The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-06-10
They Discuss the Duties of the
County Engineer.

Wednesday morning until IL o'clock.
Monthly reports were read, bills ap-
proved and there was a short but lively
discussion of the conditions of bridge
work and the duties of the County
Engineer.
The only communication to the Board
was that of the Morristown Trust Com
pany soliciting the banking business of
the county, and stating that interest of
per cent. would be allowed on deposits
under $500; 2per cent. on amounts above.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
The County Treasurer, as reported by
the Finance Committee, showed balance
May 1, $s1, ,os6.O9; expenditures during
month, $40, ,567.65; balance, $51s.44.
Road account, balance, $10.s71 81; ex-
pended, $472 IA; balance 81, O,S9917; bills
approved by the committee amounted to
S., ,O3S.s5.
The Court House and Jail Committee
reported 81 prisoners in the county jail,
42 were added and 81 discharged during
the month. The committee meets on the
second Tuesday of each month at 2 p. m,
to audit bills. Bills for May amounted
to 1866. co..
By the report of the Lunacy Commit
tee there are 1877 county patients at the
State Hospital at Morris Plains, 81
females and 60 males. Two of the
county patients are ill with scarlet fever;
all quarantined. The quarterly bill was
also presented amounting to $5,214.41.
Miscellaneous bills amounted to 81 ,356 10.
The Almshouse Committee reported
9S inmates at the house and 70 children
in the Children's Home, and bills of
81, ,O67.13, Printing bills amounted to
$527.71.
In response to instruction of the last
meeting, County Engineer King pres
ented his first monthly report, stating
visits to county road and bridge work in
progress and attendance at meeting of
road and bridge committees.
Freeholder Gillen reported meeting of
Dover Bridge Committee on May 81,
when bids were opened for sidewalks on
the Blackwell street bridge. On recon-
mendation of the committee, contract
was awarded to the Dover Boiler Com
pany at 1915.
Freeholder Kimball reported that
bids would be opened Saturday for
bridge in Hanover township. AS the
bad condition of the old bridge necessi-
tated prompt action, the committe was
allowed to proceed with limit of 81 500,
set aside for the work. Other members
at once asked the same privilege, namely,
Mr.. Orr of Randolph for bridge at Port
Dram, committee to meet on the 22d, for
ST. 900; and MIR. AFFORD. for McCue
bridge at BARLEY, $500, and LaRue
bridge at Naughright, $400, which
served to arouse several members and
brought forth discussion of bridge
matters. Mr.. Bartley held that accord
ing to recent law all contracts exceeding
5000 should be voted only by the Board,
and applied the same to the present
cases. Being asked for opinion, Counsel
lor Quayle read the new act approved
May IS, which took effect May 1, 1898,
giving individual Freeholders right to
contract for only 5000; amounts above
this figure must be voted by the Board.
Here Major Dalrymple, who is re-
spcnsible for the first written report of
the County Engineer, commended the
report, but thought that it should
give details of work in which the Engi-
neer had participated. He said that
many meetings of bridge committees
were held and important action taken
i, Of
gineer, and offered resolution that no
bridge work be attempted where the
contract will exceed 5000 without first
lowed a general discussion of the ques-
ton, several of the members stating that
Mr.. King was regularly consulted re-
garding all proposed work, and after
amendment changing amount from 5000
to $500, the resolution was adopted.
The Road Committee reported general
progress in road work and repair through
out the county, offering approved bills
for road repairs $613.82; for State Aid
roads. $1,372 .S5; for work on Chatham
and Hanover State Aid road, $31. The
committee recommended the following
amounts for repairs to county roads:
Randolph, 500; Chatham, $3.50; Pc
quannoc, $3.50; Morristown First Wardl,
$3.50; Mt. Olive, $100. Upon this an
nouncement, Mr.. Troxell asked to have
added $3.50 for Madison roads, and to
this Mr.. Roagland, the Road Committee
chairman, objected, holding that here
after all recommendations for road re-
pair must come through the Road Com
mittee, with approval Of the Road In
/ spector. Considerable talk failed to in