Gloucester County Democrat., 1897-09-23
The Chosen Freeholders.

At the September meeting of the Board
of Chosen Freeholders last Thursday all
the members were present except Mr. Pier
son, of Woodbury., whose illness compelled
his absence.
Reports on several bridges throughout
the county were received, and Messrs. Sill
vers, Jones and Leddon were appointed to
look after the necessary repairs to the Fries
Mill bridge.
Mr.. Jones urged that the petition of the
property owners in Franklin township be
considered, and that the proper steps be
taken to build the road from the Clayton
township line to the Cumberland county
line. A committee was appointed to look
into the matter.
The Director and Collector were author
lied to borrow $4,000 with which to pay
current bills in anticipation of the taxes
which will soon be coming in.
County Collector Barber's report
showed receipts amounting to $45,065 40,
The contractors of the Westville and
Glassboro stone road wanted to be paid,
but the Board refused payment until same
was completed in accordance with the con-
tract The road is reported to be already
in very bad condition.
The practice of dumping manure along
i the stone roads was ordered stopped.
A resolution ordering change in the
construction of the proposed stone road
from Paulsboro to Swedesboro, from teiford
to macadam, was adopted.
The employment of an engineer to super
wise the construction of this road was at
tended by considerable fine work. 1t
seems that at the May meeting, 1896, Sur
veyor VIM. M. Carter, of this city, was
employed to make preliminary surveys,
profile, ect., and continued to act in the
capacity of engineer to the present stage Of
the work. drawing plans, making specifi-
cations, ETC., and felt that he was employ
ed for the entire job. He was reading his
specifications at the morning session when
q motion was made to reconsider the vote
by which he was elected. A secret ballot
was ordered on this motion and it carried
by vote of 10 to 8. A motion to elect
Mr.. Carter engineer for the construction
of the road was then defeated 10 to s, as
follows:-
Yes.-Knight, Starr, Tonkin, Clark,
Cooper, Usinger, Hendrickson, Synnott. g.
/ No.-Leddon, Stanger, Iredell, Silvers,
Tombleson, Jones. Miller, Wilson, H. g
Hendrickson. 10.
While this motion was under cOnsidt T.
alton, Mr.. Usinger expressed his surprise
at the proceeding. He said if there was
any charge of incompetency or lack of at
tention against Mr. Carter he could vote
to kick him out in the midst of the job, as
this motion proposed, but in the absence
of such he would vote to retain Mr.. Carter.
The opposition disavowed any such opp0-
sition and Mr.. Carter's work to this point
was highly commended.
Mr.. J. j. Albertson, of Camden county,
was then elected by vote Of 10 to 8
Mr.. Albertson was given privilege to ad-
dress the Board and said that as he had
been engineer of the roads constructed in
this county to date, he felt keenly being
1 turned down when the construction Of this
road came up. He felt it q reflection on
himself, which he did lot deserve. He
thanked the Board for re-electing him
1t was no reflection on Mr.. Carter who
had performed his work we'll and he was
willing that the value Of his work be de-
Quoted from his commission.
! Surveyor Carter said he was SURPRISED be.
yOnd expression oyer tia Boards action.
He had done all the preliminary work, by
order of the committee, with little compen.
sation, and his notes and profile were still
his property.
i At the afternoon session the matter 0l
compensation for Mr.. Carter's services was
debated, and finally committee of Messrr
Cooper, Synnott and Tonkin was appoin-
ted to confer with the late engineer as to
the sum he thought proper for his work,
profiles and notes. The compensation Of
Mr. Aibertson was fixed at the usual 2 per
cent. Of the cost of construction, less such
sum that may be paid Mr.. Carter.
Collector Morton of Clayton, was ap-
pointed to collect the taxes in Clayton
township known as "N0-man's land, =
which had been assessed for the year 1896
! by acommittee from the Board Of Assessors
4 After the payment of q number Of bills
the Boad adjourned.