
the road building program instead Of
being $40, 900, 900 as estimated at nrst
will be $40000,O00 or more. The state
lis receiving federal aid to the extent
that the government will contribute
the same amount for roads as does
the state annually, he said, and the
1 returns from the motor vehicle de-
partment are a fruitful source OF In
come.
| In 1925, Mr.. Herbert said, 100000
Twas received from the motor vehicle
department and in 1912 more than
$4,000. was collected by that de-
partment. showing the increase In
automobile traffic. All of this money,
however Is spent for repairs and
maintenance and not in building new
roads.
| In 1899 there were $3.50 cars manu-
| featured in the United States, Mr.
Herbert said, while in 1919 the total
number built was 1,S91,912 of whicn
labout ten per cent. were commercial
trucks.
Owing to the war an embargo was
placed on road construction, the
speaker declared. and the building OF
roads in this state in accordance with
the plan mapped out in 1916 mad 10
be postponed until after the signing
of the armistice. One hundred miles
of new roads were built in New Jer-
sey last year and 1t Is contemplated
completing a similar amount this
wear. he said. Owing to the severe
winter, Mr. Herbert said. many roads
| which were expected to be In good
condition this summer, were diSinte-
grated and are now greatly In heeo
of repair.
The road from Railway to Eliza
Ibeth he said is in such condition
that an entirely new road must De
constructed. Concrete road. twenty
flour feet wide with three foot should
ers. will be constructed between those
1.-TWO places he said. which he expects
to be the prize piece OF roadwork
lin the state.
| With reference to the new bridge
(which is to be constructed across the
Raritan river, connecting this Guy
with South Amboy, Mr.. Herbert
stated that soundings were now being
made for the foundations of the piers.
The structure. when completed, he
said will be one of the finest, If not
the finest concrete bridge in the state.
Further burdens had been placed up
on the shoulders of the highway
commission, he said. as the result
of the legislatures action in placing
the toll bridges under their supervi-
sion. Tho roads must suffer as re-
suit of this action, he said.
In closing Mr.. Herbert declared
that he was also greatly interested In
developing the waterways in TINS VI
cinity In order to relieve the shipping
strain. He boosted Perth Amboy as
having such a location that Is con-
ducive to big business and future de-
lvelopment.
A. w. Quint, Of Metuchen, another
asptrant for congressional honors
from this district was presented ana
was asked to address the meeting
Owing to the fact that the meeting
was called especially for the purpose
of hearing Mr.. Herbert, the Metuchen
candidate confined himself to few
remarks. which however were to the
point and full Of pep. He opened
by taking few slams" at Congress-
man Thomas ]. Scully and then de-
clared that the Republican elephant
would have TO be resorted to in Nov
ember to clean up the debris left by
the Democratic donkey. He spoke OF
the present day doctrine of do little
and then launched fogth into a short
talk on Americanism, which he said
was that the Republican party stood
lfor.
Vocational Lecture Tonight
Miss Jessie Allen Fowler. the wei
Lnor,u oxpart o, Vocational A ua lVs:iS