Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-06-16
LESSONS FROM THE DEToURs

LESSONS FROM IfE OE4OOhS
Whether the city or the county is responsible for the dis
graceful condition of the present approaches to the city, 1t is
Perth Amboy that suffers. The thousands of autoists who pass
tbrourb this civ every week are not interested in the response
biitv: they know that they are passing through Perth Amboy'
md they form their opinion of the city by the roads they travel
For this reason alone the city officials must be interested.
1t is true, as Freebooter Quackenbush claims, that the elty
knew it was the county's intention to pave New Brunswick ave
nue. lust as soon as the contract could be awarded in the spring.
The eitv made no move whatever to provide a detour, and sud
denly all traffic was shifted TO Brace avenue where conditions, in
spite of all that the city can do now, are terrible.
But even worse is the condition of the detour provided for
Amboy avenue. Here the city is at fault because it permitted diff
.erent real estate operators to develop that section of the city
Without any plan, or even making an attempt to have their
4reets meet. The result is a network Of hodgepodge streets
making it necessary, in establishing a detour, to wind in and
mt in a regular mystic maze.
Every real estate development ought to be compelled to
comply with a plan properly laid out for the city's development
The welfare of the city should come first regardless of the num-
Der of lots real estate spectators can get out of the property he
las purchased.
As the city grows more and more toward Woodbridge and the
development reaches out into the township, the two municipalities
ought to work together in planning for future development
Woodbridge has a city plan commission for the development OF
the township, and Perth Amboy has such a commission that is
already doing excellent work. The Woodbridge body has had
-0ne meeting Wuh n lOcdl Dodru III III sdne planning NAph"
are being consulted. More cooperation along this line will mean
much for the future development Of both places. As long as they
are bound to grow together, why not grow Systematically SO that
at some future date, when the majority realize the wisdom Of
consolidating the two places into one big city, the development
an 90 Oh according to a well studied plan.
This lack of a plan and permitting the city to grow, like
fopsy, is one of the causes of such a bad detour for Amboy avenue.
Incidentally, why not plan to develop tombstone street across the
ety's park property, making it beautiful driveway for that par
tieular stretch, 50 as to connect with Francis street which might
easily be opened all the way to the Spa Spring road. This would
give the city a parallel street to Amboy avenue, something that is
badly needed. Amboy avenue and State street are the only thor
oughfares the city has to connect with Woodbridge township to
he north, just as Smith street and New Brunswick avenue are the
only tboroughfares leading through the city to the westward. The
growth Of the city warrants new development in the way Of ad-
ditional approaches. The detours are bringing the Importance Of
Ills forcibly before the people.
As far as Sheridan street is concerned, the State Highway
Commission itself, ought to be responsible for the condition of
that thoroughfare. 1t is just as much a part of the state highway
system as Albany and French streets are in New Brunswick, and
The state is giving financial assistance to New Brunswick in paving
those thoroughfares.
But it is too late now to quarrel over responsibility for the
condition Of detours. The city is in bad and its reputation Il
being hurt. It is up TO the city authorities TO do everything with
in their power to improve these streets used as detours. There
surely is 10 excuse for any detour needed for Sheridan street.