Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-02-23
BRIDGEToN, N j., THURSDAY. FEBRUARY %. 1888
A NEW BRIDGE.
A Structure to Span the River
at Mauricetown.

A full meeting of the Board of Free
holders was held at Mauricetown Fri
day to take action in regard to the
new bridge at that place. For some
time the old bridge has been consid-
cred unsafe, and committees have
before examined it and reported that
in their opinion, something would
have to be done Immediately. The
Board at its last session resolved to
call q meeting at that place Friday,
and on the arrival of the morning
train the entire membership repaired
to the bridge and each went into q
careful Investigation to see for himself
the condition Of things.
It is evident that Mauricetown peo.
pie desire new bridge, for about one
half of the population of the town was
on hand to assist the Freeholders in
finding the weak spots and defects.
About an hour was thus spent, and
the Board repaired to the sitting-room
of Samuel Camps hotel, where the
meeting was called to order by Director
Bacon.
III. L. Tyler was elected clerk pro ten
The reading of minutes of last meet
ing was dispensed with, and business
was commenced by Mr.. Beebe, OF
Maurice River offering the following
resolutio n
Resolred-'Fhat the Cumberland Co.
Board of Freeholders build a new
bridge with pivot draw, across the
river at Mauricetown, in the same 10
cation as the present bridge, the draw
to be sufficiently wide for teams to
pass
Then debate followed and was taken
part in by Messrs. Beebe, Trenchard,
Mickle, Bacon, Harris, White, Elwell,
Hand and Dunham. Their ramarks
showed that nearly the entire Board
was of the same opinion. When the
Mauricetown bridge was first built
an average of four and one hall
teams passed over it per day, while
| now there was an average oi
| sixty. The remarks of the gentlemen
tended to show that the bridge was
| needed and that a first-class structure
| should succeed the old one. The Board
unanimously thought that they had
| sufficient experience with wooden
bridges, and that it was by far a mat.
ter of economy to build bridge oi
iron. In speaking Of the cost of the
| iron structure it was developed
that such bridge could not be built
| far short of $4,000. The debate upon
| the question was thoroughly exhaus
tive and when the vote was called for
every member of the Board was suf-
ficiently conversant with the facts
to vote intelligently. Upon vote
being taken it was decided to build
the bridge by unanimous vote.
At this point the Board adjourned
for dinner and did no further business
until half past one.
| A few bills were ordered paid and
on motion of Mr. Harris a committee
of three consisting of Harris, of Mill
vile, White, ofBrdgeton, and Elwell,
of Stoe Creek, was appointed to pc
tition the Legislature to authorize the
Board Of Freeholders TO bond the
county for $50, 600 for five years.
A motion of Mr.. Trenchard was car
ried to the effect that committee of
five be appointed to secure plans, and
specifications, and ascertain the proba
BILE cost of the bridge at Mauricetown.
The chair appointed Messrs. Beebe.
of Maurice River; Trenchard, of Bridge
ton; Elwell, of Stoe Creek; Hand, of
Commercial and Harris. of Mllville, as
the committee.
The clerk pro tena was authorized to
draw upon the County Collector for
$3. ID for his days services.
The Board then adjourned to meet
at the Court House the second We'd
nesday of April.