Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-05
81
n Us. TUNNEL


ing on the argument that because the
proposed TRANSLATE ship canal is to
pass through Middlesex and Mercer
counties and across the corner of Bur-
lington county the landowners in
those counties. particularly the own
ers Of the land bordering the pro-
posed canal ought to furnish the money
for the purchase of the right OF way,
which the state has pledged itself to
buy at a total cost Of $1,oOO.OO0 as
soon as congress agrees to dig the
ditch.
The Jersey Journal reasons as fol-
lows:
"Midd1esex Mercer and Burlington
counties Will be the immediate bene-
ficiaries. The owners of the land ad-
Joining the canal line will be in a
position to reap immense profits. They
will be enriched through no efforts of
their own, but merely because of the
canal.
Now, why in the world should the
people of the state be taxed and made
to finance u million-dollar bond plan,
may escape altogether a fair share
OF the burden? The fair way and the
sensible plan to adopt would be to
collect the million dollars, or at least
the bulk of that sum-, from the prop
erty directly benefited, whose value
II to be doubled and trebled and quad
rupled.
1T should be easy to assess the
cost of the right of way on the and
in proportion to the new value of the
land. The state which makes the
values should appropriate at least a
part OF these values by assessment.
There might be some excuse for say
ing that q small portion OF the total
cost should be borne by the state at
large because of tho f-ar-reachtug
benefits OF the proposed waterway,
but to saddle the entire cost on the
state would be little short of out
rageous."
SO reasons the Jersey Journal In
regard to the trans-state ship canal.
But when 1t comes to the construction
Of the vehicular tunnel under the
Hudson river connecting Jersey City
with New York,-that's different. at
least the Journal would have us be-
lieve so. In the case Of the tunnel
1t Is perfectly proper TO bond the
whole state. according to the Journal.
In fact, the Journal insists that every
year while the tunnel project has the
right of way. 1T Is absolutely neces-
sary," the Journal says. "for the state
to sanction next November a $751;
900. 900 bond issue to take care of the
very much needed vehicular tunnel
and the Delaware river bridge. 1t
would be deplorable If q bond issue
that is really necessary should be
E1eopardized next November by the ad-
ditlon of such an indefenslble propo-
sltion as the scheme to make the
entire state pay for a Translate
canal that will put millions In the
shape Of new values In the pockets of
70 lot OF landowners in Middlesex,
Mercer and Burlington counties"
Applying this same argument to the
iyshioular scheme. why should the en-
tire state pay for a tunnel or bridge
that will put millions IN the shape
OF new values in the pockets Of a lot
OF landowners" In Hudson county?
OF what earthly use is a tunnel
under the Hudson river from Jersey
City to New York or a bridge across
che Delaware river from Camden to
philadelphia to the people of Middle
Sex or Mercer counties. anyway
What benefits viii the people of any
bounty excepting those counties i'm
Emediately adjoining these develop
mentA DERIVE from their construc-
Sion?
Yet. 10 hear the people OF Hudson
county talk. the very existancs of
E4he state depends upon the whole Of
Esw Jersey being bonded to the ex-
Gent Of s2S.oOO. 900 In order that
[yShicles may pass back and forth be-
tween Jersey City and New York
without depending entirely upon the
Ferries, Even Governor Edwards. who,
Iby the way, is a Hudson county man
Aimself, said IN his recent message to
Lfhe legislature hat the tunnel to
New York is of vital concern to the
people Of this state" But just in
what way It is "vital' the governor
does not say. 1t may be vital" to
New York in order hat the
metropolis may set supplies when the
Ferries are tied up by a strike, but
We do not see how the tunnel is
fyital" TO New Jersey. at least out
3ide Hudson county.
When the tunnel plan was first pro-
&osed we We're told that the work