The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-01-25
Commissioners Ruaa,. Ropor+.

: State will contribute 100000, and tn
| counties and property owners will pa
about 100000. Specifications have beef
prepared for about SO miles to be bull
this year, but to complete the work thu
State appropriation must be increased tt
$300,000, and this the Road improvement
Association recommends to the Legisla
ture and has appointed a committee tt
secure an amendment of the law increas
ing the appropriation.
In 1898 and 1894 over "a miles of new
roads were built; in 1895, over 46 miles
IN 1896, over 81; making the total length
of the roads built under the law about 23e
miles, for which the State spent 1886, 595.
10 and the counties and property owners
along the lines of roads over 81, 100000.
Burlington county leads in the extent
of improved roads, having Gil miles, or
more than one-fourth of the total, and it
is in this county that the rural mail deliv-
cry system is to be tried. Mlddlesex
county has 81 miles; Mercer %; Camden,
81; Atlantic, 223; Gloucester, 1911; Essex
IL Monmouth, 81; Somerset, 81 (; Morris,
81 Passaic, Al, and Salem, q miles.
Most of the roads are built of macadsm,
but in South Jersey gravel has been used.
Commissioner Budd says the average
cost per mile has been reduced fully one
third, some roads having been built at
from So, 900 to $4,000 mile in neighbor-
hoods where they have been costing from
Sc, 900 to $4,000 per mile, and the wearing
ability will be as great and in some cases
greater. Opposition to the law has
changed to enthusiasm in its favor, the
Commissioner reports, and more roads are
being applied for than can be built in
many years under the present State APP
preparation. There is great demand for
the reports of the New Jersey Road Com
missioner, which shows that the subject
of good roads is being considered in many
other states.
Last year large part of the State ap-
preparation was utilized in completing
links which will make connected thor
oughfares from the lower end of the State
through the principal cities and towns to
the northern section, and this year, when
two or three more links are completed, 1t
will be possible to travel on a macadam
road from Jersey City to Atlantic City,
and from Paterson to the Delaware River.
Nearly all the larger cities and towns
have macadamized roads from their CEN
tres to the farming districts Union, Essex,
Morris, and Passaic have built many miles
of road under the county law, but are now
embracing the State aid law. The farm
ers have found by experience that the in
creased taxes sit lightly upon them and
are small expense compared with the
saving made by the more easy transpor-
tstion of their produce to markets and the
inducement it offers to city people to To-
cate in the country.
The Commissioner says the Office OF
Road Inquiry at Washington is urging
New Jersey farmers to try steel tracks for
roads. Such tracks would save four-ffths
of the power now expended on macada-
mixed road. The use of broad tires is rec
commended, and the report urges the Leg
islature to pass law giving a rebate in
taxes to all owners of wagons who use
tires not less than three and half inches
wide. Such bill was passed last year
but was vetoed by the Governor because
it applied to cities as we'll as to rural com.
munities.
The work of abolishing toll roads has
been begun, and two turnpikeG in Bur
lington and Camden counties are to be
condemned as soon as the County Boards
Of Freeholders ratify the action of the ap-
praisers This will cost the counties $43,-
O43. the property owners $4,SO4, and the
State $14. 347.
Commissioner Budd's report says:
ut costs 81 cents per bushel to ship
wheat from Chicago to New York, a dis
lance of 900 miles; it costs cents bush
ell to haul wheat on a level road a dis
lance of five miles, and on sandy road it
would cost at least cents per mile to
haul it. The saving on bushel of wheat
with good roads for a distance of FIVE
miles would be about equivalent to that
of 800 miles of transportation by steamer
or canal boat, or of 375 miles by railroad.
One mile of good roads would make saw
ing equal to rs miles of railroad Transport
tation. Thus every mile of good roads
places the producer rs miles by rail nearer
to the markets 1t is estimated that the
cost of hauling 500,000,0G0 tons of farm
produce to market Is 81 per ton, or just
81, 000, 600, 900; it is also estimated that
about go per cent. of this last amount, or
5000, 100000, would be saved each year If
farmers were able to do this hauling over
good roads.
These statements are startling, but
true. They show the importance of good
roads. The real cost of transportation
that burdens our agricultural classes is the
part of it between the farm and the town
or railway station rather than between
the railway station and the market. The
loss due to bad roads is one of the great
est wastes Of energy connected with farm
ing as it is carried on in this country. Road
and street improvement throug bout the
United States is becoming subject of un-
iyersal interest. Its national importance
is such that to-day it absorbs large share
of public attention in every advancing
city and state in the Union. 1t is not a
popular fad or a momentary cutlery of the
people. 1t is a deep seated movement,
appealing to the best elements of our civ
ilization. 1t is factor in public affairs Of
increasing power.
GOOD roads enlist the attention of bus
mess men, bankers, statesmen. farmers,
manufacturers, engineers, philosophers
and every intelligent citizen, however
humble his station in life."
Commissioner Budd gives a statement
of the cost of roads built during the past
year:
Road cost states length
Burlington. Florence s.2se.1s sS7ss. 0e OK m
Rancocas, Charleston S,49s.26 l,l64.42 4.259 fl
West Palmyra 2seo.4o $3.50 $3.50 #
Main St., Moorestown 10000 $4,000 G In m :,
Specifications for the following roads
have been and are being prepared, somt
of which are under and are being placed
under contract for construction under the
State appropriation for the fiscal year BE-
ginning November LIST. 1897, and ending
October 31st,, 1898: Framework Avenue
and Park Street road, Bordentown--stone
l mile, 1920 feet; London Bridge road
Burlington City-stone, 1882 feet; River
ton and Riverside road-stone. 8 4-lC
miles Columbus to Jobstown Turnpike
nAnuA A Dam harknr, and Rrnrz rnIs