Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-11-23
CAPITAL FOR BRIDGE

vile bridge was under discussion
at the meeting of the Rotary Club
Wednesday, suggestion was made by
Ferd Garretson, chairman OF the
civic committee which has the mat
ter in charge, that private capital
might be interested in the enterprise.
He told of another bridge that had
been built in this state a few years
ago which was intended only to
boom certain real estate at a sum-
mer resort, but not only was the
real estate improved, but the bridge
on which a toll vas charged, had
paid dividends from the start.
While the bridge across Staten
Island sound at this point has the
inside track, so to speak, as far as
competition with other places is
concerned, both New York and New
Jersey having appropriated money
for the preliminary survey, the great
difficulty is going to come in getting
the entire state to approve a bond
issue which will be necessary to
finance New Jerseys share of the
project. 1t is estimated that such
a bridge as would be built across
the sound here would cost about
$4,000, 900. New Jersey is already
engaged in financing a bridge across
the Delaware river between Cam
den apd Philadelphia and, at the
same time, is constructing a vehicu-
lar tunnel under the Hudson river
between Manhattan and Jersey City.
The bond issue approved for these
two projects amounted to $2S,OOO,-
900, but It Is now certain that many
more millions will be needed before
these two projects are completed.
Already there is talk of an addi-
tional bond issue for the tunnel as
the money set aside for that devel-
opment IS nearly exhausted and the
tunnel is little<more than a quarter
finished.
At the same time, the state has
recently approved a bond issue OF
sac. 900, 900 for the state highway
system, Including numerous bridges,
SO thai to go before the people with
another proposition for a bond Is
sue for another bridge any time In
the near future will require some
powerful arguments in its favor to
get It r OF course being an
Interstate affair New Jersey would
have to pay only half of the cost,
New York putting up the other
half. But here, again, complications
arise as it would be necessary to
get favorable action in two legis-
latures, New York and New Jersey.
and when 1t Is realized how difficult
It is to get one legislature to act
favorably, the task becomes difficult
with two legislatures to deal with.
However, there Is a very deter
mined body on Staten Island who
do not know what defeat means
They usually get what they 20 after,
and they insist that the Perth AM
boy-Tottenville bridge is going to
be built. When the traffic conditions
are realized, and South Jersey sees
what an advantage such a bridge
will be to the coast resorts, as well
as to the trucking from the main
land, the necessity of having it built
may be made clear to the sclons at
Trenton, and with proper kind of
agitation favorable action may even
tually be secured.
This gets us back to the private
ownership proposition. 1t is a ques-
ton whether It would not be as easy
to interest private capital in such
a bridge and have It built within
a reasonable time without waiting
for the two legislatures to act and
secure the approval of the people
OF New Jersey for a bond issue. The
records show that $1,000 automobiles
passed over the Tottenville ferry
last year. With a bridge this num-
Ter would be greatly increased. A
toll ought to pay good interest on
the investment.
The tact was brought out that a
Rotary club in Bergen county that
wants a bridge across the Hudson
river in that vicinity is planning to
20 ahead with the idea without APP
pealing to the legislature at all
There are some who believe thai
this would be worth while in re
gard to the bridge to Tottenville.
But whether the bridge is bull
by private capital or by joint &C
lion OF the states of New York ant
New Jersey, 1t is something that
bound to come. The only question
is. how soon? Much will depend
on what is accomplished during tn
coming winter session of the legis
lature. Senator Larson who is
member Of the Rotary civic com
mittee. is deeply interested, and h