The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-12-18

, The meeting was not as large as he had
hoped for; he had desired to see such a
crowd that in future years larger hall
would be necessary.
Henry |. Budd read the treaeurer's
, statement, which was accepted.
, Mr.. Budd also read the secretary's re-
port, which was likewise approved.
Clayton Conrow objected to the term
''citron-melon" being applied to what we
. know as csntaloupes. The citron- melon
proper is for cooking purposes only. de
thought there should be an adoption of
one name.
Thomas J. Bean thought that cantaloupe
, is the proper name.
Nomination and election of officers
came next The following were chosen :
President, Clayton Conrow; Vice Presi-
dent, Edwin Holmes; Secretary, Henry l..
Budd; Treasurer, James Lippincott; Rep
NOTWITHSTANDING County Agricul-
tural Society, Emmor Roberts; Mount
Laurel Farmers Club, Mark Ii. Buzby;
Coopertown Farmers Club, Albert Han
sell; Pomona Grange, Edmund Cook;
Medford Grange, Edmund Braddock; Col
umbus Grange, Robert Taylor; Crosswicks
Grange, Albert Satterthwait; Pemberton
Grange, Theodore Budd; Rancocas Grange,
George B. Hancock; Moorestown Grange,
Clayton L. Andrews; Edgewood Grange,
Nathan S. Wright; at large, Henry G.
Lippincott. Delegate to the State Board
of Agriculture, Clayton Conrow; delegate
to the State Horticultural Society, Horace
Roberts.
The topics for discussion were then
taken up. The first on the list was Can
there be much improvement in the bust
ness of the country while the great staple
crops-wheat, cotton and wool-are sell
ing so low ~
| Edmund Cook was assigned to the dis
cussion of this subject. He was prepared
to take the ground that there cannot be
any improvement while the greatest of
the country's staples are not selling at adj
vantageous prices. The low rates which
these products have been bringing are
directly responsible for the stagnation IN
business AT the present tax rate he did
not believe the crop of wheat, at the
prices 1t now brings, would pay the coun-
| ty tax.
Albert Hansell thought that the CON-
petition of foreign countries, with their
cheap labor, had much to do with the
low prices here.
Prof Z. B. Voorhees, was unable to be
present. and his paper on the import
ance of the availability of plant food"
was omitted.
"How to repair stone roads," was the
subject assigned to E. G. Harrison, of As
bury Park. He was unavoidably detain-
ed, so his paper was read by his son,
Charles S. Harrison.
There is an idea that stone never wears
out, yet the marble in front of your door
can wear out from the constant pressure
of leather shoe. hence the detrimental
effect of the steel shoes of horses. After
the first or second year of the building of
| nhaN
are two things that work against road
too little water and too much water.
Where water is not handy, a covering of
| fine loan is advisable. but care must be
taken not to put too much on. A road
must not be allowed to wear down to ruts
and holes, but should be attended to on
the old maxim "a stitch IN time"
Edmund Cook said that while on this
subject 1t would be well to ask who is to
pay for these repairs? 1t is pretty well
known who pays for the building.
Henry c. Lippincott said the county
would pay the lions share.
A member said he guessed that was
SO, as his tax was increased $40 and he
had not seen any stone roads either.
Enoch Evans asked If he had seen any
bridges up his way.
Dr. Abram E. Conrow thought that the
would pay the taxes. He admitted that
there were factories of various kinds, but
the farmers bear the brunt. Farmers ap-
pearlng before the Commissioners of APP
peals find it hard work to get reduction
of assessment, while the manufacturers
are given what they want, on the plea
that they must be encouraged, and given
all they ask.
William j. Evans said the Marlton
turnpike was built in 1891, and bad need
ed repairs several times. To take a road
from the beginning. 800 per mile per
year would probably suffice to keep the
road good, but there was quite differ
ence IN the travel over different high
ways. 1t pays to buy the best stone for
repairs.
Clayton Conrow called attention to the
stone road of the Westield Turnpike
Company. 1t was the first in West Jer-
sey, and there were undoubtedly mistakes
in its construction. This country has the
reputation of hauling heavier loads than
any other nation. This naturally wears
upon the roadways. The sharp shoes of
horses and the narrow wheels of wagons
act as wedges, which cut into and injure
the roads.
Secretary Budd read letter from Thos.
D. Parker of Philadelphia, on this sub
ject The writer was at one time a stage
driver who had driven many miles and
had studied the question of roads. The
only remedy for good roads is to compel
the use of broadtread wagon wheels, and
he suggested tires from five to seven
inches wide.
Wilbur Strong, from Middlesex county,
had come to this meeting on invitation,
and spoke in favor of stone roads, which
were meeting with such favor in his coun-
ty The people who use the roads so
much should bear a share of their ex
pense, and the bicycle riders, who are so
earnest IN their endeavors to secure these
highways, should pay something for them.
The idea of broad tires seemed impractic-
able because the percentage of those who
haul heavy loads is out of proportion to
those who use light wagons and be did not
believe the latter could be induced or
compelled to make the change.
Neither of the gentlemen to whom
were assigned the next question were
present, so the subject was thrown open
for general discussion. The question
was "Why should this generation be re-
quired to pay the full quota for building
stone roads? Would it not be better to
issue four per cent. bonds payable in Sc
ries of $4,000 each, annually, after five
years of issue"
George Wildes said that when he stood
| in this same room about two years ago he
| had heard stone roads advocated by men
who insisted that they were permanent
improvements, and were of great value
because of their permanency and ability
to withstand wear and travel, yet to-day
the same men are apologizing because
these same roads are now giving out.
r. +. Parvin said there is great improve
ment In building roads. He thought that
one great point was the selection of the
best material
Samuel H. Chambers was opposed to
the issuance of bonds, that this generation
has no right to entail upon those who are
coming, expenses incurred by the pres
ent generation. The best citizen is he
who pays for what he GETS and only buys
what he can pay for. The future gener-
alton will have all it can do to pay for the
repairs to the roads. He compared the
rates of taxation forty years ago with
those of to-day. If the increase goes on
at the same ratio in the next 20 years, the
future generation will have its hands full
without paying bonds.
George Brock was of the same opinion
as Mr.. Chambers. His township is now
having a siege of bond paying, which is
very unpleasant.
Robert Nj. Brock endorsed the remarks
of Mr.. Chambers. His observation was
that the best citizen is he who pays for
what he gets, does not "splurge," attends
the primaries and sees that the best men
are elected to look after the expenditure
of public money. There are too few town
ship officers who have the stamina to do
their duty.