Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-08
DO YOU CARE TWO CENTS?

If there is any one matter that the people Of Perth Am
boy ought to be interested in it is the elimination of the
grade crossings of the Central and Lehgh Valley railroads
This is an extremely difficult problem. 1t ought to have been
worked out years ago through a comprehensive city plan
that would have made adequate provision for the grade
crossing elimination along with the systematic development
Of the entire city for the next fifty years.
Lacking a city plan, however, the aldermen are COM
pelled TO feel their way along, causing delay after delay In
an effort to arrive at some satisfactory solution. The matter
has been horribly muddled and the taxpayers money wasted
and, apparently the city is about as far off as ever from this
most desirable improvement. Heretofore it has been the
refusal of the railroad company to take up the matter; now
The railroad is ready to go ahead but the city balks.
The problem would be comparatively simple If there
was no terminal to be taken into consideration, the railroad
passing straight through the city as is the case at Railway
and New Brunswick. And when this terminal consists Of
coal docks where there is a vast amount of shipping and
drilling, complications are increased.
Then, to add to the troubles there are two railroads
crossing each other in the middle of one of the citys most
important streets, the crossing also being close to the ter
minal. Under the circumstances it is plain that the plans
for the elimination of the grade crossings can never be
made ideal. 1t is a case of trying to make the most OF q
situation that, at the very best, is bad enough.
Naturally, the aldermen are going to be governed large
ly by public opinion in this matter. A great responsibility
rests Upon them and all the assistance they can get will be
welcomed. Several public mass meetings have been hell
for the purpose of hearing what the people have to say, but
there have been so many different opinions expressed that
it has4een difficult to get anywhere as far as the actual
SeQlmenI IL lie CITY . CCIHC
The question has now settled down to a choice between
Two plans, however. 1t is the railroad plans against the CITY
plans as drawn by Forrest l.. Smith. There may be some
modification, but it is practically certain that, taken as al
whole, one or the other of these plans will be approved by
the Public Utility Commission.
In the event that the state board decides in favor of the
railroad plans-and there is, every indication that 1T will
what attitude will the city assume in going ahead with the
project? Will it decide that the existing death traps are
preferable to the disadvantages that are so apparent in the
railroad plans? Or will the city make the most of a bad bar
gain and permit the work to proceed?
The final decision is in the hands of the Board of Alder
men. But this decision is of SO great importance to the en-
tire city that it is desirable to get as broad an expression of
opinion as possible. To that end the Evening News is print
ing a coupon every day which asks the people to say
whether, in the event of the Public Utility Commission de.
Gliding in favor of the railroad plans, they desire the alder
men to accept such plans and allow the work to proceed.
The question is, do the people of Perth Amboy care
Two cents whether the railroad plans are finally adopted or
not? 1t costs just two cents in postage to send the coupon
TO the Evening News. Is it worth that much to let the alder
men know how you feel on this important question? These
coupons will be turned over to the aldermen for their guild
ance. Although the coupon has been running, now, for al
week. and quite a number have been sent in, the number
received has been Insignificant compared with the popu-I
lation of the city. 1t would seem to indicate that the peoplel
as a whole are Indifferent and do not care two cents what
the aldermen do in the matter. The coupon is still being1
and the opportunity is still open for people to express
But after all, it is the aldermen themselves who must
carry the responsibility. To adopt the railroads plans will
certainly bring down upon them considerable criticism on
the part OF SOME people. On the other hand, if the plans are
rejected and the elimination indefinitely postponed only to
have a train hit a crowded bus or otherwise cause another
great loss Of life, who then would be criticized and who
would be to blame?
1t is a great question deserves more consideration on
the part of the public that it is receiving. Now is the time to
make your voice heard. The Evening News affords the OPP
portunity.
MORE CONCRETE RoADs-IN BERGEN COUNTY
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