Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-04-24
For the " Pike County Press. +,

county on an unused road. near the
residence of Mr.. Obadiah Bevans. in
sandyston township, the sendyston
correspondent of the New Jersey
Herald chose to criticise the lob as
a waste of public money, and the
bridge itself as not properly coun-
ty charge. Freeholder Kintner in
justification of his action in build
ing the bridge enters the technical
plea that there is a difference be-
tween an unused road, and a vaca-
ted road that gives him a legal
right to sell it as a county bridge.
We wish to present a few points re-
garding this road that are not per-
haps generally known, but should be
to have a correct understanding as
to whether there has been either
waste, or a misrepresentation of the
county funds. The road upon which
the bridge referred to is built was
originally lane owned and used if
l rightly recollect, by the father of
the late Randall Depue as convent
ent way to get to the distant fields
and wood lots owned by him. 1t
grew into use by others as short
cut from the mountain to the val
ley settlements and by his consent,
but we believe was never formally
laid out asa public road. Seven
years ago many Hainesville people
who used this road TO get to their
mountain wood lots complained that
1t was badly located, hard to keep in
fit condition for travel. and extreme
ly hilly. Upon proper application
to the Court a new road was laid
out, principally through lands of
Mr.. o. Bevans, where much easi-
er grade was obtained. The town
ship paid $125. 90 for the land, and
built the road, it has also appropria-
ted money annually to work it. Be-
ing laid out strictly to take the place
of the old road the latter has not
had a dollar expended upon it by the
township for six years, that is, since
the new road was made, and since
which time the old road has been
looked upon as a private lane as it
originally was. Mr.. o. Bevans and
Benz. B. Hursh are the only people
using it, and they only as a short
cut to their farm lands. 1 am
informed that Mr.. Hursh con-
sidered that as he was a Joint
user of the road, and bridge, he had
anticipated sharing with Mr.. Bevans
in rebuilding the bridge, whenever
it should become necessary to have
a new bridge, when 10 and behold,
a new bridge was built. and by the
county. The work of a generous
freeholder at the expense of a gener-
Gus county. learn that couple of
years ago Freeholder Joseph G.
Warner was notified to build this
same bridge, but thought it not ne
cessary, compulsion was threatened,
when Mr.. Warner consulted the
attorney of the board, Mr.. Chas. j.
Roe, and was advised not to build
it. When Mr.. E. B. Kintner be-
came freeholder he also was notified
to build it, and did so. Whether
any of the conditions had changed
since Mr.. Roe advised Mr.. Warner
against building 1T l do not know
but presume it was not done by his
advice, as my experience with Chas.
j. Roe leads me to believe that he
would not advocate other than q
reasonable, just, and economical
use of the county moneys. Wheth-
er freeholder may avail himself of
technicalities TO justify an unneces-
sary expense to the county, or to OBJ
tain the fees attached thereto, is q
matter depending solely upon his
own conscience, and the willingness
of the people to have their business
done that way. 1t is not to be sup.
posed for an instant but what Mr..
Kintner is interested in keeping
down expenses, as he has estab-
lished the fact beyond dispute that
he pays more than dollar tax. Yea,
verify so, poll tax, and dog tax