The Penn's Grove record., 1906-01-19
BOARD OF FREEHoLDERs.
Vote for a New Bridge At Pedricktowr
and a County Asylum.

rector Ayars to the committees bielf pre-
decessors were on.
Freebooter Usinger and Engineer VIM
nj. Carter, of Gloucester county, were
present to submit plans for a new iron
bridge across Oidmans Greek at Pedrlck-
town. to replace the old wooden bridge
that recently collapsed.
The old bridge consisted OF a pile tres
tie approach on the Salem county shore,
and an unequal armed draw bridge, the
draw revolving on an abutment OH the
Gloucester county shore. There was one
draw span opening up thirty feet. 1t is
proposed to replace the old bridge with a
new draw bridge of equal arms that the
draw may balance and revolve the full
circle, set upon an abutment on the Glou-
cester county shore with an approach
span OF sixty-two feet on the Pedrlck-
town side, the opening between the APP
proach span and the draw abutment to
be thirty-five feet in the clear.
1t was decided to build a new bridge
according to the plans after the approval
of the War Department had been pro-
cured. The committee on the construc-
ton of the new bridge was authorized to
! have the creek cleared of the old bridge
and piling to get ready for the new bridge.
The matter of the erection of a county
Insane Asylum, which was laid over at
last meeting, was brought up.
Mr.. Westcott said he he'd talked with
some of the taxpayers of the East Ward,
Salem, some of whom opposed the pro-
ject, on the ground that if all the coun-
ties should build county asylums it would
weaken the State institutions, and there
would be danger of the State eventually
withdrawing its support in whole or i'll
part. Others did not approve OF the pro-
posed location on the county farm, but
thought it ought to be located near
Woodstown or Salem, where the institu-
tlon could have the benefit of electric
lights and gas and water.
Mr.. Freas said he was in favor OF build
ing a county insane asylum, and he did
not think that the danger of the State
Withdrawing its support is very immin-
ent. vi course if all the counties should
have their own asylums it might affect
somewhat the State institutions, but the
State, said Mr.. Freas, could certainly
maintain the insane at a cheaper rate by
the county system than as at present,
and as every county is represented i'll the
Legislature, there need be no great ap-
~prehension on that line. AS to the loca-
ton, Mr.. Freas said, he thought the
county farm is the proper place for the
institution, and he had understood that
Woodstown would be glad to furnish
electric lights, and the institution ought
to have its own Waterworks.
Mr.. Borton said he consulted DR.. L.
A. d. Allen, of WoodstowIf, who is one
of the visitors to the State Asylum, and
that he had talked with DIR. Ward, the
Superintendent of the State ASYLUM, II
he thought the county had better 60 slow
in the project. He thought it would be
impossible for a county asylum to give as
good accommodations as is furnished by
the State.
Mr.. Freas said he could not see why
Salem county could not do as well as At
lantic county is doing, and from a per-
sonal inspection, he thought the Atlantic
and Cumberland county asylums super
Tor to the State Asylum in every respect.
tie also said that State Commissioner
Wight had strongly recommended the
county asylum, and he could we'll see
why DR.. Ward would oppose such a pro-
ject.
The committee previously appointed
was instructed to present a general plan
for a county insane asylum at a subse-
quent meeting for the consideration of
the Board.
James Sweeten, Treasurer of the Aims
house, asked for $4,000, which was grant
ed.
Mr.. Brant, representing the Bell Tele-
phone Company, asked for permission to
erect poles along the Lower PENIS Neck
State road to Pennsville and Fort Mott,
and he was requested to present an or
dinance covering what they wanted at
the next meeting, and it would be con-
sidered.
County Road Commissioner Dunn in
formed the Board that a railing or fence
was needed at the approach of the rail-
road bridge in North Woodstown, but
there was some doubt as to who should
provide it, the county, or the borough of
Woodstown, or the railroad company.
Solicitor Summerill claimed that as the
bridge belonged to the railroad company,
they should provide the fence, and the
county road commissioner was instructed
to have it erected and send bill to rail-
road company.
Sheriff Allen was before the Board
relative to some needed Improvements in
the Jail for better security of the prison.
ers, and to stop a method now in vogue
of using the hot air fues as speaking
tubes. The matter was referred to the
Public Building Committee, with power
to act.
Mr.. Freas called attention to the heavy
bill this month for committing tramps,
amounting to $88 and over, and $1O5.67
for feeding the Migrants, and thought
something should be done to stop this
unnecessary drain on the taxpayers. A
committee of three was named to confer
with the City Council of Salem and see if
something could not be done to abate the
nuisance. The committee is Freas, Fox,
Griscom, Westcott and Smick.
Collector Butcher asked that the town.
ships of P~ilesgrove, the Borough of Woods
town and Upper Pittsgrove be compelled
to tur.. over the taxes due the county for
school purposes. He said that these
three townships deposit their money in
the Woodstown Bank and the officials of
that institution retard and influence the
local collectors to withhold the payment
as long as possible and the result is that
the county has to forward the money to
the state out of the county's money.
The Bank is the cause of the withhold
ing of about $25, 900 from the county and
while it could be borne with one or two
times it became a nuisance when it was a
regular occurrence. One of the officers
of that Bank had prevented the county
from receiving a premium on it's bond
issue by advising purchasers that the is.
sue was illegal and had apparently done
all in his power to annoy the county and
county collector.
The Board authorized the collector to
request the township collectors to i'm
mediately forward all tax money due or
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H. HI. SMITHS RESTAURANT.
Fish. oysters and CLAIMS Orders de.