Bridgeton pioneer., 1899-04-27

citizens Of Bridgeton. He made some
reference to the Boards of Trade of which
he had knowledge, and pointed out how
great good to community could come
from the united effort of such an organ
lzatlon. he presented warmest greetings
and referred to the achievements of the
state, of which this section was no unim-
| portant part.
Congressman Loudenslager ventured
the only practical advice given the Board
by any of the speakers. and his timely
suggestions were received with appro
baton. He referred to the Commercial
the great advantages the organization had
in giving and obtaining information
throughout the world. He strongly
urged that Board of Trade would profit
greatly and much might be accomplished
by the local organizations keeping in
touch with the greater institution now
rearing before the world a mammouth
exhibition.
The oratorical effort, the speech of great
est research and historical interest was
that of Judge Joseph H. Gaskill, of Mt.
Holly. After referring clearly and in
laudatory manner to the other distin-
guished guests present, and presenting
the regrets of Senator Mahlon II. Pitney,
who was absent owing to serious illness
in his family, Judge Gaskill said in part
responding to the toast, sour City:'
One advantage of not being included in
the list of distinguished speakers is that
you can sit down comfortably, and eat
your dinner, without worrying about
speech
On an occasion like this you are apt to
spoil good dinner by trying to make
good speech, or you spoil good speech
by eating good dinner.
The distinguished guests of the evening
and the Governor of the State, who so
efficiently serves as our Chief Magistrate,
and so carefully looks after the interests
of his people, have my sympathy.
When they are taken out tomorrow, to
see the sights, to view the great establish
ments that have made this South Jersey
town so prosperous, they should be given
planked shad apiece, and allowed to eat
it in peace and quietness, with no speech
in view, waiting upon their digestion
like nightmare. I have another very
great advantage over the distinguished
guests of the evening.
Z am at home. aDas born IN B1adqe-
ton. and haze spent all nay life IN Bridge
ton.
Our distinguished guests will therefore
expect that all Of us who are at home will
sound the praises of our native place.
The name of our city is significant and
appropriate Bridge Ton, or Bridge
Ioaon, the town or settlement where there
is bridge. Hence something to cross,
stream too rapid, or deep to ford. Con-
sequently stream of Importance, either
because of its Mill Seats, or because of
the means of transportation it affords.
So every time we give the name of our
abiding place, we unconsciously magnify
its Importance. I am true son of
Bridgeton, and delight to sound its
praises.
When the good ship "Kent" sailed up
the Delaware, past Salem Creek, unmind-
full the sunbeams thereafter to dance and
glitter in that place-past the Schuylkill,
past the place where Penn subsequently,
with checker board on his lap, laid out
the plan of his "Greene Countrie Town."
it came to the mouth of the Assiscunk,
and there before them upon beautiful
banks stretched field and forest and
fertile meadow.
Gladdened by the sight the good ship
was moored to an ancient buttonwood,
still standing and guarded as a sacred
relic, and the tired voyagers disembark-
ing, laid the foundation of that ancient
city of Burlington-older than Philadel-
phia-not so old as St. Augustine, Florida,
in point of settlement, but being the old
est chartered city in the United States.
Its charter bears date of Oct. 1893. The
land was rapidly taken up, and the
settlers pushing back into the country
and toward the sershore, came to dark,
rapid stream-black as ink, being stained
by the cedar roots from the swamp where
it took its rise-running between precpi-
tous banks, it was too deep or rapid to
ford readily, hence the necessity for
bridge-and so rapidly did the stream
run, giving evidence of quite fall, that
dam was constructed, saw and grist
mill established, and around this bridge
grew up little settlement ton, or town,
and the place was called Bridgeton. 1t
soon came to be place of considerable
importance in early times. Near it. on a
fertile farm lived the Provincial Cover
nor Franklin, in mansion standing at
this day.
1t became literary centre. In 1765,
His Gracious Majesty, George III, was
pleased to grant the charter for library
This charter with the Royal Seal hangs
on the walls of our library to this day.
and most of the hooks comprising the
library at that time are to day on its
shelves.
1t is no light reading, the books are
folios, perhaps IL in. by is in. in size
2 in. thick and substantially ho,na 4,