Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-11
THE CITY'S BIG PROBLEM.

The decision of the Board of Estimate to
proceed with the construction of the addition
to the high school at once Independent of the
new school in Hall avenue will be received with
a great deal of satisfaction on the part of those
parents who have children attending the high
the grammar school somewhat, as several classes
in the eighth grade have been
heretofore in the high school building and these
classes would have had to be thrown out back
upon an already overcrowded grammar school
for accommodations
There is no doubt that the city officials are
hard pressed for money in attempting to finance
the many projects that are pressing upon them
for accomplishment However, the problem is
theirs and 1t has got to be faced. Perth Amboy
cannot stand still. The city has got to keep
up with the march of progress if it is to uphold
its reputation. And progress consists of other
things besides paved streets, as desirable as
paved streets are.
For the next few years the matter of schools,
parks, water front property and city plan ought
to be given first consideration.
Speaking of the growth and progress of the
city, unless something Is done to reduce the
price of real estate and lower rents in the city
there is not going to be much progress here
after. People have been moving away by hun
dreds during the last year or two. Whole
colonies of former Perth Amboyans are now
located in Woodbridge, Metuchen. Fords and
other nearby places. They have left this city
because they refused longer to pay such
excessive rents for a mere floor in an apartment
when elsewhere a whole house with nice yard
and all conveniences can be secured for much
less. All of this is a direct injury to Perth
Amboy. 1t means the loss of some most desir-
able citizens. Many of these people are lost
forever. as they have built their own homes in
the suburbs, paying. in many instances, for their
houses in installments that are less per month
than the rent for a few measly rooms in Perth
Amboy.
There is no doubt that the high prices paid
Tor real estate here is one of the main causes
for high rents, and high rents are the cause of
80 many desirable citizens moving away. The
point is. are the valuations that are placed on
this real estate for taxing purposes anywhere
near the value placed upon all this property
for renting purposes?
If real estate is going to be held so high in
this city and rents correspondingly high so that
hundreds of people are driven elsewhere to
live. then valuations ought to be raised accord
ingly. If this were done fairly and honestly the
city would not be so near it's debt limit in the
matter of bond issues and the Board of Alder
men would be able to build a school house
now and then when needed, and buy water
front property for the future use of the city
as well as give the people a few real parks with
bathing beaches.
The solution is in the hands of the aldermen.
But one thing is certain, parents are not going
to tolerate having their children huddled to-
gether in dark, poorly ventilated basement
school rooms when all law, moral and civil, as
we'll as common decency is opposed to such a
state of affairs.