Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-10
SCHULTZ
At METUCHEN
Chamber of Commerce Has
Annual Meeting Hear of
Raritan River Project

METUcHEN, May 1o.-The an
nual meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce with the election Of off,
con at the close, took place here
last night. william Shultz "a
chosen president Of the organization.
Robert II. Minton. first vice pres
ident. f. A. Whitaker. second vice
president; Charles A. Pascal, secre-
tary. and Henry Rumler. treasurer.
Charles B. Carman. Gresham Ennis,
Dr.. A. l.. Kuntz and Thomas B.
Davis were appointed to membership
of the board Of directors.
One of the speakers who excited
considerable interest by his remarks
was A. c. Atkinson. secretary of the
Raritan Terminal and Waterways
Association. Mr.. Atkinson had at his
fingertips a of data and infor-
nation regarding the Raritan River
that compared the traffic on the
river years g with the negligible
amount at present. He gave the
ownership of the Delaware and Rar-
itan Canal by the railroads as the
cause of the slight traffic these days
and said competition had been stified
by reason of this fact. Rates were
so raised that the canal could not
compete with the railroads in haul
ing freight.
Mr.. Atkinson also spoke of the
activity of his association with
reference TO the work being done by
the New York Port Authority. He
said that the association had ap-
peared before the Authority on sew
eral occasions and by placing the
situation plainly before il had I'M
pressed the members with the posi-
bilities of the Raritan river and Bay,
A business boom for Metuchen
was predicted by the speaker when
the twenty loot channel in the bay
becomes a reality. He also argued
in favor of the retention of the
Raritan Arsenal, maintaining thai
the government plant was as safe as
any similar plant anywhere and ad-
vancing its retention as a point in
favor of the twenty foot channel.
Talking as the chairman of a
| committee of civilian employees ap-
| pointed to combat the propaganda
tending toward the removal of the
arsenal, G.. H. Meyers took excep.
ton to the remarks of Congress
man T. Frank Appleby at the dinner
here recently. He said the agitation
for the removal Of the plant was
caused by fear of explosions and
lpointed out that even II a serious
explosion took place Metuchen was
absolutely free from all danger.
Mr.. Meyers noted the fact thai
| the arsenal employs 500 civilians
and 500 soldiers and officers. Its
| pay roll amounts to three fourths OF
l n William sdn11orS onnuoI1xr vnnsf M
that sum is spent in this county
| he said in support of his contention
| that the arsenal should be kept op.
Grating.
The speaker complained that the
propaganda being spread by those
wishing the removal of the plant
was causing numbers of the skilled
| workmen to leave the employ of the
| arsenal and seek work elsewhere. He
also warned his hearers that the
| closing of the government plant
would probably have a serious effect
upon the plans to deepen the Raritan
river and Raritan bay.
Councilman Ayres addressed the
meeting on the sewer proposition.
Although the plans have been APP
proved by the state board of health
there have been no actual measures
adopted to insure immediate install
lstion. The councilman said. how
ever. that it was planned to raise
the none by general taxation and
property assessments. Money for
the construction of the trunk lines
will be raised through the general
taxation method, he pointed out,
while the other lines will be financ-
ed by the assessments on property
affected. Approximately IS per ST.
900 valuation was given as the gen.
eral taxation rate and 81 a frontage
foot as the assessment rate.
Mary Ely, Alice Morrison: first
grade, Michael Brown. Otto Koamm.
Vincent Cullen, Julia Apologize.
Donald Everett, Clarence Grover.
William McCowatt, Warren Ewart.
Florence Griggs, Martha Soehler.
Grace Moody: beginner. Nelson Ell
lis. Clifford White, Aaron Snyder.
Joseph Hauzbet. August Western.
Gas Ktlua Tonp