Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-12
DON'T WASTE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY

y Amboy avenue will be a deliberate waste of the taxpayers
money. The road has passed the repair stage. When ONT
considers the traffic that this road will be called upon tc
carry during the next few months it is apparent that nc
makeshift will do.
Evidently the State Highway Commission is not inter
ested in this matter. While the worst part of the road lies
within the city limits, it is, nevertheless, a link in the state
highway connecting the cities with the coast resorts. The
least that might be expected from the state authorities is
that thew would be represented at the conferences and in
spections that are being held in an effort to improve con-
ditions.
AS far as local traffic is concerned there is another way
to reach Woodbridge. 1t remains only to put the outer end
of State street in fit condition and the Amboy avenue route
might be left to its fate.
State street is not beyond repair as is the outer end of
Amboy avenue. The money that the freeholders propose
to spend ON Amboy avenue would really accomplish some
thing if spent on the outer end of State street, which is also
"a county road.
Let the city put its brick pavement in repair and the
county make a real pavement of the rest of the road to link
up with the West avenue road in Sewaren and Amboy ave-
nue. can be left until such time as the authorities can find
a way to finance the repaving of the highway as it should be
done.
Once the summer traffic sets in over the Amboy avenue
route the complaints are going to be numerous enough from
the tourists and the State Highway Department, which now
seems to be SO Indifferent, will have to bear the brunt of the
fault finding. Perhaps then the state highway officials will
show a little more concern.
OF course, the city cannot escape its responsibility, But
4 in this respect Perth jAmboy is a great deal better off than
New Brunswick whefe Albany and French streets have be-
come a nightmare td all who travel over the Lincoln high
way. The worn out part of Amboy avenue is so far out near
the city line that unless a person knows where the city
boundary is, it would not be known that the pavement was
within the city limits. Over in New Brunswick, however,
the worst part of French street and Albany street is right IN
the heart of the city.
But Perth Amboy does not try to justify the condition of
her streets by the condition of the streets in New Brunswick.
This city is so much better paved than New Brunswick that
there is no comparison. 1t is because Perth Amboys streets
are, as a general thing, in such good condition that to have
Amboy avenue remain as it is gives an altogether wrong i'm
preston of the city.
d. :: A. lii - 49, oro,,o
however, ii is mot desirable to waste money trying to patch
it up, especially in view of the big jump in taxes Throughout
the county this year. Whatever money is spent on roads
let it be to sonic permanent good.
Amboy Avenue ought to be repaved. 1t ought to be
Strengthened SO as to eliminate the long grade and curve
down to the railroad.
The stand taken by the Board of Freeholders that they
cannot assist lin Strengthening out the road because it would
be new construction, there being no road over the proposed
new route al the present time, is hardly consistent. This is
not a new road in any sense of the word. 1t IS merely
Strengthening an old road. 1t is not going to add a single
foot to the county highways. On the contrary, II is gong TO
reduce the mileage.
There have been other instances where the freeholders
have Strengthened out a road by crossing new territory, trad
ing the old site for the new. 1t was done when the Granbury
turnpike was paved in order 10 eliminate a bad turn. While
it was not such an extensive cut as is proposed on Amboy
avenue, to be sure, il was abandoning the old route and con-
structing the old highway over a new route, just the same.
But while there is every reason to believe that the free
holders have a perfect right to s~traighten out an old road by
crossing new territory if they see fit, the expense might be
a legitimate reason for not taking such a step at this time If
the county should bear the cost alone.
When the matter of expense is considered, however,
we get back to the waste of funds in the proposal to try to
repair Amboy avenue as it exists today. By putting the
money that would be thrown away on Amboy venue on
repairs on State street something really worh While would
be accomplished. Then there would be at least one good
route between Perth Amboy and Woodbridge.
After what we have learned about the tax rate the free
holders will certainly lay themselves open to censure if they
waste the public's money on any patched up job that canno!
possibIy stand up for three months. Next year the same
: situation that confronts the authorities today would have to
be faced.
AS a matter of fact, the Board of Aldermen would be
justified in abandoning all other paving work in the city for
he time being and concentrate, with the state and county,
ION getting Amboy avenue in fit condition. The improve
isment OF this thoroughfare means more to the city than any
nnsbsher street on the list to be paved at the present tin1e.