Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-16
THE MADISON AVENUE WHITE WAY"

The formal opening of the white way" OF
Madison avenue marks another step in tn
progress of municipal lighting which has proved
such a success in this city thus far. We are
not unmindful of the criticisms that have beer
made regarding the municipal light plant. II
spite of all these it must be admitted that Perth
Amboy is a much better lighted city today thar
1t was under the Public Service regime, and
that is allowing for the natural growth of the
city, too. In this respect Perth Amboy far
surpasses many cities Of its size and will rank
well with many municipalities that are a great
deal larger than Perth Amboy.
1t is charged that when the cost of operating
the municipal plant is considered along with the
depreciation on the plant and the replacement
charges, together with interest on the bonds, ETC.,
that it would be cheaper to have the Public
eervice light the city on contract. There are
so many different opinions in this regard and
20 many figures can be produced both ways.
citing Illustrations from different cities. both for
and against municipal lighting, that it is difficult
for the ordinary layman to determine the correct
answer.
It is also brought against the municipal plant
here that when it was being built it was prom
ised that for the amount raised it would be
revenue-producing and thus help pay for itself.
This has not proved to be the case. Not only
was 1t impossible to furnish commercial lighting
for the amount originally asked for. but ad-
ditional money was needed to complete the
plant as it is.
But granting all these errors and omissions,
the fact remains that Perth Amboy is one OF
the best lighted cities in the country today.
Besides the ordinary extensions that would
naturally go with the building up of the city,
there have been a great many additional lights
placed on streets that were already built up,
but which had arc lights merely on distant
corners, leaving much Of the block in between
In darkness.
It Is well how difficult it was to
get any additional lights on streets that were
already considered lighted by the Public Service.
The contract always called for a certain number
Of lights and to add more involved much time
and correspondence and dickering, which always
.~yaad in the, Public Service adding greatly to
Is income in excess Of what the few additional
lights might cost. Today. 1t is only necessary
20 convince the aldermen that a light is needed
In a certain place and it is put there without
further ado.
It is also worth considering that during the
luel famine LWO VI liz "AhSN
every other city all about us was in total dark
ness Perth Amboy was as brilliantly Illuminated
as ever. The Public Service being so short OF
coal, had to stop municipal lighting altogether
and even commercial lighting was at a premium
store windows being in darkness and many other
inconvenience being forced upon the public.
The Perth Amboy municipal plant, however,
never failed. It's engines, using oil for fuei'
were able to keep going at full capacity, so that
we were the envy of the entire state because
of our brightness.
And now we are extending our white way.
1t is not necessary to ask permission OF the
Public Service to do this. There is no ne"
contract to be made out greatly to the ad-
vantage Of the lighting company. The municipal
plant is able to carry the load, the city en-
ployees have done the installing. and so Perth
Amboy enjoys this great improvement entirely