Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-19
Member of The Associate" Press
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FOR A MEMORIAL BRIDGE.

another $1,000. 900 for the new struc-
turo it would be decidedly appropriate
to have the bridge take the form Of
a memorial for the New Jersey boys
who diod for their country in the
World War.
There are many reasons why this
new bridge would make an Ideal
memorial. In the first place, n bridge
Is wei adapted for memorial pur-
poses. 1t stands out prominently
against the landscape. 1t is impossible
to crowd It; It can be seen from all
sides for a great distance and 1t can
always be seen in its entirety. 1t IS
Of necessity a structure set apart from
everything else and must attract at
tention.
This particular bridge across tho
Baritan river is one Of the largest, II
not Inc largest. wholly within the
state. Fol that reason it is distinctive
in itself. Being of such q size it
could easily be made worthy of the
boys in whose memory it would be
dedicated. 1t stands to reason that
any ordinary bridge over the average
small stream to be found in this
r. state would not do justice to tho
cause. But no fault could be found on
this score with a bridge a mile long.
At the same time, being entirely with
in the state it would be exclusively
Now jerseys memorial.
Again, the bridge is Il part of the
state highway system and on a route
that Is pernaps Travelled by more
residents Of the whole state than any
other road that makes up this SYSTEM.
Not only do thousands Of Jerseyites
cross this bridge every year, but
other thousands from neighbor-
ing states and from all parts Of the
country traverse this route, especially
In summer as 1t to only direct con-
Meeting link between the Jersey coast
resorts and Newark and New York.
But this travel Is not confined to sum
mer. With the attractions of Atlantic
City and Lakewood the travel across
this bridge by residents and non-resl-
dents Is heavy all the year. 1t would
be II fine thing for these thousands
OF tourists to see what q handsome
memorial New Jersey has erected to
her hero dead.
Not only is the bridge itself used by
thousands of residents and non-resi-
dents every year. but 1t is in plain
view of tho New York and Long
Branch railroad bridge across which
scores of trains pass daily carrying
commuters that come from all parts
of New Jersey TO spend their sum-
mers along the coast, Twice daily
this memorial bridge would be
brought prominently before then
eyes. Then, too. there are the many
excursion trains loaded with children
who would also get a glimpse of the
beautiful memorial structure as they
passed TO and from the seashore.
As a matter Of fact, all things
considered, there is not q location that
could be selected where a memorial
would be more often seen and admired
by the greatest number of peop.e than
a bridge across the Raritan river as
g part of route 4 of the state highway
system. It is significant, also, that this
bridge is in tho center of the state
being as much south Jersey as 1t is
north Jersey.
This bridge has got to be built any
way. 1t is going TO cost a great dea
OF money. The federal government
will contribute $4,000 O0 toward it,
construction. This. in n sense. makes
It of nationwide interest. The STATE
will spend probably $500. 900 in ad.
dition to what the federal government
gives. This makes 81, 500.0 600 already
available for the structure. We doub
II any Slhle Ak Lut CLAph WILL spShN
more than that amount for {
memorial for her soldiers.
But as substantial a structure as tn,
money already pledged will build
should 1t be decided to make 1t
memorial on the part of the state. tn,
legislature might see fit to appropriate
an additional memorial fun
with the sole idea Of adding
features that would dignity and max
the structure still more impressive S
that it would easily rank with tn
most notable bridges in the world an,
one that would be a cause of prid
on the part OF every Jerseyman.
In the construction of this preten
tioas bridge over the Raritan rive
between the Amboys the state of Me-
Jersey has q rare opportunity to cree