Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-11-13

WHILE PERTH AMBoY SLEEPS.

Unless Perth Amboy bestirs herself quiekl,
she is going to find other places with waterfront
facilities leaving her far In the rear. We have
ALREADY stood idly by while Newark has taken
her place as an Atlantic seaport with steamship
lines operating between that place and Havana
and South America, as well as a line of barges
plying between Newark and Buffalo by way oil
the Hudson river and the New York state barge
canal. Now it is Staten Island that is perking
m with plans for a modern railway aud steam
ship terminal.
At a dinner given by the Staten Island Cham
Der Of a day or two ago Calvin D.
Van Name, president of the borough Of Rich
mond. announced that one of the large trunk line
railroads running into New York Is preparing 10
extend its lines to Staten Island and develop a
great port of entry. He did not mention the name
of the railroad, but 1t is generally supposed that
he had reference to the Pennsylvania system
1t was stated that surveys were already being
made for the project.
New York city, as a municipality, has now un-
der construction on Staten Island a $S0,000,oo9
dock project on the south shore of the Island.
Mr.. Van Name in his address said the financing
of this improvement had been so successful that
the city's borrowing capacity had not been affect
cd in the slightest.
II. in addition to this municipal work, a great
trunk line railroad spends more millions in de-
~veloping a terminal reaching the island by way CT
a tunnel, the future Of staten Island is assured.
The Rapid Transit tunnel under the Narrow3
giving direct passenger communication with
Manhattan is going to improve the residential
features of the island and, altogether, Richmond
is about to come into her own.
In the meantime. Newark already seeming the
rivalry that staten Island properly developed
will bring, is alert in looking out for her own
interests.
'-There is a possibility" says the Newark STAR
Eagle, that under-developed Staten Island will
become the great shipping and freight terminal
of the metropolitan section. for other lines have
been making eyes at it's possibilities. A freight
tunnel from Manhattan to Staten Island has been
considered in the past. and the New York Cen
trail system has been reported to be considering
gaining dock facilities there, reached by means
of it's Long Island subsidiary from Bay Ridge,
Brooklyn.
"Whatever the PLAN" the Star-Eagle goes on to
say. "it is a live subject just at present. and it IL
important that Newark know something about
what is going on there"
And it is just as important that Perth Amboy
know something about what is going on on
staten Island as 1t Is for Newark to know. We
are far behind Newark even in our waterfront
development. In fact. we have done nothing at
all in this direction although the city possesses
enc of the finest harbors on the Atlantic coaet.
Newark has already spent millions of dollars
developing Port Newark Terminal and at a re-
cent meeting Of the Chamber Of Commerce
plans were discussed for spending a million and
4 half more in dredging out the channel In shall
low Newark bay without waiting for federal aid.
1t is proposed to dredge out this channel at the
expense Of the municipality.
Perth Amboy has natural facilities for harbor
development far surprising anything that New
ark has and equal to any on Staten Island be-
cause of the better protection for shipping here.
Yet Perth Amboy sleeps on peacefully while her
neighbors are up and doing. By a little enter
prise on the part of Perth Amboy-enterprise
such as Newark is showing. for instance great
railroad terminals with steamship lines 10 all
parts of the world would be coming here and
Perth Amboy would profit tremendously.
With the broad fairway up Raritan bay ship
ping would just as readily come to Perth Amboy
as to stop anywhere along the Staten Island
shore, not to mention winding its tortuous way
up the narrow. crooked channel of Newark bay.
But IL Staten Island and Newark furnish the
terminal facilities and Perth Amboy goes to
sleep this city's chances will be slim. indeed.
The time has arrived for Perth Amboy to
take hold of big things and do them in a big
way. Otherwise there is small chance of becom-
ing a big city. The future of Perth Amboy lies
on her waterfront. as we have often said before.
1t is more true today than ever. Newark, Staten
Island and other places that are at all accessible
to the sea are making the most of their oppor-
tunity.
What is Perth Amboy going to do about il?
FOR ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS.