The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-04-03
FREEHOLDERS'
MEETING
The Matter Of Trolley Priv
leges Not Yet Settled
by the Board.
NO FORMAL APPLICATION YET

The public meeting held by the
board Of freeholders on the applica-
tion Of the Morris County Traction
Co, for rights over the county roads
in Rockaway and Roxbury townships
was held III the board room on Mon
day. After the clerk had read the
petition, remarks were called for
John Sickle, OF Rockaway, ad-
dressed the board, stating that the
ordinance called for the placing Of the
tracks on the easterly side Of the road
from the Hanover township line,
through Rockaway township to the
bridge He did not fa fave yer the the trolley tEelleyy
in the road anyway, but supposed it a
foregone conclusion in the district
named. He contended that it should
be in the center Of the road if in the
road at all, thus allowing its advan-
tages or disadvantages to work on all
alike. Grading and drainage of road
is difficult with the tracks on one side,
beside the injustice to the man own
ing on the side where it runs, for he
cannot have hitching post or a horse
drive up on his side. Safety requires
it in the middle. He pictured the
condition with a trolley car, two rigs
with horses, or a passing automobile,
when he said with the tracks on one
side collision is inevitable.
The county should be recompensed
by the company for the use Of the
road. 1t is an injustice after the
county has graded the road and ma
cadamized the road for public use to
give it over for railroad right Of way
without any payment The people
must pay the debt. II citizen wants
to ride he must pay the company
which is in business for its own
benefit and no feeling for the public.
AS far as he could learn he said nobody
is dying for the trolley.
John w. Fancner, of Succasunna
followed. He said he favored the COM
ing Of the trolley through the village,
but was opposed to putting the tracks
on the side Of the road. The town
committee had left the location to be
fixed by resolution. but he hoped the
freeholders would order it laid in the
middle of the road,
Counsel Cutler Of the company was
expected to speak, but left the room
and after waiting for some time for
him the board took up the report Of
the road committee on repair Of stone
roads.
The report recited the visits Of the
committee to Essex, Union and Pas
sale counties. In Essex, stone is fur
nished delivered in heaps on the road,
the rest of the work being done by the
day. There are 139 miles, costing $780,
900 for repairs per year. In Union,
the work is all done by contract.
There, there are forty-five miles re-
paired at an annual cost of $4,000.
In Passaic. the work is also done by
contract per cubic yard, counting four
inches deep. Here 1876 miles cost S43,-
600 for repairs annually.
The committee recommended that
early in the year the bridge commit
tees of the several districts report to
the road committee and supervisor
what They think is necessary in their
districts. The road committee viii
have specifications prepared and Sc
cure bids for the work in lump sum by
the square yard, and by the linear
foot for gutter work. The material
to be any good, hard durable stone
and the work to be not all let to one
contractor, but so divided as to insure
early completion of the work.