Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-02-23
VIEWERS HEARING
IS POSTPONED

6teEday was tue uhlt AbJ IOI tHe
hearing in connection with the view
on the old river road, which was held
Oh the 10th inst. The hearing, how
ever. was not held. although there
was good turn out of interested par
ties and the matter informally was
once more fully discussed in all its
bearings. Matthew Sheep, of Derry
township and James Ellis, OF Anthony
township, viewers, put in appearance
at the appointed time in the forenoon.
D. f. Gouger, of Limestone town
shipg failed to arrive and the hearing
was postponed until / 30 O'Clock in
the afternoon hoping that by that
time Mr.. Gouger would be heard from.
When the viewers reconvened MI.
Gouger was still absent. 1t was learn
ed, however, that he was indisposed
and confined to his home. Under the
circumstances, the hearing was ad
iourne until next Friday at 10 a. M.
The old river road, which has been
closed to travel for some two or three
years has been the source Of constant
contention between the Supervisors of
Mahoning township, who hold that the
road is unnecessary and too burden
some to keep open. and several owners
of property abutting on the thorough
fare and others who find it conven.
lent to use the road, all of whom hold
that the old highway is Indispensable
aud who resist at every point measures
adopted to vacate it. Twice already
have the Supervisors been indicted
charged with neglect of duty in not
opening up the road.
Present at the hearing yesterday in
addition to Messrs. Sheep and Ellis,
viewers. we're Edward L. White and
James Heckendorn, Supervisors of
Mahoning township, along with their
attorneys, James Scarlet. Esq, and
Hon. r. S. zimmerman. W. A. Shep-
person and Robert Morris, who own
land abutting on the old road, were
also present along with others who
consider the road necessity. Hon
II. NJ. Hinckley and Edward S. Gear
hart represent the citizens who op.
pose vacation.
The river road was laid out in 1882
About one-third of its length. down
to the creeks mouth is at present
within the Borough limits. Between
the creeks mouth and Lovers Lear,
about two-thirds of its length, the in
roads of the river long ago obliterated
the last trace of the original road and
before it was vacated the only way
that vehicles could get through at
certain points was by driving upon
private property.
The heavy flood of the spring of
1903. cut up the old road along its
entire length so tadly as TO make it
practically impossible and 1t was clos
ed by the Supervisors. To repair it,
liltN llEli, NOuih ItICooilaNC az ONNAhy
which was altogether unjustified IN
view of the fact that Northumberland
street opened into a parallel road.
Viewers were appointed, but an appeal
was taken to their report, which tav
ored vacation, and thus the matter
has been in court ever since. Mean-
While the bridge at the creeks mouth,
which could not be replaced for less
than several thousand dollars, has been
carried off, and this is urged as an ad-
ditional reason why the road should
be vacated.
Vacation is being opposed on the
ground that the owners OF the land
below the creeks mouth would be de-
prived of an outlet; also that to close
the river road would be in effect to
vacate one of the streets Of the BOr-
ough. which is held as a monstrous
proposition that could not for a NOM
ent be countenanced.
The Supervisors deny that they de-
sire to deprive any property of outlet.
They seek to yacate only the superior
right of the State, in which event the
ground where the road still exists will
| revert to the owners of the land abut.
ting to be used as a private road OF
for any other purpose that the owners
may see proper to apply it to.
Just what the report of the viewers
may be will no doubt depend in
great measure upon the result of the
bauripU uayt Friday