Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-07-31
CIVIC ACTION NEEDED

CIVlC ACI1ON NEEDED
Every municipality, large or small, has its problems, day by
day. Some Of them are solved; others allowed to exist, impeding
tile progress of the city.
Some cities have organizations like Chambers of Commerce Of
Boards of Trade, to consider these problems from a civic stand
point. 1t will also be found that a live wire city has an organ
ization of this kind. A city, with a properly functioning central
civic organization is generally known as a live wire town. True
these organizations do not work wonders from the start, but it
has been shown that they have their place in the civic life of the
community and stand ready to act when any emergency arises.
Perth Amboy has its problems, day by day, like any other
city. Some of them are small some large. At the present time
this city has five most important matters that must be acted upon
in a short time or the progress of the city will be seriously handi-
tapped. These problems, which can best be considered from a
civic standpoint by a civic organization, follow:
TRANSPORTATION-In the face of the threatened strike of
the Public Service troeymen, abandonment of the Jersey Cen
trail Traction Company, new bus line regulation and railroad time
tables, nothing has been done by the business men of this city to
safeguard their interests.
deep channel to Sandy Hook is slip
ping away from Perth Amboy without any c~oordinated effort on
the part of business interests here to fight for this project, which
if carried to a successful conclusion would make Perth Amboy
one of the greatest ports on the Atlantic Seaboard. At the same
time, the New Jersey Ship Canal matter is again under consider
alton, another important waterway matter that vitaly affects
Perth Amboy.
RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION-Pert Amboy does
not know today if the best interests of the city are to be protected,
despite the fact that actual work ON this project will be started
in a few weeks. Nothing is known here as to what kind of rail
road station will be erected when the crossing elimination does
come, where the new station will be placed, or if it will fulfill the
needs of the community.
RARITAN RIVER BRIDGE-With work about to start on
this new structure, nothing of a civic nature has been done to
insure the best for this section of the state.
IGHWAYS LEADING TO PERTH AMBOY-This city has
lost much business during the past year due to the poor roads in
this vicinity, aided and abetted by ~deplorable detouf conditions.
While complaints were heard on all sides, no organized action
was taken in this desperate situation. A woeful lack of cooper
alton between governing bodies did much to bring about this stu
alton, all of which could have been remedied by strong civic
protest.
These five matters have q tremendous bearing on the future
Of the city. All of them are agencies by which a large volume of
business can be steered in this direction. Any one of them is i'm
portant enough to cause the formation of a civic organization
almost over night, if considered carefully enough by the residents
and business men of the city.
Such matters can be allowed to drift on no longer. The city
can i'll afford to allow business to slip by without some action. Let
cal Club, or what you will, be given immediate consideration.
This matter was discussed last week at the meeting of the Lions
Club. Other like organizations should be heard from.
Who will volunteer to call a general meeting to discuss this
momentous questions The call is for a young, wideawake bust
ness man who believes in Perth Amboy; one who wants to see his
community grow and prosper. There are many such men here.
Who will volunteer to get this work started9
In the meantime, let's all make a Chamber of Commerce. not
the kind that seeks to enroll members on a large scale, but a live
wire, working organization, made up of boosters and hustlers,
who place the future of the city foremost in all matters.