The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-10
Board of Freeho1ders.

, The regular meeting OF the board OF
Freeholders was held at the Court House,
Mount Holly, on Wednesday, Director
John E. Darnell presiding
After roll call the reading of the min
utes was dispensed with. A recess of ff-
teen minutes was then taken to give COM
mittees an opportunity to examine belat-
ed bills. Reading of bills was then be-
gun and continued until the adjournment
for dinner without interruption.
Solicitor Chambers presented a bill re-
ceived from the managers of the state
epileptic village for the care of Lorenzo
Morgan, an INDECENT patient said to be-
long to Medford township. 1t was learned
that the man had been improperly com
mitted, and thus the question arose
whether the county was responsible in
any sense for his care. The original law
with reference to commitments of persons
to the village, passed in 1899, made no
reference to INDECENT patients, but it was
supplemented later by an enactment pre-
scribing proceedings similar to those re-
quired in committing a patient to the
state hospitals. Under the circumstances
the Solicitor suggested that nothing be
done with the bill until the man was reg
ularly committed as an INDECENT patient
from this county.
Mr.. Gilbert moved that the matter be
referred to the resident freebooter, and
that the bill be paid upon his recommen-
dation, when the county could be REIN
bursed from the township.
The report of the committee appointed
to visit the children taken from the coun-
ty almshouse and placed in homes and
other institutions by the State Board OF
| Children's Guardians, was presented in
connection with their bill for expenses.
The committee visited various cities and
towns where the children were located,
and made careful personal investigation
of the homes where the children are l1v-
ing, and also looked closely into their So
cial and physical surroundings. In each
instance they found the children were in
excellent hands, and all were contented
and enjoying good health with few ex-
ceptions, and these were physically and
mentally afflicted before their removal
from the county. The committee was ia
vorably impressed with the great interest
manifested by these foster parents in the
welfare of their unfortunate charges, and
had no hesitation in saying that the chill
dren have good homes, are kindly cared
for, and have every opportunity for at
tending schools, churches, etc. The re-
port showed that fourteen children are
being boarded and five had free homes.
The cost annually per child for board,
clothing, ETC., was $96.37. The commit
tee thought, however, that homes ought
to be provided within our own county for
these children, and that none of them
should be removed from the almshouse I'M
der seven years of age unless free homes
were provided for them.
The total amount of the bill rendered
by the State Board of Children's Guard
| ians, was 1912, "a. 1t was held up origin
ally, said Mr.. Ebert of the committee,
because it was thought the board should
| familiarize itself with the work being
done by the State Board. The law pro
viding for the work was badly framed
and should be changed. He was satlshed
that the work was a grand one in behalf
of the unfortunate children, and the man
ayers were entitled to great praise. 1t
was also his belief that provision should
| I. - a. fOr YD1onipm fbn chill
dren in homes in the county, which would
reduce the cost of their care one-half
Mr.. Jones referred to the Burlington
County Children's Home in connection
with the subject. Quite number OF the
children taken from the almshouse were
being boarded in charitable institutions
in different places. AS they could be
kept in the home at Mount Holly for $3.50
per week, it would seem the proper thing
to place them there. 1t would be cheaper
and better for the children.
A committee of five was appointed to
view bridge needing repairs on the old
York road near SCOTS school house.
A committee was appointed to inspect
and approve the specifications for road
from Columbus to Burlington.
Pal myra had $500 added to its bridge
account by request of Mr.. Horner, who
explained that it was necessary to put in
larger drain pipes since the stone road
was constructed.
The sum of $50 was appropriated to
paw for the services of the chairman and
secretaries of the Board of Assessors.
A petition was presented from Moores-
town Grange asking the board to regu-
late the speed of automobiles at eight
miles per hour, and requiring the operat-
ors of such vehicles to halt upon seeing a
horse becoming frightened. Solicitor
Chambers said he had looked the matter
up and did not think the board had any
| Jurisdiction in the matter, that it rested
with the governing bodies of townships
and cities.
| Mr.. Brown, of Delran, living in Bridge
| boro', had a grievance concerning the
Riverside stone road. where he owns a
lot, which, he claims, is greatly damaged
by water running on it from the road
owing to the grade. He wanted com
mittee appointed to view the premises and
ee if they could not remedy the trouble
by putting in Il trunk to carry Off the
water in another direction instead of
across his lot.
Mr.. Conover explained that Mr.. Brown
had interfered with the passage of the
water by practically damming up the end
of the bridge or culvert with number
of stakes. which he said was to prevent
his chickens from getting out of the lot
He refused to remove these stakes at the
request of the Freebooter, and the latter
presented the matter to the Solicitor Of
the board.
Mr.. Jones said he was called in to ex-
anime the trunk through which the water
was supposed to pass, and found that Mr.
Brown had driven stakes at the end which
prevented the water from passing
through. Brown refused to remove the
obstruction and attempted to prevent
them from being removed He was in
formed that he was obstructing public
J property and the stakes were taken out.