Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-28
cIrY,s INTEREST IN WATERFRONT RAILROAD

In considering the application of the Lehigh Valley
railroad for the extension of sidings along the waterfront
of the city there is a question whether or not 1t is wise 10
let one railroad company have absolute control OF the rail-
road facilities. 1t is all well enough to have sidings into the
various industries as these industries cannot thrive and grow
without the railroad, but when by adding to the sidings so
as to reach from one plant TO another the entire waterfront
i gradually dominated by a single railroad there is danger
Of the city losing some of its rights.
Industries, as said before, have got 10 have railroad
facilities and it would be a short-sighted policy, indeed, to
do anything to block such development. And it is natural
that industries should seek the waterfront as the most de-
sirable location. The development of Perth Amboys water
front in this manner is bound to come. Sooner or later this
will mean a belt line railroad along the shore. When this
belt line is built it should be owned and controlled by the
city thus making it available for any railroad company that
may desire to use it. Extending siding into private yards or
along side of buildings for the individual use of any particu-
lar industry is one thing, but when it comes to crossing
principal streets and reaching out so as to control a large
section of the waterfront the city must look to the future
and protect its interests.
These things can be worked out to the advantage of
all concerned. The natural growth of industry must not be
retarded. To retard industry is to retard the city and tina.
is the last thing we want to do. The city should be striving
in every way possible to encourage industry in order that
The city as a whole may derive the benefits from the greater
business that will be done.
The one thing to guard against is permitting any one rail-
% u UDtdlu ACt~tN rights W 10 " tohtiNi iNih -N
boys waterfront. This right protected, let there be all the
sidings that are necessary. The more sidings there are the
greater the business that can be done. This Is what makes
The life of the community.
- But in safeguarding the city's interests in regard to the
railroads on the waterfront careful study and expert plan
ring is essential. Once more the d~esirabihty of having a
comprehensive city plan that would provide for all these
things in conjunction with the development of the city as a
whole is shown. If the Board of Aldermen would spend
The money necessary to get a real city, plan, allowing every
other improvement to wait for Tie ime-being the aldermen
would be doing the greatest service for the city. They would
then known what they were about when such applications
as are now pending come before them. They would have a
comprehensive plan, e%mbodying such things as railroad ia
cilities for all factory districts before them and, if they saw
fit, they could proceed to carry out that part of the plan
which provided the facilities desired.
Likewise, industries desiring to locate here could look
at the plan and learn at a glance just what they might expect
in the way of accommodations.
A comprehensive city plan for Perth Amboy would
enable the city to grow in a logical and systematic manner.
Every step taken, every improvement made, would be an
other step toward a greater city, each move dove-tailing into
what had already been done with the least friction or ex-
pense.