Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-22
COUNTY a FIRST

Freeholders to take such interest IN the MAN arteries u
travel across the county as to offer to repave that part oil the
lincoln Highway between Metuehen and New Brunswick Tor
the State Highway Commission with the understanding that
The money thus spent will be returned to the county by the
state later when the State Highway Commission has more
funds available. The reason given by the State Highway
Commission for asking the counties to do this work Is the
inability of the state commission to do all that is required oil
it at the present time.
But is not the county in about the same predicament?
Since when has Middlesex county had enough to do all that
is desired in the way of road building in this county and
have some to spare besides? The state having taken over
these main arteries of travel it would seem, with all the
funds that are pouring in upon the state commission Tor road
work, that it ought to be able to take care of its own, leaving
the counties to provide for the roads that are strickly OF
county concern.
Take. for instance. the route between Metuchen and
New Brunswick. The direct route along the Lincoln High
way through Highland Park is always heavily Travelled. On
special days, such as on the occasion of a big football game
at Princeton, the road is fearfully congested. The through
traffic will naturally use this main highway as t IS the only
route that the vast majority of the travellers know about.
Besides, it is maintained by the state and is intended for
general state use.
On such occasions the people of Middesex county would
gladly leave that main highway exclusively to this through
traffic and use another route that is a little longer, perhaps,
and that is known TO few outside the local residents, but
which would enable the local people to avoid the congestion
Of the main highway. There is another such route between
Metuchen and New Brunswick and if the freeholders had in
mind the welfare of their own constituents first they would
zee that this route is properly maintained so that the people
of Middlesex county could make this trip between Metuchen
and New Brunswick in comfort avoiding the confusion on
the Lincoln Highway, maintained by the state. We have ref
erence to the Mediterranean Market road that leads to
z h6eGivSr road coming out at the Landing bridge a mile or
two above New Brunswick. If the freeholders would see
That this road is kept in good condition the people of Middle
sex county. whom the freeholders should serve first, could
avoid the awful traffic on the main Lincoln Highway by using
The Landing bridge and the so-called back road between Me-
tuchen and New Brunswick. The new road through Bon
hamtown will not do as a relief for the main road because it
necessitates the use of the Albany street bridge where the
greatest congestion occurs.
Along this line, the freeholders, after much effort final
Iy paved West avenue in SeWaren connecting with the
Roosevelt road and so on to Railway so that it is possible for
1MiddIesex county people to avoid the congestion on the main
highway between this city and Railway when they so desire.
This comes in very handy on week-ends during the summer
months when the state highway is so congested with the
short traffic.
Another way in which the f%reeholders can serve the
people of Middlesex county to a large extent is by keeping in
good condition the road between South AmbOy and James
burg. passing through Old Bridge, Spotswood and Helmetla,
and then on to Cranbury. Here is another route by which
The people of this county can get to the southern end of the
county without bucking the tremendous travel on the Lin
coin Highway maintained by the state. Also, that road from
Tanners Corner to C%ranbury might be pushed to completion
anording another way for the people of MiddleseX to get
some pleasure out of riding without the annoyance and dan
gers of the state routes across the state.
These secondary roads, 50 to speak, are really Of first
importance as far as MiddleseX county alone is concerned
and their proper upkeep ought TO be of first concern to the
freeholders. If we can take care of these and at the same
time help out the State Highway Commission III keeping up
those sections of the state highway that pass through this
county, all we'll and good.
There is entirely too much attention being given TO the
main arteries o. travel at the expense of The side roads. 1t is
these side roads that are used most by the local residents and
taxpayers. If they were all in good shape it would not be nee
essary to use the state highways at all in getting about the
county. This would be decidedly advantageous to local
travel when traffic is particularly heavy. Many Of these So
caIjed secondary or strictly county roads, having once been
built receive little or no attention thereafter except for a few
Ioads of stones beins dumped in the holes now and then.
When the county was relieved of the expense Of The
two main thorougIfares across the county and the two
bridges across the Earitan which form a part Of those high
why's, it was expected that these many secondary county
roads would receive more attention. After all, it is the con-
diion of such roads as these that reflects credit or other
wise on the county. For the state highways the state is re-
sponsible and while it is highly desirable to have them in
first class condition, from "a strictly county point of view,
the side roads are of more importance. 1t would seem to be
the duty of the f%reeholders to make travel as safe and con-
--aniont nc nnssihla for The nennle of the cnnnIN lrsI This