Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-03-31
TROLLEY TRACKS AND PAVING.

Public Service is now pleading for a ten-cent
fare. At the hearing before the Public Utility
Commission Tuesday. President Thomas n. Nc
Carter said that the Public Service Railway Com
pany needed s24.oOO.o 900 for operating expenses
and for its depreciation account this year. He
added that the company also wanted $4,000, 900
to meet interest on bonds and rentals on guar
antsed leases. He pointed out that to increase
the fare from seven to ten cents was absolutely
necessary.
But there is strong opposition to granting such
an increase. The whole state will be up in arms
IL the permission is granted. It looks like a
long, hard fight with the outcome much in
doubt.
In the meantime municipalities find their
streets where the trolley tracks are laid in a
dsplorable condition and growing worse all the
time. repeated demands that repairs be made are
ignored and there seems to be no redress. The
Public Service insists that it has not the money
to do the work and the franchise can go hang.
Perth Amboy has a striking illustration of the
Mutation in the present condition Of Smith street.
The manner in which the pavement has broken
away from the rails makes riding difficult and
dangerous. The crossing at High and Smith
streets is particularly bad. Automobiles have to
cross the trolley track there very slowly to
avoid an accident.
The fact that this corner Is used by all the
automobiles coming from the ferry and bound
FOR the coast resorts warrants steps being taken
ut once to remedy the condition that now exists.
For the sake of the reputation of the city if for
ne other reason. something ought to be done to
make the crossing of the trolley track at High
and Smith streets safe.
Granting that it is the duty of the Public
Service to keep the pavement in repair for a
distance OF two feet outside its rails, it is evil
dent that no relief can be expected from that
source for som time to come. Repeated notices
from the city clerk as to the situation are not
even answered. The fact that the Public Ser
vice now owes the city a considerable bill
for work already done by the city in the way of
re.airs, seag removal and similar work. ought
rot to prevent the city rom going ahead with
he improvement of the High street crossing.
" least, before the summer travel across the
ferry sets in. The cost could be added to the
bill which the city already has against the Pub
lie Service and which 1t is unable to collect.
As a matter of fact, If Smith street is not to
become wholly impossible the city has got to
70 something in the way of paving repairs before
long whether it ever collects from the Public
Service or not, The street is so narrow that with
the trolley track passing through the center it
is impossible for vehicles in passing one another
to keep out of the track and this means bump
ing up and down over the ragged and more or
less deep rut caused by the steel rail.
In view of the position taken by the Public
Service in regard to finances it is going to be
some time before it will give much attention
to these paving matters. When the company is
s24, 900. 900 shy on operating expenses alone it is
hardly like that such things as street paving is
going to receive consideration, especially in view
Of the fight being made against the jitney buses
which are operating in direct competition with
the trolley and helping to wear out the pave
ments that the Public Service is supposed TO
keep in repair.