Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-05-02
NO.. 2I57
NO new BRIDGE,
IHE FREEHOLDEIsS MEET AT
DIVIDING CREEK.
Inc OLD Bridge to be Repaired
and Must Answer For
Awhile.

Inc last meeting OF the Board of
freeholders for this year was held
Wednesday at Dividing Greek. The day
was delightful, and the members of
the Board had a pleasant drive from
their different homes, and it was he
tween half-past nine and ten o'clock
when they had passed all the old-fash-
Ioned we'll sweeps on The road, ane
reached that quaint little village, which
the old resident would call, 'the
creek, leaving off the first half of the
name, Dividing" When the reporter
OF the PIONEER reached the scene he
found that the members of the Board
Rad just turned their horses over to
Landlord Campbell, of the one inn and
tavern of the place, and were proceed
ing down to the long, narrow, covered
bridge which spans the creek, and
has been much talked about for some
time.
The members, together with some of
the residents, pulled up some of the
planking and glanced over the timbers
with their professional bridge inspect
Ing eyes, and then in a body marched
back to the antiquated inn, and took
possession of the sitting room.
All the members answered the roll
call with the exception of Messrs. An :.
derson and Birkinshaw.
Tho r,innfoo 81 laa4
were read and approved. Director
Bacon stated that he had received from
the State Comptroller check for s3Os,
On account of insane.
The Director also produced a tele-
gram from the Secretary of State, an
nouncing the passage of the law tax
ing from the Board of Freeholders the
confirmation of County Superinten-
dents Of schools
Mr.. Townsend then arose and
brought the attention OF the Board to
the object OF the meeting. He said
that since the last meeting OF the
Board, the citizens had held meetings,
and they almost unanimously petition
ed the Board for draw bridge. He
then moved that the petition be
granted.
Captain Dunlap, an old citizen, ad
dressed the Board, showing the neces-
sity of draw bridge. In the first
place he did otebelieve anyone had a,
right to obstruct the navigation by
such bridge as was there at present.
The building of a draw would open a.
large amount of property above, and
be a decided benefit to the locality.
He declared that the spirit of improve
ment had caught the place, and he
knew that new draw bridge would
hasten on this progress. Above the
bridge were fifteen thousand cords Of
wood that could be freighted at forty
cents less a cord by water than rail.
Hay could be received above with a
draw, and their would be ship building
above. The captain thought the cost
would be trifling compared with the
benefit.
During the day a number of citizens
discussed the matter. All of them
were favorable to the building of the
bridge, and urged upon the Board the
necessity of placing in the draw A
teamster, who was present, said the
present structure was very unsafe,
and he did not believe it would long
support the weight to which it was
subject.
Another gentleman thought if the
bridge was to be an annual expense to
the county, it would be cheaper to
build a new one, aud if this was done,
they should build draw.
The question for the Board to de-
eide in the opinion of the members,
was whether or not the present struc-
ture was safe. If it was, then it should
remain. If new bridge was needed
for the safety of the public, then it
would be well to build one with
draw.
The Board thought that they would
take recess for dinner before they
wrestled with the question further
and they sat down to substantial
meal in the dining room of the hotel.
Immediately upon their arrival, and
without further discussion, a vote was
taken by ballot, resulting in the re-
lection of the motion OF Mr.. Townsend
by vote of 4to3.
| Bills of Steson L. Bacon, $1325, and
E. b. Sharp, $21. SO, were ordered paid.
Mr.. Harris moved that q committee
be appointed to see if lot could be
| procured on the West side of the
Mauricetown bridge for the house of
the bridge tender. This was so Or
dered, and the Mauricetown committee
| appointed to look after the matter.
An effort was made to have the
Dividing Creek bridge Committee dis
charged was defeated, and they must
60 ahead and repair the bridge, al
though Mr.. Townsend says that should
they attempt to repair the bridge with
the top on there would be an injunc-
ton served upon them.