Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-24
THE TH1RrY-FooT CHANNEL AT STAKE

THE THIRTYFOOT CHANNEL AT STAKE
Perth Amboy has got a big fight on its hands. The thirty
foot channel up the bay from Sandy Hook is at stake. After get
ting this project included in the last rivers and harbors bill passed
by congress, and having it included in the appropriations, and
after a favorable recommendation has been made by the district
army engineer, the federal Board of Engineers for Rivers and Har-
bors has acted unfavorably on the improvement. There is still a
chance, however, for those interested in this particular work are
invited to submit statements and arguments to the Board of Engi-
neers for Rivers and Harbors within the next thirty days.
This means that Perth Amboy should get busy. Here, again,
a live Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade is greatly needed.
This channel up the bay is Perth Amboy's front door. Here we
are within seventeen miles of open sea, with a harbor second to
none, and with a broad fairway leading up to it, yet it is not navi
gable for vessels Of large draft because of an insufficient channel
The present channel is supposed to be twentyone feet deep at
low water, but it is not that at the present time. Shipping interests
here demand a deeper channel so that bigger steamers can come IN.
The future development Of the port calls for a deeper channel SO
as to build terminals here that will attract ocean shipping.
Perth Amboy has been agitating this development for a long
time. In the meantime the city has joined in having the Staten ISL
(and sound improved this is the back door to the port. 1t has given
aid to the intereoastal waterways, and it has boosted the trans
| state ship camel. But all the time the city's greatest interest lies in
the development of the channel up the bay. Until this channel
is deepened the port of Perth Amboy cannot enjoy the advantages
it is entitled to by its location and makeup.
After all these years, therefore, to see the deeper channel al
most within grasp and yet to have it fail, is disheartening. Il
there is ever to be a civic spirit in Perth Amboy when everybody
interested in the city gets together to work for its advancement,
now is the time for that spirit to be shown. The Industrial Assocf
alton is the only organization existing here today, apparently, that
is primarily concerned in such matters. To the Industrial As.
ISOLATION, therefore, the city must look to lead the movement for
the deeper channel. And this organization ought to have the open
and active backing of the city government as well as every bust
ness man and private citizen.
This is a fight for Perth Amboy. The deepening of this chan
mel means millions of dollars to the city. 1t is no private affair that
is to rebound to the sole advantage of any individual or group of
individuals. 1t is the big thing for Perth Amboy; the deepening of
the channel up the bay 81 at the very foundation of Perth Amboys
future progress. If the men and women interested in Perth Amboy
cannot get together on this project, conditions here are well nigh
hopeless.
When the city of Trenton which is located a hundred miles
or more from the mouth of the Delaware river. can secure govern
ment approval for a channel twelve feet deep, making a real port
out of that inland city, it ought not to be difficult for Perth Amboy,
which is within seyeteen miles Of the open sea to convince those IN
authority that a thirty foot channel is warranted here. The whole
Rarnan district is vitality concerned in this matter. This thirty
foot channel project must not be lost without a fight.