Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-01
LET THE sEWAREN PEOPLE DECIDE

That there would be objection on the part of some
residents of Scwaren to the proposed annexation OF that
section of Woodbridge township TO Perth Amboy was to be
expected. 1t is also natural that Woodbridge should OPP
pose losing any more of It's territory, especially such a
valuable waterfront section as Sewaren. Having lost Car
teret and Chrome a few years ago and with Fords threaten
ing to break away at any time, the township is in danger Of
going to pieces.
And that is exactly what is going to happen sooner
Or later. Woodbridge is becoming unwieldly. 1t is made
up of too many separate communities, each one growing
on its own account. What benefits one community is OF
practically no benefit to the others, yet all are taxed TO pay
for the Improvement. .4
Take all the paving that has been going on at Fords
in recent years, the entire township is taxed for these
improvements, yet the money might as we'll have been spent
in paving the streets of New York City as far as the people
OF Avenel, Colonia or Sewaren are concerned.
One of the reasons advanced by some OF the people
Of Sewaren for joining with Perth Amboy is the small re-
Turns they have received for the taxes they have paid. They
have been taxed the same as the people of Fords or Wood
bridge, yet practically all the township money has been
spent elsewhere. Cinder roads and mud sidewalks have
been good enough for Sewaren while the streets of Wood
bridge and Fords have received the %pavements.
All this talk about a real estate clique being responsible
for the movement to annex Sewaren to Perth Amboy only
emphasizes the advantages of annexation. By advancing
this argument Woodbridge people are practically admitting
that as long as Sewaren remains as it is real estate is dead
and development is impossible. But once the village be-
comes a part of Perth Amboy real estate will become active
and the section will grow as never before.
If real estate operators are back of this movement as
some people in Woodbridge claim, the object OF these real
estate men is to sell lots and make money for themselves.
This being the case, they would not favor the annexation OF
sewaren to Perth Amboy if they thought the property at
Sewaren would sell better by remaining a part OF Wood
bridge township. And if it is going to be beneficial to the
land owners to have Sewaren a part of Perth Amboy 1t fol-
lows that the benefits will be general.
That there is much sentiment in Sewaren in favor of
annexation is evident. The question of annexation ought to
he left to the people there to decide. The election ought to
be fair in every way.
We do not believe there is any Joker" in the bill now
pending in the legislature. If there is, it is a Joker that
will work both ways, AS a matter OF fact, there is more
reason to fear "colonizing' from Woodbridge in an effort
to defeat the annexation program that there is to fear col
onizing, from Perth Amboy in favor of the project. But
there ought to be no unfair methods resorted to whatever.
let the residents of Sewaren, who are really residents there,
decide the question themselves.
The Evening News believes that it would be of the
Utmost advantage to both Perth Amboy and Woodbridge If
the whole township were annexed to the city with a COM
prehensive city plan and zoning system put into effect inn
mediately to carry out the development. Then, indeed, would
we have a municipality worth while. Sooner or later this
has got TO come. 1t is just as logical as the creation of a
Greater New York or any other metropolis that has grown
up anywhere.
In the meantime Sewaren has made the first move.
RI the annexation plan is defeated this time, it will be tried
,gain. Some day it will succeed. The least that can be
asked is to permit the people to pass upon the matter.