The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-11-22

meeting naQ Deen reaQ recess was taken
for the examination of bills.
On reassembling the first business was
the consideration of Steward Gaskill's re-
port 1t will be found elsewhere
Isaac R. Parker presented bill for
$3.50, for damages done to his wagon.
Mr.. Parker was driving to Browns Mills
one day last summer while the stone road
was being constru cted. The steam stone
roller was working, and Mr. Parker's
horses took fright and wheeled around,
breaking the carriage. The man in charge
of the roller did not stop but kept the
machine going.
Mr.. Jones said he could not see where
the county was liable in the case, as there
is clause in all contracts which provides
that the contractor shall release the coun-
ty from all damages during the construc-
ton of a road
Mr.. Smith, who was the supervisor of
the road, said he was an eye witness to the
occurrence. He did not think that Mr..
Parker took proper precautions and did
done. The horses stopped and turned
quickly Mr. Parker did not enter any
complaint to the contractor or supervisor
then, and the latter did not know that the
carriage was broken.
On the ground that the county was not
liable, the bill was laid on the table.
Mr. Tallman, of the committee on
printing, moved that all items in printing
bills must hereafter be marked correct"
by the person ordering the work. This
is the same order that was given some
time ago, and which has been carefully
observed by two or three papers. The
motion was adopted and the rule will
probably now be enforced in all cases.
Mr. Evan asked for a committee of five
to view bridge at Smithville. He said
the bridge is on the Smith estate and has
not been repaired since the death of II.
B. Smith Mr.. Kelley, president of the
company had asked the freeholder to do
the work, claiming that the bridge was
public property. Elton Smith, however,
thought that action by the freeholders
should be deferred until the directors of
the company had decided whether they
want the bridge considered public proper
| ty.
| Solicitor Chambers said the county
should take some stand in the matter.
The solution of the entire matter rests
entirely on the question whether the roads
over which these bridges cross are public
thoroughfares. If the Smith company re
fuses to give them up to the public and
also neglects to repair the bridges, the
county should post notices that it will not
be liable for damages that may occur.
| Mr. Evan thought the committee should
be appointed Then if the committee re
fused to take action the county could go
right ahead No action would be taken
until the Smithville directors had met.
The motion prevailed and the commit
tee was appointed as follows: Messrs
EVAN Joyce Smith, Colby, Bartlett.
Solicitor Chambers called attention to-
the claim of A. G. Heulings for damages
to carriage The Solicitor had been di-
rected TO present the bill to the person
who removed the ratings along the road.
The bill had been mislaid and had just
come into Mr. Chambers possession. He
would attend to the matter at once.
Mr.. Higgins asked for committee of
five to view a culvert on the road from
Bordentown to Fieldsboro, with power to
widen and strengthen it.
Mr. Mitchell inquired into the reason
for this action. Was it because the trolley
company had placed its rails over the Gull
vert?
Mr.. Higgins admitted that the trolley
had crossed the culvert, but he said an
application for the proposed extension
had been filed during the term of his
predecessor, Mr.. Robbins, who should
have done the work.
Mr. Sharp said he was on the committee
appointed at Mr.. Robbins request, and
they found the bridge large enough for
all purposes of ordinary travel. The
trolley company had taken over fifteen
| feet of the culvert Prior to that occu
pancy the bridge was in good condition
| To do the work now contemplated would
take $500 or $780,
Mr. Darnell thought this very good
time to discover whether the trolley com
pany has the right to use bridges as they
appear to be doing witho ut the consent of
the county. If they have much valuable
time has been lost and considerable ex
pense in discussion that appears to have
been needless as the trolley company has
done, without consent, just what they
sought permission for. The culvert in
question was one that they petltioned for
Where has the company obtained author
ity to cross any bridge? Mr.. Darnell
hoped committee would be appointed
not to look into the ACCESSIBILITY of en-
larging the culvert alluded to by Mr.. Hig
gins, but to investigate the entire matter,
and if the trolley company has exceeded
its authority, to serve an injunction and
compel it to remove its tracks where they
are illegally placed.
In reply to question, Mr.. Higgins
said he had never been applied to for per-
mission to lay tracks on any bridges or
culverts.
Mr. Crowell thought the committee to
| look into this subject should be composed
of the members of the former committee
on trolley matters as they had already
gone over the ground and were familiar
with the details.
Mr.. Higgins withdrew his request for a
committee of five and offered the follow
ing, which was adopted:
| WHEREAS, 1t has come to the attention of
the Board of Freeholders of Burlington
county, in regular meeting assembled,
that the Monmouth Traction Company
has placed its tracks on certain bridges
and culverts belonging to the said coun-
ty of Burlington, and under the control
and management of this board, without
the consent or license of the Board,
ReS050ed, That a committee of five be
appointed by the Director to investigate
the whole matter with power to compel
said Traction Company, if said committee
should find that said county bridges or
culverts have been so used without per
mission, to remove their tracks from said
bridges or culverts within a reasonable
time, and to take all legal measures to en-
force said demand, and to protect the
other legal rights of the county in the
premises.
The Director appointed on this commit
tee, Messrs. Higgins, Sharp, Tallman,
Woodward and Darnell.
Mr. Conrow offered q resolution reollir-