Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-27
THIRTY FOOT CHANNEL ASSURED

IN the development of Raritan bay. Even though this is 100000
sss than was recommended by the army engineers, it is going to
70 a long way toward giving Rarhan bay the channel that it needs
o accommodate the shipping.
When it lis realized that the administration put up a hard fight
10 keep down the appropriation for rivers and harbors, and even
lfter the act became a law, it was reported that the President
sould limit the expenditures to $27,OO0O00 which was the budget
CURE, it is apparent that the federal authorities have at last ad-
ntted the Importance of Rartan bay and this waterway is going
D receive the attention it deserves. It is likely that out of the $780,
10000 appropriated by congress, no more than the present alot.
aent amounting to $4OyOO0OOO will be used. Only those projects
fhich the War Department deems the most important will receive
attention.
Tt now looks as if Perth Amboy's dream of years is about to
ONE true. We have been urging a thirty foot channel up the bay
rom Sandy Hook for a long time. Not until T. Frank Appleby went
congress, however, was there any real progress made. Thanks to
Is efforts, the recommendation of the army engineers was included
a the rivers and harbors bill. Then came the fight against the
Measure on account of it exceeding the budget figure. When this.
lght was won, there was danger of the President vetoing the bill
liter he had signed it, it was reported that the President would
hrect the secretary of war to limit the appropriations to the $27,
10000 as fixed by the budget. All along the line it looked as if
he Rartan bay might yet be thrown back to where it was before
Er. Appleby went to Washington.
With the final announcement of the secretary of war, however,
here seems to be no further danger of the project being halted.
The question now is, what is Perth Amboy going to do about it'
Il we have so frequently remarked, there are big projects going on
4 about us and we are not doing very much to take advantage of
lem. The city ought to be awake to the vast possibilities as a
suit of what is now going on,-projects that are being backed by
Inside interests, but which are of direct benefit to this city.
A thirty foot channel up the bay could be the making of Perth
,mboy. Look what Newark is doing to boost Port Newark. The
aunicipalfty is dredging its own channel; it has offered millions
dollars for the government property on Newark bay, and other
billions are being spent to fill in the meadows. Now the city has
appropriated thousands of dollars to advertise the port throughout
...-4~- Vat pn~4 No1corI~ JoodIooLad DC II ;e uscaeei+a+;n0l
he passing through the Kill Won KuI, which is the neck of the bot
lie, in order to reach it, cannot begin to compete with the free and
n,en Raritan bay once the channel here is deepened.
But Perth Amboy is not showing the enterprise that Newark is
moving, or that any other municipality is showing where great
Developments are going on. With the channel assured, the city
ught to take steps now to develop the waterfront so as to go after
ne shipping that would come here. The city's population could
10 doubled in a short time by taking advantage of this great OPP
portunity. .-....
The answer, however, is that the city is not in a position fin
,ucially to 20 ahead with any such big development. It had to
,eek snecial legislation so as to exceed the legal debt limit for the
Grade crossing elimination. Tt all goes to show, then, that the city
) not being well managed. In saying this there is no attempt to
slame the present city fathers. They are probably doing the best
hey can under the circumstances. But they are handicapped by
he antiouated city charter and the cumbersome machinery set up
Tor handling public affairs. No one is responsible for anything
md we hardly know which way to turn.
When we see all these big things going on all about us we are
inspired to go along with the procession, but e is as if our hands
we're tied. We used to pride ourselves upon being the ~pacemaking
sity. Now we have to struggle to keep up. Isn't it about time
for a change? With all the natural advantages that this city
Possesses, and with all the big things being done all about us, isn't
t about time for us to shake OF. our lethargy, bring our municipal
iorn Of government up to date, and everybody get behind the city
ind boom, boost and build for Perth Amboy?
Being in the metropolitan district and included within the
FORT Of New York, the advantages here are great. The opportu-
aty is ours for the taking. There are hundreds Of cities in the
United States that would give almost anything to have a thirty
oot channel from the open sea direct to their shore. They would
capitalize such an asset at millions of dollars. Other cities spend
aillions Of dollars to dredge through a canal in order to reach the
sea or to make a channel even twelve feet deep. Here Perth Amboy
Is having a thirty foot channel handed to her on a silver platter,
as it were. What is the city going to do about it,
Furthermore, 81, 100000 is going to be spent on Staten Island
sound which passes our door and joins Raritan bay at this point.
Does all this waterway development mean nothing to the people of
this eNxi