The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1892-06-07
The Road Question.

II articles Of silver, and attracted consider
a able attention.
The Road Question.
Howard Parry called to order the meet
ing of taxpayers at the court house, OF
Saturday, to consider the question of i'm
. proved roads. Dr. ]. D. Janney was elect
ed secretary.
: Charles K. Vansciver, freebooter from
Beverly, asked that James Owens a prac.
5 teal road builder, of Newark, be given the
privilege of addressing the meeting. He
) has been building roads for twenty-four
years, and is much interested in the
matter.
/. He began by speaking of the road i'm
provements that have been carried on in
the northern counties of the state. ThA
work began by the passage of bill known
as the Essex road law, which was found
unconstitutional by the Supreme court.
The people of the county were much OPP
posed to the bill, sit gave the commission
too much power. Another law was passed
however, known as the Essex Road Board
bill, providing that one-half of the cost of
the road be paid by the county and the
balance by the township. About one and
a-half millions of dollars were spent at
once, and no one can be found that thinks
the money has not been well invested,
One agricultural township asked that no
improvements be made in their section.
Since then their population has decreased,
their assessed valuations have gone down,
and property is worth less. The resi-
dents have now had their eyes opened
and have recently petitioned for roads.
He then spoke at length of the work that
has been done in the upper counties,
which now contain about 375 miles of
hard roads.
1t may be urged, he said, that there is
no similarity in conditions between Bur-
lington and Essex counties. An exami-
nation of the map shows that the most
thickly settled part of Burlington county
is about the same distance from Philadel-
phia as that of Essex is from New York.
Therefore there is as much need here as
there Not only is real estate benefited,
but business is much improved.
He has noticed that Burlington county
has appropriated considerable money each
wear for roads, amounting to about $780,
900 year. But what is there to show
for itP That amount capitalized would
give about 100000, which will build
many miles of road, without any more
yearly expense. The cheapest way is to
borrow the money, in order to prevent
and save the big expenditure for repairs.
He recommended that telford road,
eight inches thick, as being good for this
county. road with less thickness will
not prove satisfactory. Drainage is one
of the most important features of road
building. An 8-inch road, 16 feet wide,
costs about 80 cents square foot in the
upper counties; here it will cost some
what more on account of the increased
cost in getting the stone.
Chas. X. Vansciver asked which was
better for county uses, narrow or wide
roads. Mr.. Owens recommended moth
ing narrower than u feet and 16, if posi-
BILE. The crown should be four inches.
The cost of repairs is about $3.50 year
per mile A steam roller is not necessary
as good results can be obtained with an
ordinary two-horse roller.
Clayton Conrow was called upon to ex-
press his views. He spoke on the ques-
ton of the roads belonging to the state.
All good roads, in foreign or home coun-
tries, were built by national aid. The
township system has been found a sad
failure, and besides nothing can be &C
complished After one good road has
been laid it speaks for itself; there is no
need of talking in order to have another.
He thinks twelve foot road is sufficient |
his experience with turnpike company |
has proved that nine feet is satisfactory in
this district, and this he recommended. |
The sides must, of course, be grayeled.
If a sixteen foot road is wanted, it will |
cost too much and the expense will pre-
vent the work being done. A change
should be made in the width of wagon
tires.
Edward Burrough, the president of the
State Board ofAgriculture. was next called
upon. He said the foremost men in the
matter of road agitation in New Jersey,
was by Burlington county men. The
question is not local; it is spreading all
over the United States. Several years ago
the question was started when there hap
pened to be deep frosts and in the spring |
at thawing time, there was mud block"
of trade. This was 80 serious that it
reached the government, and then the |
subject of road Improvement was begun.
Through the effort of the State Board Of
Agriculture the present road law was
passed, which provides that one third of |
the expense be paid by the state, one
tenth by the property owners along the
road, and the balance by the county.
Mr.. Burrough urged that care should be
taken to have the roads built well, have
the work done thoroughly at first, and
then it will be satisfactory for years.
New Jersey is the pioneer in the Unit
ed States in improved road building. No
other state has general state law on the
SuDl6CL 1ulS udOlcI ndb COtnC W otty >
it has been long time coming and the
road movement is progressing
DR.. Parry wanted to know what pro-
vision there is to have the roads
Joined in various districts; for instance,
if a road is built from here to Camden
county, what will compel that road be-
ing extended to some definite place. Mr..
Burroughs said there is no provision in
the law for this, but the state officials
will endeavor to govern it.
DIR. Parry asked how much road is pro-
posed to be built in this county. Mr..
Vansciver stated that about seven or
eight miles, to cost about $4,000.
DIR. Parry wanted to know where the
money is to come from to pay for the
states portion. If the state appropria-
ton is only $4,000 for all the work in
the state for one year, who is to be cut
off when that sum has been expended.
Mr.. Burroughs said that from the APP
plications now in it is safe to state that
there will be no deficiency.
DIR. Parry said he will guarantee that
before the August meeting of the board
of Fraab 0I1ara fhora will ha yroat manu- |