Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-08
NEWARk's FIGHT FOR HER HARsoR

fN'AS 'P u vi hSbtu SuIuoL
the rebuilding of the Central railroad bridge across New
ark bay between Elizabethporta and Bayonne. The railroad
company proposes to replace the present old piling structure
with a modern steel and concrete bridge carrying four
tracks. The latest plan is to have the bridge thirty five
feet above the water.
This concession as to height was made by the railroad
company after Newark had raised so much objection to the
rebuilding the bridge in its present location. But even a
bridge ~thirty-fve feet high is opposed by Newark. That
city is trying to develop a seaport and is showing commend
able enterprise in that direction. Considering the disad-
vantages under which Newark has labored in building up
her waterfront the results thus far attained are little short
Of marvellous. The fight the city is now making to have re-
moved what is looked upon as the one obstruction at the
entrance of the bay shows what a civic spirit there is in
Newark; it is an object lesson for many other places that
have advantages worth fighting. for, including Perth Amboy.
A little of the Newark spirit here in the way of harbor de-
velopment and it wouldn't make much difference whether
Newark bay was closed or not. Shipping would be glad to
take advantage OF the facilities here. All, that is needed is
the modern. improvement such as other ports along the coast
are making.
But Newark is unfortunate in the fact that the bridge
to which the city now objects has been standing for a long
time. 1t carries the main line of the Central railroad into
Jersey City. There would be good reason for objecting to
the building of a bridge at that point if there was none
there already, just az Perth Amboy would most strenuously
object to any bridge being built across the entrance to the
harbor here, but after a bridge is once established and be-
comes a part of a railroads main line, it is difficult to have it
removed.
Because of the existence of the bridge, congress has
passed All act permitting the construction of a new one at
the same place. Hearings nave been neld on the matter De-
fore the United States army engineers and, with the under
standing that the bridge will be thirty-five feet high, the
engineers are inclined to permit the work to proceed. Ac-
cording to the act of congress the permission to rebuilt eX-
pires next February unless work is commenced by that time.
1t is apparent, therefore, that there is no time to be lost on
the part of the railroad.
But Newark is endeavoring to tie things up so that the
railroad cannot act within the specified time. The city is
now appealing for more time and further hearings on the
matter. 1t has engaged an engineering expert to present its
case and it insists that he be given time to prepare his report.
Naturally, the longer Newark can delay the work being start
ed, the better chance the city has to prevent the rebuilding
OF the bridge.
In the meantime, the various towns and cities along the
line of the Central railroad, which are interested in tho
shortest and most direct route to New York, have become in
terested. They see no reason why the bridge should not be
rebuilt at its present location and they have put up a strong
case at the hearings held before the army engineers in favor
of the bridge.
There is a lesson in the situation that should be brought
home very forcibly to Perth Amboy. Under no circumstances
should permission ever be granted to build any kind of a
drawbridge across Staten Island sound at this point. If there
;s ever to be a bridge to Staten Island here it must be a sus-
nension bridge high enough for the tallest masts to pass
under. Newark realizes her handicap today and it is costing
the city thousands of dollars in an effort. to get rid of it and
even then the city is likely to lose out because a bridge
already exists there.
Perth Amboy's greatest asset is her harbor. While the
city is slow in developing it, the advantages that it affords
must be guarded carefully.