Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-21
CIVIC ACTION
FOR METUCHEN
Arthur K. HiIIpot is Elected
President of Chamber of
Commerce at Meeting.
GBy Evening New. t correspondent.)

tBy Evening New. stan correspondent.)
METUCHEN, April 21:-The
Metuchen Chamber of Commerce
was revived and reorganized at an
informal dinner held last night at
the home of Capt. C. B. Carmen. 6S
Linden avenue, twenty-three repre-
sentative citizens of the borough at
tending. Metuchen has had a Cham
Der of Commerce for some time but
II has failed to function as it should
and the spirit. pep and enthusiasm
manifested last night gives promise
of a real, wide-awake organization
from wv on.
The object of the meeting IA to
determine whether or not a chamber
OF commerce a necessary. After
hearing the various speakers tell of
what has been accomplished in
other places by such organizations
there was no doubt left in the minds
of those present that a chamber of
commerce Is essential to the devel-
opment of the borough.
The reorganization resulted in
Arthur X. Hillpot being elected
president OF the chamber; Abel Han
sen, first vice president; Alonzo c.
Quint, second vice president; E.
Kramer, treasurer, and Charles A.
PASCAL, secretary.
One of those present last night
was Lewis Nixon, ex-Public Service
commissioner of New York City and
owner of the Nixon powder plant
near here. .Mr. Nixon spoke at
length, telling of his selection in
1898 of Methchen as the site for his
plant because of its natural facili-
ties. He spoke of the feasibility of
deepening and widening the Raritan
river to New Brunswick and con-
structing wharves along its shores
which would be capable of relieving
the port congestion in New York
City. Mr.. Nixon also spoke on the
need of good roads in any place
which expects to attract business.
He urged everyone to get behind the
Chamber of Commerce and assist it
in every way possible, he Offering his
help in this matter.
Major r. w. Case, commanding
officer of Raritan arsenal, spoke of
the need of a housing movement in
Metuchen. He stated that it would
benefit both the borough and the
arsenal. He advocated double troll
ley tracks. pointing out that faster
time could then be made. He touch
ed upon the importance of well con-
structed roads and urged the people
of Metuchen to stop much of the
propaganda which is going around
relative to the great danger at Camp
Raritan because of explosives stored
there. He pointed out that the ar
senal Is an asset to the community.
employing 1900 persons and having
800 soldiers quartered there. The
monthly payroll is in the neighbour
hood of $3.50, 900, the major said.
President Hillpot spoke briefly but
emphasized the iced of solving two
| problems at once, both of which he
termed as serious. The first is the
housing problem and the second that
| of sewerage.
Colonel Dinwiddi, who for the past
five months has been in Florida,
spoke of the great improvements at
tributed to Chamber of Commerce
work. He told of the important
part played by good roads in bring
ing prosperity to a community. He
also told of the need of a sewer sys
tenn in Metuchen. Among Others
who spoke were Mr.. Quint, the sec
ond vice president and United States
District Attorney Frederick M. It.
Pierce.
Invitations were extended to- the
mayor and members of the borough
council but none of these city Off
Gals were present. A membership
committee will get to work at once
increasing the membership of the Or
ganiZation.