Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-20
LET THE FREEHoLDERs SPEAK OUT

I The Board of Freeholders seem to have set at rest the
rumors and doubts that have existed concerning the rebuild
ing of the Lincoln Highway between Metuchen and Highland
Park, but they haven't given satisfactory explanation as to
why they have taken the attitude they have in regard to the
Amboy avenue paving.
Ever since the State Highway Commission served no.
tie on the property owners along the Lincoln Highway to
make all street connections and followed up this notice VITA
set of traffic regulations while the paving is going on, spec
ulation has been rife as to how the improvement was to be
financed. The freeholders have persistently disclaimed any
knowledge of the proceedings, while the State Highway
Commission, which is known to be without funds for the
work this year, has just as persistently intimated that the
paving was to be done under the reimbursement plan.
At the last meeting of the freeholders the members
stated positively that they had absolutely nothing to do with
what has been going on and did not know how the work was
TO be done. While there is nothing TO prevent the State
Highway Commission having the work done on its own &C
count, it would require a resolution on the part of the Board
Of Freeholders to have the work done by the county and NJ
such resolution has been passed or, judging from what the
freeholders say, is contemplated by them.
While this stretch of the Lincoln Highway between
Metuchen and Highland Park is showing great signs of wear
and is very rolling and bumpy to ride over, the surface is
fairly good and no doubt will withstand the traffic for the
rest of the year.
The shocking part about this piece of roadway is that
it is pronounced worthless and worn out before it is half
paul OE. IL JULIUS lSSuOu Ola u oONCH Cui . W pdy if
this work are not half retired yet and the pavement is about
to be torn up and rebuilt. With roads lasting only six OF
seven years and bonds issued to pay for them running for
twenty years, we will soon have a burden on the taxpayers
that will put and end to road building altogether unless
some other way can be found for financing them.
1t is only fair to say, however, that the present road
was laid without a concrete foundation such as the more
modern roads have. With a properly laid foundation the
highways ought to last a great deal longer than those built
six or seven years ago when only a cracked stone foundation
was laid.
Another feature that enters into this Metuchen-High-
land Park road is the material that it is proposed to use in its
construction. The Lincoln Highway on both sides of this
particular section is built of concrete. The route from Rah-
way to Metuchen is notorious for its excellence as is the
route from New Brunswick to Princeton. With such an ideal
condition on both sides of the Metuchen- Highland Park, Sec
ton, it would seem logical to build this part also of all con-
crete. The impression prevails, however, that this six miles
of highway is to be handed over to the patent pavement
crowd. Just why, is not explained. From experiences the
average motorist will declare in favor of all concrete every
time and as this six miles is perhaps the most travelled Sec
>tion of the Lincoln Highway in its entire length across the
continent, the very best material as to wearing qualities is
none too good.
AS for the Amboy avenue situation, the freehOlders,
after turning the matter over to the city so that satisfactory
ARRANGEMENTS could be made with the State Highway Com
mission, have seen fit to 60 before the state board and object
TO the plan as proposed. The interest that the county has in
this work is so negligible that its attitude in blocking the
progress of this much needed improvement excites curiosity
The freeholders ought to be as explicit about the Am
boy avenue matter as they are in regard to the Metuchen-
Highland Park road.