Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-14
Bible Thought For Today
TO ABANDON TROLLEY LINE

Permission has been granted the Jersey Central Traction Com
pany to abandon its line operating between this city and points in
the northern section of Monmouth county. This decision OF the
Public Utility Commission is not surprising in view OF the testi-
mony offered by the company showing that it was operating at a
loss. Not only is the company operating at a loss, but it has no
money for making much needed repairs to its bridge and road
bed. There was nothing left to do but to iquidate.
With the abandonment of this trolley line, however, the prob
lem Of ADEQUATE transportation facilities between this city and
South Amboy, Keyport, Matawan, Keansburg and Red Bank must
be solved. While the privately owned automobile has done much
to make the trolley line improbable, not everybody owns an auto
mobile, by a great deal. And, besides, the trolley is always a con-
yenience when the automobile is out of commission, or not at
hand to be used.
Between Perth and South Amboy there are buses that handle
q great deal of the traffic, and these buses have done much to
help put the trolley line out of business. Troleys cannot compete
with buses anywhere when the bus lines are properly operated.
This is particularly true on long hauls between different towns.
The Public Service admits that the line between this city and
Railway through Woodbridge is losing money and that the fast
line to Newark is merely paying operating expenses. The only
place a trolley is successful is in thickly populated centers for the
short hauls. 1t will be found that more and more trolley lines
win be abandoned as time goes on, particularly those running out
into the rural districts.
That there will be numerous applications for permission to
operate bus lines between this city and Keyport there is no doubt
More buses will also be put on the South Amboy route. But this
tb1ngs- up the problem of traffic. On a road already so congested
that it takes from an hour to an hour and a half to cover seven or
eight miles on certain days, it would be a crime to add numerous.
buses, especially such big buses as ought to be used on this
route. The roads are not built for bus traffic. They are too mar
row. Buses stop at the most unexpected times to take on or dis
charge passengers. There is no way for them to pull off to one
side SO that traffic coming up from behind can proceed. The result
is that when the bus stops, all traffic stops. just imagine this con-
dition on such a crowded road as the highway between this city
and Keyport. Before any permission is granted for bus lines to
take the place of the trolley, the matter ought to be taken up
with the State Highway Commission to see if some arrangements
cannot be made to have turnouts or stopping points established.
The buses should no. be allowed to stop anywhere else.
In the meantime, there is that proposition to operate buses on1
the right of way of the present trolley line. Such lines are being
operated successfully elsewhere, and with much of the overhead
expense eliminated there is reason to believe that such a line could
be made a, paying proposition, especially if the public shows a
tendency to cooperate and assist the company to make a success
Of the venture, instead of continually raising objections and doing
everything possible to annoy and interfere with the operation.
Now that it is definitely decided that the trolley is to be aban-
doned it is up to Perth Amboy and the other municipalities con-
cerned to get together and find a solution to the problem of trans
portation. The abandonment of this line will seriously affect the
business interests of this city. Tt cannot be ignored. A Chamber
of Commerce would find lots to do in looking after the city1s well
fare in this matter. If there is anything that should bring about
the organization of such a body this transportation problem is it.