Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-03-01
PUBLIC MEETING HERE
next MONDAY FOR
SENTIMENT ON BRIDGE
Hearing Before War Department Largely Attended by City
and County Officials, When Claims of Municipal and
Traction Interests Are Heard City Plans for Fight on
Proposed Location Approach.

A public hearing of citizens. coun-
ty, city officials and officials of other
municipalities affected by new stats
bridge to be constructed across the
Raritan river between this city and
South Amboy. will be held in the
city hall here in next Monday af-
ternoon at 2 o'clock. This meeting
was decided upon following the
hearing yesterday before the Board
of Army Engineers in New York
City, on the petition of the State
Highway Commission for permis--
sion to build the new bridge.
Colonel ]. c. Sanford of the corps
of engineers presided at the hearing
at which were present Mayor Will
lam c. Wilson, members OF the
board of aldermen, City Attorney
Lo Goldberger, City Clerk Arthur
f. Graham, City Engineer Morgan
+. Larsen, l. T. Madsen of the Cham
ber of Commerce, members of the
Board of Freeholders, representa-
tives of South Amboy and officials
of the Jersey Central Traction Com
pany. Altogether about sixty per-
sons were present.
The hearing on Monday in this
city is brought about by the fact
that the approach of the bridge on
the Perth Amboy side of the river
did not meet with the approval OF
either Mayor Wilson, City Engineer
Larsen or other representatives
from this city. At the hearing both
Mayor Wilson and Engineer Larsen
pointed out that with the terminus
of the bridge as at present intended
would congest traffic in this city. II
was the plan of the Perth Amboy
Representatives to have the terminal
at the. foot OF Sheridan street.
Engineer Mead OF the State High
way Commission, pointed out that
the bridge plans as adopted by the
highway commission. calls for the
bridge to have a clearance of twen-
ty-six feet above high water, the
approach in this city moved from
Sheridan street to point about
zoo yards up the river and located
at the intersection of Convery
place. The south side approach to
be located on the swamp land own
ed by r. C. Packard. which makes
1t possible for the state to get away
from the annual ice foes in the
Raritan each year and thus save a
big bill for repairs.
Mayor Wilson and Engineer Lar
learn that a site had been definitely
selected and the bridge plans pre-
pared without any notice being Civ.
en- to Perth Amboy. Mayor Wilson
was of the opinion that a site JUS
west of the present structure was q
little better location. This would
make the landing on the south side
at Marshy point and would cross
the channel at right angles which
is a condition insisted upon by the
war department.
Originating in South Amboy the
big protest against no trolleys over
the bridge reached the meeting yes
terday and practically everyone with
the exception of the highway men
were in favor of it. All interests
were anxious to see the old bridge
removed. 1t was the intention of
the Highway commission to MAIN
tain the old bridge until 1927, when
they we're under the impression that
the traction company's franchises ex-
pired.
In an interview with the manager
of the Jersey Central Traction Com
pany Immediately following the hear
ing a NEWS representative was told
that the original franchise of the
company was for twenty years, but
two years after that franchise was
granted a law was passed increas-
ing the maximum limit from twenty
to fifty years and the trolley COM
pany had taken advantage of it and
was now operating under the new
franchise which does not expire un-
til 1857. With this condition ii