Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-17

"NciNCN OWi
boom. During the past twenty years while Perth Amboy was
forging ahead rapidly Woodbridge and other communities
nearby were practically standing still. Thousands of people
have been attracted 10 this vicinity through the growth and
development of Perth Amboy. Up until a year or two ago
Perth Amboy retained most of this advantage herself. Old
estates were settled up, new streets were opened and hun
dreds of houses were built. Perth AmbOy was thriving like
a boom town in the West.
So wrapped up was perth Amboy in her marvellous
growth at the time that she failed to look into the future and
plan accordingly. She saw her most desirable residential
sections being more closely built up all the time with the in
evitable rise in realty values as lots became scarcer. Real
estate operators seized the opportunity to speculate with the
result that the price of land in the desirable sections of Perth
Amboy has been forced so high that it is beyond the reach of
the average man. And those who have the money to pay
such prices as are now asked here want something more
than twenty-five or thirty feet on which to build.
Then, this constant rise in realty values has caused a
corresponding increase in rents. To realize anything on his
investment a landlord has got to get a rent in proportion.
Thus it has gone on year after year until today we find our
progress halted, as everyone knew it must be halted sooner
or later unless something was done to relieve the situation.
People found that by going into the suburbs where land
was plentiful they could buy a decent size lot and erect a
house for almost the price of a lot alone in Perth Amboy.
They found that by going into the suburbs they could soon
own their own home through the payment of monthly in
stallments that would be no greater than the rent of an
average flat in Perth Amboy.
Woodbridge, because of its nearness and its Transport
taton facilities with Perth Amboy, has been the greatest
beneficiary. It's prosperity today is due to Perth AmbOys
growth. This city grew until what little desirable property
was left. became prohibiive and now the overflow has passed
On into Woodbridge. The development of this attractive
suburb has been wonderful during the past two or three
years. Hundreds of people who depend upon Perth Amboy
for a livelihood and many of whom formerly lived here, are
included among WoOdbridge's best citizens today.
It is evident, therefore, that the prosperity of the two
places depends upon each other. This being the case a
union of the two into one big municipality is the next logical
step. With the proper kind of planning and through a united
effort the progress Of both places will be much greater and
the outcome will be more advantageous to everybody.
With Perth Amboys port development scheme now well
started the future of this section, commercially, is assured.
At the recent hearing before the Port of New York Au-
thoritv the spokesman for Woodbridge stated that the devel-
opment of Woodbridge along this line depended almost en-
lirely on what Perth Amboy did. And so it does. This city
is at the head of the bay and i'll a position to care for the
big shipping. Here the great terminals must be erected.
Woodbridge will reap almost as big a benefit from this as
will Perth Amboy. By the two places joining forces and
going along together, through systematic planning this
whole section can be developed commercially, industrially
residentially so as to compare ~fayOrably with any city
in the country.
In the meantime Perth Amboy has about reached the
end of her rope as far as attracting new residences are con
cerned. Here and there some houses will be built, but the
price is practically p%rohibitive. In the meantime, the great
majority of people, drawn to this vicinity because of Perth
Amboy's industries, are going to locate outside the present
limits. The recent growth of Woodbridge township as
a whole is evidence enough.
The time has come when this matter has got to be taken
up seriously by Perth Amboy, Some movement must be
started to bring Perth Amboy and Woodbridge together.
While Woodbridge, by remaining a separate municipality,
continue to get many Perth Amboy people, we believe
that a thoughtful consideration of the whole project will
convince Woodbridge that her prosperity would be even
greater of she should share in Perth AmbOys industrial and
prosperity as well.
1t is a matter for big, b~road-minded men in both COM
munities to handle. 1t is for them to work out a solution.
Perth Amboy reioices in Woodbridge's present prosperity
because she sees her own prosperity reflected therein. But
there is every reason to believe that the prosperity of both
would be greatly enhanced by a united effort, making one
- -: Ill ~ - a., t-o1cf 1oyo1AnnooA4 Fnoro J.
every angle.