The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-03-25
Tro11ev Francbisa c~or+ed


The board of freeholders met in special
session on Wednesday to consider the ques-
ton of granting franchise to the Burling-
ton County Trolley Company to lay its
tracks on the public road between Mason
vile and Mount Holly. The meeting was
public, giving any one who wished to be
heard chance to speak for or against the
proposition.
Messrs. Lambert, Smith and Sooy were
absent William Bartlett, who has been
appointed member from Lumberton. re-
presented that township.
The necessary presentation of papers
took place and the ordinance which had
been prepared by the committee appointed
at the last meeting was read. 1t provides
that the gauge shall be five feet. From
Masonville to West Washington street,
Mount Holly, the trolley is to occupy the
north side of the stone road. In Mount
Holly it is to take the middle of the road
the trolley company paving each side of
| the rails to an extent to make the road %
| feet wide. The drawbridge at Haipesport
is to be rebuilt at the expense of the
company, the roadway to be widened four
feet, with footway four feet wide at the
| side. The expense of maintaining the
bridge is to be divided between the trolley
company and the county Where the
track is laid ON the side of the road Tee
rails are to be used, with standard girders
or fiat rails, in the centre of the road.
Where the trolley occupies the centre of
the road, the space between the track and
foot each side is to be paved with vitri-
| fed bricks.
The ordinance having been read discus
sion was in order and Mr.. Jennings start
ed the ball rolling by asking what part
Of he oil r.f lar dc ~
represented by the signatures of petition
| ers.
This was question nobody seemed to
be prepared to answer but Mr. Jennings
was informed the law in this respect had
been complied with. 1t does not provide
for mention of the value of property, but
compels the signatures of the owners of
certain proportion of lineal feet frontage
This had more than been secured. Mr..
Jennings still insisted that value Of land
should be considered
| Mr.. Brock thought the trolley should
take the middle of the road all along the
route, but he was told those who had
signed had requested that the side of the
road be used
| Mr.. Ebert thought the county had been
amply protected in the ordinance, with
the possible exception that no provision
had been made for compensation for the
surrender of the right of way.
Mr.. Jennings could not see were the
county would be benefited by this move
The course being pursued is the same as
that of the other trolley company, which
gained valuable franchise and never paid
cent of the expense as it agreed to-
There is now 81, 900 due from that com
pany. He opposed the giving away of
franchises for the benefit of the few and
the dis idvantage of many
Mr.. Ebert did not think the point
raised applied to this case If there
is money due from the other deal the
county officials are at fault.
Director Darnell called attention to the
fact that when the other franchise was
granted certain agreements were offered
by the trolley company, but the board
thought they were not as favorable to the
county as they should be and rejected
them. Nothing else was offered and the
freeholders went ahead and did work for
which the county paid. The matter is
being considered now, but the trolley
company refuses to pay for anything not
contained in its original offer
Mr.. Birkhead thought the county
would get the advantage of many i'm
provements that would follow the build
ing of the trolley. He could not see,
however, what the condition of affairs in
connection with former road had to do
with this question.
Mr.. Evan was afraid the bridge at
Hainesport would not be wide enough
1t would be difficult for load of hay and
a car to pass on the bridge.
Referring to the matter of expense, ex-
Senator Parry said there would not be any
doubt about the county getting all that
would be coming to it. 1t was not the in
tention to make the county go to any ex-
lpense.
The question of going in the middle of
the road was again brought up Robert
T. Evans, one of the residents along the
line, said the only trouble with the entire
arrangement is that it does not go far
enough to the side now
The discussion having about reached an
end, it was decided to take up the ordin-
ances and consider them by sections
There were few changes made. A clause
was inserted requiring the trolley people
to file bond in the sum of so, 900 for the
faithful performance of the work
Mr.. Ebert wanted provision that the
sum of 800 per year be paid for the use
of the stone road in Mount Holly, and Mr..
EVAN asked an amendment that a car
should not enter the Hainesport bridge
while it was occupied by load of hay or
straw. Both of the suggestions were re-
jected by the board.
Mr.. Ebert also thought the county
should receive royalty of $40 per car per
: year, with a guarantee that a certain num-
Der shall run each day He had heard a
great deal about companies being started
for speculative purpose, and there is no
guarantee that this is not some such
scheme 1t may be in the interest of the
steam railroad or possibly it is to be sold
to that corporation.
Joshua E. Borton, counsel for the
trolley people, said the road is bona fide
affair and is to be built as soon as the nee.
essary franchises have been secured. II
will not pay for long time and while the
trolley people want to do everything that
is fair they do not wish to be hampered
and saddled with heavy obligations that
will retard the proposed improvement.
A clause was inserted requiring the run
ming of one car per hour each day from
A. NJ until P. NJ.
The ordinance having been considered
by sections was then adopted as whole
Mr.. Ebert said that while he did not
wish to interfere with public improve
ments, he still opposed the passage of the
8 ordinance. He felt the county should
| have royalty or some other remuneration
ana consequently ne would De cOmpelleC
to vote against the ordinance.
] The roll was called on the question o.
l adoption and resulted as follows:
Ayes Mathis. Birkhead, Jones, Nor
: cross, Mattson, French. Charles E. Wood
ward, Benjamin Lippincott Bowman s
Lippincott Bartlett, Taylor, George A
: Woodward, Durand, Horner, Hancock
Arthur Haines, Burwood NJ Haines,-1'
Nays-Buzby, Conover, Garwood, Jen
nings, Elbert. Albertson, EVAN
e Absent-D urell, Sooy, Smith, Lambert
4 Brock
. An attempt was made to transact som
other business but Mr. Ebert objected oil
: the ground that this meeting was called
for specific purpose and nothing els
$ could be considered He was told tina
the recent storms had weakened som
: bridges to an extent that it was feare
they would require attention before tn
d next meeting of the board, and the busi
d ness desired to be presented now was tn
appointment of committees to look afte
> this matter Mr.. Ebert still stuck to hi
parliamentary order, however, and th
!, board adjourned.