Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-14
SHOWS GROWTH
Of PERTH AMbOY
". Parker Runyon Tells What
Waterways Gan Do
new BRUASWICk'S POSITION
Shows Advantages Of Deeper
Channel in Raritan River to
the County Seat
new BRUASW|CK'S POSITION

w. Parker Runyon. president OF
the Perth Amboy Dry Dock Com
pany, when requested by G. s. Atkin-
son, special representative of the
New Brunswick Board Of Trade, to
express his views concerning a deep
er channel UP Raritan river from
Raritan Bay to New Brunswick,
made the following statement:
Regarding the advantages of
deeper channel in the Raritan river
from Raritan Bay to New Brunswick,
the first question l want to ask you
is: Did you ever see a village or city
grow to any proportions and thrive
without having water front?' city
that possesses a water front without
taking full advantage of it is going to
remain in its class whether 1t be sec
ond third, fourth or fifth, indefinitely
I'm my opinion there is no reason
why the channel in the Raritan river
should not be dug to a depth of twen
ty-five feet from it's mouth to New
Brunswick, and with turning basin
at New Brunswick, it would then be
navigable for large steamships. This
being done. the up-river section OF the
county, as far as New Brunswick,
would reap the greatest advantage as
1T would then be in position to ben
eft by the transportation that the
ton and the proposed canal across the
state Of New Jersey, from Morgan on
Raritan Bay to Bordentown. on the
Delaware river (and this to my mind
will be reality in but few years)
are now enjoying.
Just at present New Brunswick
stands in an unenviable position in
regard ia transportation, having but
one means at hand-the Pennsylvania
railroad, except by vessels of the
lighter draft.
1T may not be amiss to mention
some Of the advantages that the ca
nal would confer upon transportation
between two of the greatest seaports
on the Atlantic coast. The distance
from the wharves in Philadelphia to
the Battery in New York, by the out
side route Is 274 miles. while that
over the canal route Is 81 miles. The
canal, therefore, cuts off more than
two-thirds of the Journey between the
two points, and all Of the delays and
uncertainties which arise from stress
of weather and season in ocean travel,
and with it go two-thirds of the cost
of freight charges. and a great per-
centage of waste in the case of per-
ishab- @ cargoes, such as fruits and
vegetables from the south and oysters
from the Chesapeake.
New Brunswick being but twelve
miles from the northerly terminal of
the proposed canal cannot but bene-
fit very largely. as 1t would insure
heavier shipments to and from the
south by the shorter, cheaper and in
side route.
THE waters through this section
have been much improved SO far as
depth of channels, is concerned, in the
last ten years, and as fast as such i'm
provements are made just SO much
ct1 a
and residential pur-
poses
I'm my opinion the city of New
Brunswick can more easily and for
much less cost prepare to enjoy the
advantages of having larger freight
carriers touch there than the cities
of Newark, Passaic. Paterson, Port
land, Oregon. and many other cities
that have already inaugurated strong
activities in this direction.
Just let me give you little his
tory on this subject relative to the
Perth Amboy section Middlesex coun-
ty Perth Amboy was granted charter
in 1853 yet 1t was two centuries In
creasing its population to $500. Not
until the city appreciated the value OF
her water front as an asset did its
begin. The water front
had heretofore been valued simply as
an oyster bed.
THE first sign of growth was the
location of the great Lehigh Valley
coal terminal in 1870 some fifty years
ago. Next, through the activity OF
few far-sighted citizens, the American
Smelling and Refining Company was
located here. Then came the Rar1- |
tan Copper Works, clay and terra
Gotta works. through long list of In
dustrial plants which have made Perth |
Amboy its home, with a population
now nearly $4,000 souls. And all be- |
cause the little towns eyes were open |
ed to see her face in the water.
"If I could give it. the time there |
is much to be said on the subject |
that is favorable to the deepening OF
the channel and the utilization of |
waterfront that would prove the ad |
vantages that would result to any city |
that has the pep to enter into i
lively campaign with such a purpose
in view.
'In closing let me say that New |
Brunswick has already too long neg |
lected her advantages and the SOON
er her best citizens get to work on |
this question just then you will find |
New Brunswick beginning to grow. |
and once started nothing in the |
world can ever head 1t off, as long as |
the waterfront accomm odations and !
water transportation of the larger |
craft Is taken care Of"
IL Tr1A>