Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1906-03-01
A BIG MEETING
AT NEWPORT.

There was big attendance at the
meeting in Newport Saturday after
noon to consider the project of making
oood road to old Fortescue-that de-
,iohtfuI summer resort of this county,
which only lacks good road of access
IN make it an ideal and comparatively
inexpensive watering place.
For a hundred years that place has
baen noted as resort for fishing,
bathing and famous fish and oyster
dinner.
A good many gentlemen from this
city-property owners and cottagers
during the summer at Fortescue-wenJ
down on a special trolley car, these
included, among others, Fl. Fl. Han
kins, Timothy Campbell, Isaac M.
smalley. Harry Bamford. former City
Councilmen Chas. d. Moore and Elmer
Bacon, f. B. Williams, Mr.. Haines OF
Hurff & Haines, Azariah Moore, John
RF. Meyers, l. 7. Nichols, Harvey P.
Ravens, A. II. Lupton and Editor 8.
P, Foster. of the Elmer Times.
The meeting was held in the large
town hall, and the spacious building
was packed to the very doors with the
residents and taxpayers of Newport
and vicinity.
Il Former Oyster Commissioner Ed
ward M. Riley called the meeting to
order and stated the purpose for which
4 it had been called, as he understood
it.
Il Samuel P Foster was elected chair.
man and Isaac T. Nichols was made
secretary.
Chairman Foster said that the needs
I of a good road to Fortescue were ap.
parent; he thought the taxable value
\ of Fortescue property would be in
creased by good road to the resort,
! and the township would be the gamer
in. that respect. He thought State
road would be the thing to get if it
were feasible. There was no doubt
on any hand that a good road was
needed but how to get it was the
matter now to be considered.
A State road had been proposed at a
meeting held some three years ago, and
\ this seemed to be the desire of the
Apeople. He asked Mr.. Hankins to open
\ the discussion of the subject. Mr..
Hankins had gathered the list of the
} property holders at Fortescue and pro-
i cured from the township tax collector
5the amount of the taxable property
8and the amount of taxes collected dur
8ing 1904 and 1905.
The taxable property at Fortescue in
4 1904 was $S625; tax collected $lS1. 90
In 1905 the taxable property had in
<creased to $l4, 900. and taxes paid 1881,
an increase of 80 per cent.
4 Fortescue in the summer time was
8already good market for the products
&of the farms Of Downe township, even
with such road as they had, which
n was often under tide water for 1s
8inches to two feet deep.
n Mr.. Hankins was not in favor Of a
Hetate road, as he was sure a good
#road could be constructed to the island
1or $1,000, and the money for this could
#oe borrowed for AZ per cent. His OBJ
#Jections to State road were that the
zterms upon which 1t could be con.
8structed, If it could be at all, were
&'oo exaoting and expensive-far more
#so than were actually necessary in this
Scase. lie believed by the raising OF
HsSooO satisfactory and reliable road
&could be built, and, from the increased
taxable property of Fortesue, a sink
I'ng fund of 5000 per year could be
provided.
A. ii. Lupton being called on fol
MS opinion said that he had examined
'he ground of the island and he found
'nat there was good hard bottom the
entire two miles. and he thought a
sooo road could be constructed for
$4,000.
Ho' M. Riley was for State road.
sven though it cost $40. 600. At tina,
sum 1t would cost the township only
Saooo' which would be cheaper than
ss0oo TO the township and they would
'nen nave a road for all time.
Luther Bateman, a township COM
wanted to hear from the
poople generally-the taxpayers-be.
.ote expressing any opinion, pro OF
son' because the people would be re.
au''eu TO vote on the expenditure in
5any event.