Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-01-23
MORE DELAY ON CROSSING elimination

Now, that tbe civ has secured another delay in the
matter of the elimination of the grade crossings, what IS to
be done with this additional time? Not much will be ac-
complished by holding meetings and protesting against this
and that.
Opposition to having the city "cut in half" is silly. The
city always been cut in half as far as the railroad Is con-
-eepaedx This is.no particular fault of the railroad. When
The railroad first came through Perth Amboy considerable
fault was found because the station was so far away. There
we're no houses west of State street in those days and to
Rave the railroad station located where it is now, was like
having it away out in the country. 1t seemed to be an awful
long way from the town proper.
But Perth Amboy has grown. Instead of being Tar
ut Of the city proper, it is now almost directly through the
center of the city. The tracks cut the city in hall. Being
sat grade they are extremely dangerous. We have had nu-
nerous lessons in this regard, the latest tragedy finally
arousing the railroad to action.
Whether the tracks are elevated or depressed, the city
is still going to be cut in half. And whether the tracks are
elevated or depressed, the work is not going to be a thing of
beauty. We can all see what track elevation looks like by
visiting New Brunswick, Railway or Newark. Condition are
not much improved with track depression, which means
a broad, deep ditch dug across the city. Neither is going
to be attractive, but as we must have railroads, and as we
want our streets made as safe as possible, it is merely the
choice of the lesser of two evils. Either is to be preferred
to the present death traps,
The whole trouble is, Perth Amboy has been crying
for the elimination of grade crossings for years and now
when the railroad company suddenly says it is ready to pro-
coed, the city finds itself utterly unprepared. Heretofore
Il has been the city demanding action and the railroad COM
pany has been urging delay. Now the RAILROAD is pressing
the matter and the city has changed its tune to one of wait
end delay. 1t is rather humiliating, to say the least.
Phe railroad company wanted to begin work in the
spring. But the city has had the next hearing before the
Public Utility Commission put off until March 4 thereby
standing in the way of its own progress-all because it was
years ago.
til true, such important matters ought not to be acted
upon hastily, but when the city has been demanding the
elimination of grade crossings so long it was to be supposed
That the municipality would be ready the Instant the railroad
company showed a willingness TO proceed.
And the grade crossing problem is not the only matter
that is being ignored in this manner. Other problems are
pressing and some already confront the city, but no prepas
ration is being made in advance so that the city will have
its plan of action all thought out ready to proceed with tn,
work.
The only answer is a city plan covering, all these grea
municipal affairs, then as the various projects come up tn,
city will be ready to go forward without delay in an orderly
systematic way, without loss Of time.
1t is to be hoped that there will be no more delay
after March 4 and that by that time the railroad compan
will not have decided that it is too late to begin worl
this year, thus risking the chance of having this most de
sirable improvement postponed indefinitely. The city viii
have only itself to blame