Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-09-13
THE Requirement 4
OF BROAD STREET.

>Ul UnUtlU Will LIZ
During the past week owners Of real
estate abutting on Broad street have re-
ceived notice from the City Clerk of which
the following is a copy:
At a session of Council held September
A, 1906, an ordinance was introduced pro-
4id;ng for the permanent Improvements of
Broad street, from the North line of Red
Bank Avenue to Salem Avenue, in the City
of Woodbury., Nd, with Warren's .Bithu-
lithic Pavement.
Said ordinance will be taken up for con-
sideration on second reading at the next
session Of Council to be held September
18th instant, at which time you are earn
estly requested to be present and express
your opinion for or against the passage OF
said ordinance.
You are also notified that portion OF the
cost Of said improvement will be assessed
by commissioners, against the real property
along said street, in accordance with the
benefits conferred.
JOHN E. ESTELL,
City Clerk.
Woodbury., N. J.,ssept. Z, 1906.
This notice is sent by order of City Coun-
Gil, pursuant to law requiring that pro-
perty owners must receive ample notice OF
such improvement before final action is
taken by the governing body.
Ii two ordinances now before Council are
enacted then Council will likely proceed to
enter into contracts to re-pave Broad street
from Red Bank avenue to Salem avenue, at
cost of something like $4,000.
The history Of Broad street is familiar
to most of the abutting property owners
About fifteen years ago it was the property
Of the Woodbury. and Gloucester turnpike
company and was abandoned by that cor
poration about the time the new bridge
spanning the creek was built. The city
viewed with serious concern the abon-
donment of this street by the turnpike COM
pany because taxpayers felt themselves
hardly able to bear the expense OF keeping
it in repair, because it was then the natural
avenue to Philadelphia for all the country
south, This-was before the day Of stone
roads, and the Crown point aud Deptford
road were in poor condition, and all travel
gravitated to this turbpike.
AS result the road was much travelled,
and the greater portion Of the year was in
terrible condition, at times almost impas
sable.
The advent Of the trolley was a relief,
and in 1898 and 1893 the road was improv-
ed under the State Aid law, and a stont
Macadam road took the place of mud. This
Improvement was consummated at cost oi
$6s6 to abutting property owners and about
$4,000 to the county and state. (These fig.
ures are not accurate to the dollar, but the
entire cost was less than $1,000.
Since the aboYe notices were sent the
DEMOCRAT has endeaYored to obtain the
sentiment of the people regarding this new
expenditure to improve this street. All ad
| NIT that 1T needs repairing in spots, but
that it is gone to the extent that it is past
repair is denied. TIE fact is cited that the
Mantua stone road and she Gloucester stone
road were both constructed previous to The
Woodbury. section, yet there is no talk o.
abandoning them and expending four ol
Eve times their cost in replacement. The
Gloucester and Woodbury. turnpike is one o.
the best stone roads in the State-hard an6
smooth as a floor and we understand this
condition is due to the excellent judgement
Of DIR. H. Fl. Clark, chairman Of the street
committee Of Council, who has charge o.
it and in which he is a large stakeholder.
We suggest to Council that DR.. CLARK car
advise how TO put Broad street in as gooG
condition as when it was first completed and
at only traction of the first cost Of con.
struction, and such street will meet all th.
needs Of our city for another period Of
years.
It is true that Governor Stokes Commits
sioners of Appeal have advanced Woodbury.
values nearly one million Of dollars in ths
past month. bus Council should not be Sc
soon H1oyed to unusual expenditures on tina
account We hope time will vindicate thei
judgements and that our city is now really
in the three million dollar class, but ever
if she is, we yet doubt her ability to afforC
the abandonment Of SO good road as Broad
street now is, and indulge in the luxury .
a $50, GOO thorofare.
MantIa Dem0ePajS
The Mantua township Democrats nomin