Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-09-30
A STUDY OF PERTH AsBoY.

ment Of Perth Amboy today to know
what some OF the coming genera
ton think OF the way we are doini
1t. The survey in the high schoo
conducted by the men directing tn,
reorganization of the Chamber o
Commerce brings out some might!
interesting points. Particularly i'm
portant is the reasons some give VIII,
they do not expect to remain ii
Perth Amboy.
II we cannot count on u owl
boys and girls staying with US tC
carry on" for the generation yet tc
follow, how can we expect to attract
others here who have not beer
brought UP in Perth Amboy spirit
There Is much qualification in the
fact that a large percentage of the
pupils in the high school declared
that they intend to remain here
But it is we'll to study the reasons
given by those who say they are go
ing away as soon as they can, and
try to see IL the reasons given for
their decision cannot be removed. 1t
may be that the reasons given by
these pupils for deciding to go away
is exactly the same reason why a
great many families do not come
here to live.
One OF the main reasons for leav-
Ing Perth Amboy is to ind greater
opportunities. But opportunities are
what one makes for himself.
Some ofSth successful men were
hose who, it might be claimed, had
the least opportunity to succeed.
Take, for instance, Senator Harding,
he Republican candidate for Presi-
lent this year. He settled In a town
sven smaller than Perth Amboy. He
along running an insignii-
little country newspaper. He
never left his town because
he thought it lacked oppor-
He made the most of the
that existed right there
and today he stands a good chance
" being elected to the greatest po-
in tha world
Again, some r going away be-
,ause there are more beautiful places
which to live. That Perth Amboy
s not a beautiful place at the pres
INT time all will have to- admit. In
lays before the Civil War this place
vas one OF the fayorite summer re-
OF the people of the South.
rhe old Brighton House, now the
Westminster, "a thronged every
season with rich southern planters
accompanied with the servants and
livery. That was before the days of
.sbury Park, Long Branch and At
antic City. Nevertheless, it showed
hat Perth Amboy had it's attrac-
ions. The view GRO the bay with
Staten Island in the foreground and
he highlands of Monmouth county
n the distance makes a picture that
,annot be equaled> anywhere in the
state today.
The trouble with Perth Amboy
and its old-time beauty is that as the
Industrial development has taken
place it has been done in a hap
hazard manner. Great factories have
here, streets have been laid
but and farms have been divided in
70 narrow building lots without any
or regard for the future. 1t
was a mistake that the generation
has past made and we of the
present generation are suffering as
4 result. But that is no reason why
the present generation should not
profit by this mistake and see to it
that the next generation is better
To do this we must have a city
plan sd as to go about the building
up of the city systematically. Then we
can have a beautiful place as well as
an Industrial center. We cam have
pleasant homes and pretty streets
parks and bathing beaches just
as 500 as we are willing to get
down to brass tacks and plan for
them. That is the lesson that is
brought home to us by this high
school survey. The coming genera
ton is looking for these things.
1t is the duty of the present gen.
GRAFTON to do what it can to provide
for it so that when the next genera
ton takes hold it will find the foun-
datton for a great city already laid
and those who are now contemplat.
ing going away where they think
there viii be a great opportunity viii
decide to stay right here and carry
on"
AS for the healthfulness Of the
city. that goes along with the proper
laying out and care Of the place. Il
may not be so healthful to live IL
the immediate vicinity of a great in,
dustry, but Perth Amboy must pro,
vide a residential section that is no
thus handicapped 1t al be dom
l,,nHAr tha riohf kfnd nf q ave4epa