Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-31

L tCNAlS VII TIC CdOAC MOIhS OAuAtdilCt.
The aldermen had taken a recess of
about fifteen minutes following the
two hearings and there was some
discussion as to whether or not the
board couIi legally act as the meet
ing was ceilet, for Dec. 80, and Il was
Dec. 81, wl'er they finally got down
to the actual vote. The city tito
ney ruled hat 1. was a continued
meeting and tn aldermen went
ahead with the cable works resolu-
ton whic vas amended slightly IN
second reading ard passed with the
aye votes of all except Alderman
Clark. 1t passed en- third and final
readings Iy a similar vote. Mr..
Somogyi then served the writ on
| City Cl'rk Graham.
Alderman Clark spoke against the
| passage of the ordinance, reading
from some notes he had prepared on
the subject. He said he was not
opposing the measure for political
easons. but thought the cable
works should pay the city for wha.
they were getting and purchase the
property owned by private residents
in that vicinity as well. He read
. newspaper clipping showing that
b Standard Underground Cable
Works have declared a 35 per cent
dividend this year.
The special meeting to act on the
dry docks crossings next went into
session, 1t being about l o'clock.
Alderman Waters suggested that the
ordinance be amended so that some
restrictions similar to those placed
in the cable works ordinance might
be added. Alderman Andersen. who
introduced the ordinance. said he did
not think that any were necessary.
Alderman Clark suggested that this
measure be laid over for considera-
ticn at another meeting when prop
crly worded. A motion was made 10
pass the ordinance on second read
ing and it was passed by the four
aye" votes of the Republicans and
the three may" votes of the Demo-
Gratis. The ordinance passed on
third and final readings by a like
vote.
Alderman CLARK declared hat the
nights work had beer wasted as far
as the cable works ordinance was
concerned as it is illegal to amend
an ordinance on second reading and
then pass 1t Alderman Waters diff
fered with him. The last special
meeting got under way at about 1:20
o'clock and was for the purpose of
passing an ordinance on second and
third readings authorizing the issu-
ance of temporary improvement
bonds not exceeding $1,000 to pay
for the purchase of lots 10, IA, Is
and 16 ir block 3l3. The meeting
adjourned at 1880 it being the last
meeting of the year and the last at
which Aldermar-at-large Wester
and Alderman Andersen will attend.
Observation-Disclosures, Richard J..
Calvin and Alderman-elect Robert
A. Mcclure were beth present at the
meeting.
Following is the letter from the
State Street Improvement Associa-
ton which was referred to the COM
mittee of the whole:
Perth Amboy, Dec. so, 1921.
ITO the Honorable Board of Alder
men,
"City of Perth Amboy, N. j.
"Gentlemen-Simply from fear
that hasty action ON your part might
cause irreparable damage to the
great majority of our taxpayers We
are writing this letter with the hope
of p~ersuading you not to grant per-
mission to lay four tracks across
Washington street above ground. You
will note we say above ground. Mis-
takes of our forebearers allowing
railroads to cross principal streets
above ground-or perhaps to run
above ground at-caused us much
trouble and loss of life and similar
mistakes should not be committed
the second time. We are very anx-
ious for the Perth Amboy Dry Dock
Company and any and all manufac-
turing plants to have railroad facili-
ties in keeping with their present
and future needs: but can assure you
in this present instance there is no
occasion for the railroads in ques-
ton to cross Washington street
above ground as at the corner of
Washington and High streets the
elevation is twenty-one CID feet
higher than the point from which
the L. v. r. r.. tracks leave their
own property at the extreme north
erly end of High street Trains can
thus readily cross Washington street
under ground-the sewer not even
interfering as we are prepared to
prove at your convenience.
This sub-street sub sidewalk meth
cd of laying railroad tracks would al
so remove the thorn in the flesh" of
a sidewalk track laying proposition
that is also coming before your body
this evening. That the shifting of
cars over a series made up of four
tracks would unduly interfere with
traffic will hardly be questioned by
anyone who has waited for gates to
rise in some sections of our city or
for shifting engines and their cars
to get out of the way in other sec
tons. You have all noticed the n
of automobiles extending from the
park to the old ferry while waiting
for a friendly ferry boat to get in;
how long when the Washington
street gets in operation, do you sup
pose they will stay lined up on
Washington street to wait for some
u~nfriendly ones engine and cars to
get out?
"We. of this association, do not
want any track to cross Washington
street above ground and can prove
conclusively 1t is unnecessary to do
so.
1--WE would like to see a branch
line crossing that street below the
surface and extending well down
Front street with spurs to all the
industries along hat line. This
would necsssitate the purchasing CT
but few houses and lots and then
Front street. along that line, might.
to advantage. be sold to the indus
tries and abandoned as a useless
thirty-three-foot street, holding.
a~ 4-Ia