Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-18
THE BRIDGE TO ToTTFNvILLE

A bridge across Staten Island sound between this city and Tot.
tenVlle has been a dream Of many years. In the old days cardi.
dates for the Board of F~reeholders. before the smaller board was
adopted, used to use the Tottenvile bridge idea as an important
Issue in the campaign. 1t served its purpose well. More than one
4erth Amboy man secured a substantial majority at the polls large
" because he favored the Immediate erection of the proposed
l-idge.
Ever since that time, on and off, the bridge to Tottenville has
been advocated. More recently the tunnel idea has been advanced
Since it is realized how successful tunnels have become and with
the statement of engineers that tunnels can be built more cheaply
than large suspension bridges, a tunnel under the sound instead os
a bridge over it, has its advocates.
AS a matter of fact, the prospects of a bridge across Staten
Island sound at this point are very remote. Nothing but a high
suspension bridge that would not form a menace to the harbor in
any way, would satisfy Perth Amboy. Any bridge that required a
draw to permit even the larger vessels to pass would be opposed
most strenuouly. But a suspension bridge such as would be re-
CURED would cost many millions of dollars. 1t is hardly probable
that private capital could be interested in such a project, and it is
almost certain that neither New York nor New Jersey would vote
millions of dollars for such a development.
This state cannot issue bonds for anything costing more than
100000 without the consent of the people by referendum vote
Already the state debt is about 80,O00000. The people, last year,
rejected the proposed bond issue for putting the various state in
stitutions into fit condition for the inmates. If there ever was a
worthy cause for spending the peoples money, this was it, yet it
was rejected. What chance, then, is there for a project such as the
proposed bridge to Tottenvile when it rests with the people of the
state as a whole to decide.
As a matter of fact, the greatest congestion is between Hudson
sp~1ty and New York. 1t is significant that Governor Sizer, him
-. a Middlesex county man, called attention to this matter in his
inaugural address. He advocates a bridge somewhere in the vcIn-
ity of the Palisades. "Subways and ~ferryboats are crowded, > he
says, passengers are Inconvenience and motor travel is congest-
ed. If we are to take advantage of our opportunities, we must see
that more comfortable and adequate facilities are provided to
transport those who must cross the Hudson river"
With the governor on record for the Hudson river project
which would cost millions Of dollars and which, desirable as it is,
would have pretty hard shedding in securing the approval of the
voters, it is plain that a bridge project between this city and Tot
tcnvine would not stand much of a chance.
But there is need of improved communication between Perth
Amboy and Staten Island and those who are taking such an inter-
est in the bridge might do well to turn their efforts to projects
more feasible and that stand a far better chance Of being carried
out. A bridge may come some day, but it ii in such a dim distant
future and there are so many other big things right at hand that it
seems almost a waste Of time to keep up this agitation.