Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-08
STICK TO COUNTY ROADS.

rhn hoard of Freeholders should adopt the
-. 90 ,ba state Highway Commission in the
matter of paving and maintaining roads Inc
state Highway Commission has taken over only
the main thoroughfares throughout the STATE
highways that are arteries of trans-state traNei
and which are used as much by non-resioehts Oh
the section in which they are located as they are
hv those living in the immediate vicinity
Tn like manner, the Board of Freenolders
o,,vht 70 take over and maintain only sucn
-oaas IN the county as are actually county roads
leading from one town to another and being
~.n.raIlv travelled. The freeholders are no
more justified in paving and maintaining local
.,....s and highways in the various cities and
horoughs of the county than the State Highway
Commission would be in taking over Ordinary
county roads on which the travel is nine-tenths
local.
- a street within the limits of a city or bor-
ouxh is a part of a main county highway leao-
ing TO another municipality there may be some
justification In the county taking over the wnoie
highway, including the part within the city OF
borough limits, and paving 1t at county ex-
nsnse and thereafter maintaining 1t. But even
In such cases the street in the main part OF
the municipality ought to be paved at local ex-
pense. Instances of this kind are to be found
in the upper ends Of NTH street, state street
and of New Brunswick avenue in Perth Am
hoy. Here the county has paid for the pave
ment only at the extreme ends which pass
through the sparcely settled section of the city
near the city line are under the control OF the
county. These main streets leading out into the
county are paved and maintained by the CITY
for the greater part of their length through the
principal parts Of the city.
Perth Amboy would not think OF asking the
sounty to take over High street, for instance,
and maintain IT at county expense. While High
street is one of the most important thorough
fares in the city. It is strictly a city street ana
the county is not concerned in it at all.
Yet, the fact is, many of the ooroughs ana
towns Of the county are asking the county 10
assume the responsibility of paving and main
tanning many Of their local streets. The abuse
has gone on from year to year until the county
\ now carrying an enormou burden that ought
rtghtfully TO be borne by the various local
governments.
WHY should Perth Amboy and New Bruins
wick bear the expense of paving their own
streets and at the same time pay by far the Dig
sest share of the expense of paving the streets
IT all the towns and boroughs In the county as
sen? BY making each municipality take care
Of It's own streets leaving the main roads OF the
county to be cared for by the freeholders the
county as a whole would be greatly benefited
and II any particular borough has not got al
good streets as the people think they ought &c
rave, let the borough council issue bonds and
make the desired improvement the same al
Perth Amboy has to do. 1t is time this pro
miscuous taking over and paving of local streets
In the various towns and boroughs was halted
The county is already loaded down with NOR
Of this kind of highways than 1t can care for
let the county conine its activities to road
that are county roads in every sense OF tn
word, Just as the State Highway
confines itself to the roads that are mainly stat
highways. It is the only fair way to treat tn
taxpayers Of the whole county.