Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-20
LET'S CONSTRUCT, NOT ossTRUcT

Washington street crossing matter has gotten into. Here is
something that vitality concerns the welfare of Perth Amboy
and the development of some of the largest industries here.
1t ought to have been considered solely on its merits, acted
upon and settled with a reasonable time. Instead, politics,
iealousies and more or less spite have been allowed to
creep in with the result that nobody gets anywhere and the
progress of the city is retarded.
Antagonism instead of cooperation has been shown
toward the industries concerned. There ought to have been
a way of getting together for the good of all concerned, but
it now looks like a bitter and long drawn out legal battle
that is bound to be detrimental to all.
There does not appear to be the slightest chance OF ever
using the foot of Washington street for any municipal pur-
pose. On the other hand, the business of the Perth Amboy
Dry Dock Company, which owns on both sides of the street,
is growing and large contracts are pending that will bring
thousands of dollars into the city. But the ability to handle
these contracts depends largely on whether or not the plant
of the dry dock company can be linked up with railroad
sidings so as to efficiently carry on the work.
The Public Utility Commission has granted permission
to lay the tracks across the street, acting on an ordinance
passed by the Board of Aldermen last year. The repeater.
of that ordinance which was iammed through the new
board after the first of the year has been held TO be illegal.
The present Board of Aldermen feel that they have been
over ridden and are inclined TO fight. The city attorney
has advised the board that the only procedure for the city
now is to take out a writ of certorari to have the matter re-
viewed in the supreme court But the city attorney advises
against such action.
Because the city attorney has thus advised steps have
been taken to hire extra counsel to fight the citys battle
the taxpayers, of course, paying the bill. But the city at
tOrney was perfectly justified in advising the aldermen
against further action in the matter if he felt that such action
would be useless. 1t is a lawyers dutyto honestly advise
his client whether or not he feels that further litigation is
worth while.
Perth Amboy is in a position today where she ought to
be doing everything possible to assist her industries that are
trying to get back on their feet so as to furnish work for the
unemployed, instead of fighting them in the courts.
What will the city gain if it should win in the litigation
that is proposed? 1t will have the dead end of a street on
its hands which will be of no particular use TO any one
while an important industry will have been blocked in its
efforts to expand, bring more business to the city and en-
ploy more men.
There is another point to be considered in this con
nection. The four tracks now under discussion are for the
benefit of only one industry. 1t stands to reason that, as far
as the end of the street is concerned, it will make little diff
ference to the public whether there are four tracks or five
tracks across the thoroughfare. If the four tracks are
necessary for the proper development of one industry 10
Gated in that vicinity the other is needed to accommodate.
the other factories there which are also entitled to consid-
Grafton.
These are large concerns that are directly interested
and their growth and prosperity means much for the future
of Perth Amboy. Their enormous pay rolls are feeders for
the local business men; they help the city in many different
ways. In these days of competition in which municipalities
vie with one another for industries as well as the industries
vieing with each other for business, it is just as essential
for a city government to look after its own interests by no!
only encouraging new industries to locate here, but by sa
tisfying and pleasing those already here, as it is for the
keen business man to seek new customers and at the same
time do everything within his power to please and hold the
customers he already has.
Business cannot wait these days and while the alder
men have been ignoring, apparently, this important Wash
ington street matter, the industries directly effected find
themselves handicapped in going out after business in COM
petition with others, to keep their wheels going. If the al
dermen had gone about this Washington street matter in the
same businesslike manner that they did in regard to the
Amboy avenue paving job it is doubtful if the present com
plications would have arisen and the city would not be put
in the rather embarrassing position of fighting its own in
dustries in their endeavor to increase their business and thus
(beneft all of us.
Perth Amboy needs waterfront property for municipal
development and it has an excellent beginning for such de-
velopment both on the river front and along Staten Island
sound. With the proposed million dollar project adjoining
the Central railroad at the bridge, and by linking up the pre-
sent city dock property with the foot of Fayette street ideal
abilities for municipal freight docks and terminals will be
afforded.
1t is to be hoped that the Board of Aldermen will be big
enough to see this situation and get behind some real con-
slructive work instead of adopting the obstructive policy
toward which they are leaning at the present time.