Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-05-21
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Cooper and North Broad Street Paving Or
dinance Passed. Hal's Pond to
be Filled Up.

SeSESA e~AN Ss@sr
be Filled Up.
Our City Fathers met in Council Cham
Der last Tuesday evening, in regular ses-
sion, President Reading and all the mem
beers being present. After the minutes Of
the last meeting had been read and APP
proved, President Reading asked the Clerk
to read the section of the School Law pro-
viding for the levying Of school taxes,
which requires that the Board Of School
Estimate must meet between May 18th and
June LIST, and make up their estimate. This
Board had met previous to May 10Th, hence
their act was not strictly in accordance
with law, and he suggested that the ordin-
ance providing for the assessment of the
school tax, be not acted on at this time
Mr.. Chenoweth embodied this idea into a
motion, and it was adopted.
The ordinance providing for the paving
of Cooper street, from the East line of
Broad street, to Baird avenue, with vitri-
fed brick or Belgium block, laid on con-
crete foundation, was taken up.
Mr.. Munyan moved to amend "to pave
between present curb lines, "instead as NOV
laid OUT Mr. Batten opposed the motion,
saying, that all roadways permanently
improved, should not be narrowed, but
given as much width as possible.
Mr. Burkett said the opinion of abutting
property owners had been requested, and
he would like to know what they thought
about it before he cast his vote on the
amendment We publish the letters in
full, as follows:
COL. G. G. GREENS OPINION.
To the President and Members Of Council:
Gentlemen:-Replying to your favor of
the 9Th inst, through the City Clerk,
would say, that have gone carefully over
the subject of streets in East Woodbury.,
and have consulted with number Of inter
ested citizens, and haye concluded that as
the streets in that section are in terrible
condition, especially Hunter, Evergreen
and Cooper, it would be to the best inter
ests of the city to have these streets put in
shape at once, as the extensive building
now going on and the excellent prospects
just at this time of considerable more ex-
pcnsive buildings going up provided streets
are put in shape) assuring very large in
crease in assessable property to the city,
would warrant the investment Of at least
SOS, 900 on the above streets. The increased
valuation in taxes, will pay 10 per cent.
of the investment, and would eventually
bring profit to the present tax payers.
| would suggest that Cooper street be
paved with vitrified brick, laid in concrete
six inches thick, over the present width of
the street as far as the proposed Bayard
avenue, and the paving between tracks be
relaid with genuine Belgian blocks or bricks
or some material by the Trolley Company,
that is practical for decent and smooth
driving, which now is almost impossible.
The delay in widening Cooper street since
request was presented to Council, has per-
mitted the fine, handsome maple and beau
tiful elm shade trees to grow beyond easy
process of moving them without large
expense, and to destroy these shade trees,
would, we all think, destroy the beauty
and comfort Of East Cooper street. Our
city already shows the disgraceful appear
ance and loss of comfort it once had in
shade trees. Gloucester City is far out
ranking us in identifying their city in COM
parison of fifteen years ago with ours.
l believe however, in any part of our
city, handsome, expensive and creditable
Improvements are made to the great adj
vantage OF revenue to our city, the city
should take advantage, on busidess princi-
PIES and give aid and assistance, which
strangers appreciate, and wealth and enter
prise may be attracted to locate in our city,
Just what Woodbury. needs at this time
during great outside prosperity everywhere
else.
Hunter street by all means needs to be
improved and made passable. The bridge
should be widened to the full width of the
street and sidewalks built up at least six to
eight feet higher and filled in, which filling
could be done by the city and private citi-
zens with surplus dirt from time to time,
and then topped with cinders or gravel, at
very little cost. This would give travel
one good and safe street over the bridge to
that part Of the city and cause it to be built
up rapidly to the benefit of all kinds of
business in our city Then the water
courses or CUTTERS could be arranged so as
not to carry tons Of sand into Hester's Run
and block that stream so as to food the
centre of our city with muddy water and
filth, causing reed, splatterhock and wild
growth to assist in malarial hot-bed for
termination Of diseases.
1t is useless to wait for any one man or
set of men to remedy this great and danger
GUS evil, while the city keeps up the cause.
IuuOCI opictb, de d very 1ltel6 COSo, say
So, 600, could be made one of the most
valuable streets, in our city, on account of
its safety in passing over railroad tracks.
Evergreen Avenue pays large taxes and
should also be made passable from German
to Hunter street, at least, if not to Glass
boro telford road, it is also is grand and
safe outlet for all persons going from or
coming to Woodbury. from Wenonah and
that section, avoiding all the numerous
railroad tracks in the Southern part of the
city as they run parallel with the main
road and decidedly dangerous. But Ever
green Avenue should be made passable at
least, as no street outside of Broad street is
more needed.
A $25, 600 bond issued, think ample to
do all the work, and the improvements
alone will pay the interest and fund the debt
without increasing taxes one penny.
Yours hastily,
G. g. GREEN