Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-09-24
WATER FRONT PROPERTY VALUES

WATER FRONT PROPERTY VALUES
In considering the revision of tax assessments
in Middlesex county the County Board Of Equal
ization of Taxes has just made a tour of inspec-
ton along the water front of Staten Island
sound. They report that they find that assess
ments in Union county for water front property
are much higher than they are in Middlesex
county. They report. also, that they find that the
assessments for water front property in Roose-
welt are higher than they are in Woodbridge
and that assessments for water front property In
woodbridge are higher than they are in Perth
Amboy.
All this may be true and II 1t is, 1t is per-
fectly consistent. Everyone knows that the
nearer New York one gets the more valuable
the land becomes. Union county being much
nearer New York than Middlesex, it is to be ex-
pected that the assessments there for water
front property should be much higher than in
Middlesex county. The borough of Roosevelt,
being much nearer New York than Woodbridge.
It stands to reason that the valuations should
be higher and consequently tho assessments
higher. Likewise, Woodbridge property being
nearer New York than the water front of Perth
Amboy, it follows that the Woodbridge assess
ments should be higher than the Perth Amboy
assessments.
The whole development of Staten Island
sound thus far has been for the benefit of the
sections lying nearest New York. A few years
ago there was organized the Staten Island Sound
Deeper Waterways Association, formed for the
purpose Of developing the sound and getting a
deeper channel. All the municipalities contrib
uted largely to the expenses of the organization
rs did many private corporations interested In
water front property along the sound. AT the
lime this organization was formed the Evening
News pointed out that there would be little
benefit In such a development for Perth Ampoy
unless the channel up the bay from Sandy HOOK
was also deepened. The bay, we pointed out Is
cur front door while the sound is our back door.
However. the Staten Island sound advocates
~rant ahead and. through much influence in con-
sress, secured an appropriation Tor deepening
tha channel all the way from Perth Amboy
tbroreb the Arthur Kill and the Kill Won Kull
into Upper New York boy. 1t was sishn-
cant, however, that when the work on thls iii
proyement began it was started at the upper en-
Of the sound in the vicinity OF shooter STAIN
opposite Elizabeth. The Evening News coh-
mented on the fact at the time. Union county
received all the benefits from the start
Gradually the dredging extended in this direc-
zion. Bayway with its enormous Stanoaru oi
interests was helped. then the Runway river
section, also in Union county, was MADE aVaii-
able for deep water shipping. Next IL was
Roosevelt. and so on down past Woooprioge
,nt;, Perth Amboy's water front was nnahy
reached.
Rut what good dids all this development DO
p.rth Ambov? 1t decreased rather than IN
crassed shipping here, as the local pilots VIII
tast,tv. The new development left only a turn
,nv basin in front of Perth Amboy. In other
uoras the Improvement provided that ships can
.on,e through from the upper bay In New horN
hernor as far as Perth Amboy and then turn
and go back again. With the channei IN ~
h.v left as it is, the big vessels cannot pass ou'
=, the sound at this end, neither can vessels Oh
-. sa.n draft enter at this end. they
IRE nj, forced around by the way of the upper
~, !, New York which means that they mus
coms all the way down past Union county
Roosevelt ana WOoupiiu6o
Perth Amboy. 49,.
WHY should not the water front iahu' ~
=. r,or. valuable In Union county than In Miu
a,ssex county and why should 1t not continue u
Sscrease In value the nearer one approaches 'h'
..r,a e,d of the deep channel at Perth Am
boy?
Union county is making an awful tuss ANU
,be difference between the assessments on oh'oi
conntv water front property and MiddleseS
county water front property, yet the difference
Ia nerfectlv justifable. Union county wants ai
the improvements and when she gets them sly
wants Niddlesex. without the improvements y
nav "a much as Union county does with the I'm
provements. -
Tet the channel in Raritan bay Leading oirec
10 Perth Amboy be improved as the ehahne
through the staten Island sound from the uppe
hay has been improved and there viii be no Cd
teotion to an increase in the valuation OF Pert
Anbov's water front. But under existing con
aitions Middlesex must protest and protest mar
against raising assessments here on water fron
property to anywhere near the assessments o
water front property in Union county, Tor a
raid before. the nearer New York the land
located the more valuable 1t is under existin
conditions.
Likewise, owners of water front property i
Perth Ambey will be justified in protestin
- At-.- hnnGtad go q