Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-02
POSSIBILITIES OF STATE HIGHWAY BRIDGE

that when the new state highway bridge over the Harlan
river between the Amboys is erected it be given a name,
preferably a name associated with these historical sur
roundings. As it was across the mouth OF the Harlan river
that Benjamin Franklin was carried on his lirst Journey from
New York TO Philadelphia after spending the nlSht III terth
Amboy, it has been suggested that The bridge be called 'hc
Franklin bridge. It is an excellent idea and is worthy OF
consideration. 1t would be a pity to have such a famous
bridge as this structure is destined to be, known merely by
some number and it lakes a whole NOUN iuh W 'u'"DiS Wv
scribe it in any other way.
But this matter of a name for the proposed new bridge
recalls The suggestion of the Evening News that the bridge
be made a memorial TO the New Jersey boys who fought and
died in the World War. Now when the legislature IS IN seS-
sion is the time for some action to be taken along this line.
That New Jersey owes it to her boys to erect a real me-
mortal worthy of their heroic deeds is admitted by all. MI
1erous suggestions as to what would be a suitable memorial
have been made ranging all the way from a mountain forest
preserve in the extreme northern part of the state where
comparatively few people would ever see it or enjoy it, to
a memorial structure to be erected in Trenton which would
q be used mainly by the people of that city.
A bridge is recognized the world over as one of the most
suitable forms that a memorial can take. There are many
such memorials in Europe. 1t has all the advantages of a
memorial arch with the added feature of being useful as well
as ornamental. By standing out boldly against the landscape
unobstructed by surrounding buildings it cannot help but at
tract attention and its beauty can be taken in at a glance.
There is nothing prettier than a beautifully arched bridge as
EVERY railroad catalogue will testify.
OF course, not all bridges could be made a fitting state
memorial. 1t would be folly to erect a bridge across the
Delaware or across the Hudson and call it a Jersey memorial
for it would be partly within another state. In the case Of
Tile bridge over the Raritan river, however, it would be en-
iirely within New Jersey territory. Furthermore, it would
lie located almost in the center of the state; in fact the
fridge will form the connecting link between what has come
) be known as North and South Jersey. Should the memo
Gal idea be carried out the plans could provide for twenty
qne arches, one for each county in the state, the arches on
lie south side of The river could be named for the counties
ia the southern part of the state anythe arches on the north
@de could be named for the North Jersey counties.
Not only will this bridge form the connecting link be-
tveen North and South Jersey, but it will be the most heavi-
IL travelled bridge wholly within the state. Route No. 4 of
Die state halfway system is admitted to be the heaviest
travelled Of any highway in New Jersey. Not only will thou
sands OF Jerseymen coming from every county in the state
use this structure at some time during each year in mo-
ioring between the South Jersey coast resorts and the big
cities to the north, but thousands of non-residents also pass
his way and this new bridge is going to be one of the most
Rlked-of structures in the United States. How fitting, then,
i would be to have the bridge as the states memorial TO
Ter soldiers where such a vast number of people can see
II and, at the same time, use it.
Furthermore, the site chosen for the new bridge is
n Within plain view of The hundreds of trains that pass daily
over the New York X Long Branch railroad bridge. All the
GEAR long thousands of passengers, both Jerseymen and nom
Il residents, including some of the most prominent in the
country, are using this route in going to and from Lakewood,
Atlantic City and other resorts. In the summer the travel is
sreately increased by the opening of the other resorts
In Monmouth county. What a wonderful view a beautifully
arched memorial bridge a mile or so up the river would
Y make from the train windows, and how New JERSEYS fame
would spread because of it.
As for the cost of the structure, it is going to be built
anyway. The federal government is on record as contrbut-
IS ing $4,000, 900 toward the expense Of its erection. The
state will spend as much, if moi a great deal more. Naturally,
to make it a suitable memorial to the soldiers there would
have to be some ornamentation. 1t would be up to the legis-
M lature to take care of that. The point is, the cost of such q
memorial would not be nearly as great as any of the other
III IDEAS suggested and yet this bridge memorial would be the
most suitable of any.
.1a Should the state decide to make this a memorial bridge
It's certain that Perth Amboy would be glad to cooperate in
s The way of a suitable approach with a broad boulevard lead
n ing up to it, The City Plan Commission could be depended
upon to look after that.
The time is now ripe for some member of the le9isla-
ture to act. To wait another year might be too late as the
plans might be too far advanced to be changed. What could
be more appropriate than for the two great divisions of the
state, North and South Jersey, to be united by a mag
nifcent memorial structure spanning the greatest river
wholly within the state, a structure that will be used by mil
lions of people and that will be talked about the country
Qvat.