Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-17
IMPROVEMENT
FOR AMESBURG
Citizens Endorse Proposed R.
R. Ave. Project Public
Hearing is Held

to the number If almost 100 gave
unanimous endorsement to the pro-
posed improvement TO Railroad ave-
nue. as planned by the members of
council at a big meeting held in
borough hall on Tuesday evening.
4 motion by William c. Crosby,
following a speech by John II. Bare
more. who severely arraigned those
citizens who had selfish opposition
to the advancement of the borough
ended the lengthy discussion and
gave the council the right to put
their Improvements in force.
The meeting was presided over
by Mayor Wyckoff and the members
of council were present but took no
part in the discussion. the meeting
being turned owe to the citizens who
came to ask questions which they
did.
Mayor Wyckoff gave in detail the
purpose of the meeting and explain
ed the project as proposed. He said
that the improvement can the
paving of the east side of Railroad
avenue from a point above the rail-
road bridge. down through town to
a point about a mile beyond the
First National Bank building. This
would necesSitate the widening of
this thoroughfare to a width of 2S
feet and do away with the present
wagon bridge that crosses the stream
at the lake. A cement bridge would
take it's place, crossing the stream
in front of the .Shapanka Brothers
shirt factory, moving h structure
back % feet. The crossing at Will
low street, which has been the scene
of many accidents would be closed
and another one replacing it at a
point opposite the dwellings of Shap-
anka Brothers. This improvement
would give the borough a right of
wav through town without crossing
the railroad. The present route
compels one to cross the railroad
twice to get through the borough.
In the widening of this main
street there will be decided to the
s~ylvania Railroad Company adding
over ten feet to the borough. The
proposed cement roadway would be
put down by the county who would
take over this street in exchange for
Gatzmar avenue that already is
paved.
The proposed improvement would
not cost the borough over $40, 200,
half of this amount being the pur-
chase price of right of way from
Shapanka Brot. RS and the balance
being for grading, leading up to the
proposed improvement.
The only opposition furnished was
by several of the merchants on the
west side of Railroad avenue Ben
jamin Goldstein proposed that the
present bridge be retained. strength
ened and used for light vehiculai
traffic.
Others taking part in the discu4'
| sion were ex-Mayor George Shuts
ex-Mayor Abijah Chamberlain, Har
| old j. Duvall, supervisor of tn
Pennsylvania Railroad. who has dom
much to bring this improvement t.
a successful conclusion; Louis T
Bennett.
Samuel Shapanka. representing
the Shapanka Brothers, spoke brief
ly as to the loss of business, cost OF
the land decided to the borough and
the labor in making the changes
His explanation did not meet with
the approval of the men who are at
the head of the movement. they TAX
ing a far different view of the cost.
For the right of way, Mr.. Shapanka
said that 5000 was the best that
his firm could do.
"If that is the pest that can be
done and the value of the land pro-
posed to be sold to the borough by
Shapanka, then the town is get
ting a $4,000 job for the expendi-
ture of $4,000, at the Shapanka
valuation" said Nh. DaVall.
John II. Baremore, a resident of
Sedgwick street, addressed the meet
ing and his remarks brought tu-
multuous applause and a recommen-
dation that the council be empower
ed to put their ideas in effect i'm
mediately.
Mr.. Baremore severely criticized
those who were opposed to the I'M
provement for selfish motives and
advised all those who were not in
sympathy with the advancement OF
the towns best interests to put their
hammers away and get out their
loudest drums. He said that the
fight for this improvement has been
going on for over thirty years ana
If it was not endorsed at this meet
ing the probabilities were that IL
would fail for all time. A hearty
cooperation with the councilmen
was asked for the arduous labors
thew have spent in bringing this to a
head and he severely criticized the
s~elfshness as shown by Shapanka
Brothers. who were asking $4,000
when it was for a town improve
ment, they being the largest en-
ployers in the borough.
Borough Attorney 'ohn kirkpat-
rick addressed the meeting briefly
and held up as a model the improve
ments proposed for Burnet street,
New Brunswick.
The agitation for the improvement
of this street followed several acct
dents at the Willow street crossing
when the railroad company asked
permission to close this crossing.
This led up to several conferences
with the railroad and county au-
thorities that put the proposition IN
the present form. The county Will
start to erect the new bridge at an
early date as the present wooden
bridge is in an unsafe condition ana
would have to be rebuilt.