Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-04
WANT PROJECT
At JAMESBURC
People Voice Demands for
Railroad Ave. Improvement
In No Uncertain Terms

JAMESBURG, Dec. 4.-With the
largest number of citizens to ever at
tend a public meeting at which an
expression of opinion was sought on
any question, the Star Theatre was
crowded Friday night with a noisy
crowd OF hackers of the program for
the improvement of Railroad avenue
and the building of a cement bridge
at lower Jamesburg to make the
east side of Railroad avenue a con-
tinuous one-way thoroughfare from
Lincoln venue to Buckelew avenue
and do away with the necessity of
crossing the railroad property twice
to reach the lower end of the bor-
ough.
In charge Of the meeting and pres
ent in q body were the board OF
freeholders, President Dey being the
chairman Of the body. Mr.. Dey OPEN
ed the meeting with a few remarks
in which he said that the meeting
was called to get an expression of
the sentiment of the people and as
sured the people that no decision had
been made either way by that body.
Robert Vandenburg, %sreeholder
ers and made clear that no money
had been arranged in the budget for
this year and wanted the taxpayers
present to fully understand this
point.
President Dey again addressed the
audience and said that the board
would hear both sides, allowing the
affirmative the first chance to give
their side of the discussion.
Mayor Jacob Wyckoff outlined TIE
proposition as already known and
said that he made a promise to the
people when elected to work for their
best interests. This he proposed to
do. He wanted to know If the peo-
pie wanted an alley running down
the main street or an improved high
way. If the matter was decided at
this time the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company would deed to the town
fifteen additional feet making Rail-
road avenue on the east side thirty
three feet. AS signed contracts are
already in the hands of the borough
council, Mayor Wyckoff was surpris-
ed hat the improvement was not al
ready under way. He pleaded for
hearty cooperation of the taxpayers.
John III. Baremore was the next
speaker and he confined his talk to
statistics. He clarified the situation
by offering in detail just what the
taxpayers would have to pay in addi-
ton to that already being paid if the
new improvement would be adopted.
The opposition has secured a large
number of names of supposed tax
payers on the plea that if the new
roadway and bridge was put through
the tax rate would be doubled. Mr..
Baremore said that he had secured
the figures from experts in that line
that showed that the cost to the tax
payers would be about $500. Dr.
vided into ten annual payments Of
$3.50 each year showed that the ad-
dition to the tax rate would be but
eleven cents e hundred. Receiv-
ing an improvement worth $4,000
for $3.50 per year for ten years was
an unusual bargain, declared the
speaker.
Frank IT. Pownall, himself presi-
dent of the board of freeholders for
ten years, years ago attacked the
argument sent broadcast by the OPP
ponents that the new bridge would
destroy the property of the opposi-
ton. Residing near to the home of
ex-Mayor Chamberlain, who was one
of the opposition, was John P. Kirk
I"Lt Nh ~ -
staunchest supporters.
Mr.. Powna1i Iauded the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company for it's pub
lie spirited stand taken in this
controversy in its offer to deed to
the town the fifteen feet of roadway
down the main street and gave in
detail the fight Jamesburg has
made for the past forty years to
secure this concession He told of
the cooperation of the railroad Of
ficials in town and other matters
that were vital To eliminate this
route as taken by the school chill
dren would mean that 1900 school
children who now use the railroad
crossings daily would not be COM
PEELED to risk their lives daily to get
an education
Superintendent Calvin Derrick
of the Home for Boys, spoke briefly
of his approval of the plan and told
of the narrow escape of his charges
on several occasions on the cross
ings when trucks had been struck
by trains
A letter was read from Joseph
M. Perrine giving his endorsement
to the scheme.
The Chamber of Commerce was
also represented with a few remarks
giving the improvement their nan
imous endorsement, through George
d. Hutchinson.
Representing the opposition Sam
uel Cowart. of Freehold. a lawyer,
had one of the merriest times of