Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1907-06-05
Editorial Comment from the
Elmer Times
MAKING GROUND

ChucT Tic ueduluS, Du1luiuS
Town Site by Suction Dredge,n the
Scientific American last week published
an illustrated article treating of the
filling in at Galveston, Texas, and Cape
May, n. J. One of the dredges used
at Cape May is said to be the largest in
the world, employs crew of fifty men
in eight hour Shifts has 1900 horse
power engine and will remove 10000
cubic yards of material in a day.
The work at Cape May is on the big
gest scale ever attempted in this coun-
try, contemplating the removal of 30,-
000, ,0G0 cubic yards of material in all.
About 500 acres of marsh is being re-
moved to depth of nearly forty feet,
forming an inland harbor, and 5000
acres of marsh is being raised to fifteen
feet above its ordinary level.
The work at Galveston contemplates
the dredging of 11,0OO,OOO cubic yards
of material, less than half of the Cape
May project. The filled in. land at Cape
May will accommodate 1900 dwellings
says the article.
AN EXPERIMENT
The big electric engine which the
West Jersey & Seashore railroad conn.,
pany has been testing on the track be-
tween Clayton and Newfield, may be-
a success in itself, but the question
arises as to whether the present road
bed is safe for such heavy engine run
ming at high rate of speed.
The numerous railroad accidents over
the country which are causing such an
appalling sacrifice of life are many of
them due to defective rails and road
bed. The weight of engines and size
of cars have been gradually increased
during the past ten or twenty years
until 200 ton locomotives are no longer
a novelty. Road beds, ties and rails
have not been increased In efficiency
to meet this condition, and the increas-
ing strain caused by the increased speed
at which modern trains are run, makes
the danger all the greater.
To insure safe road beds under the
present rolling stock, an expert thinks
the rails should be seven inches high,
with six inch base, weight l 115 pounds
per yard and be bolted instead of spik-
ed to the ties.
Just as the government has required
the railroad to change their coupling
arrangement to prevent injury to work.
men, it may be compelled to intervene
to compel the roads to strengthen the,
rails and road bed. If such a step.
should be taken it would require the
expenditure of millions of dollars ON
the part of the roads.
INVESTIGATIONS At TRENTON
The political pot is boiling at the New
Jersey State capital where investiga-
tors claim heads of departments draw
big salaries from State funds, but give
little personal time or attention to their
jobs, leaving the work to subordinates.
1t was ever thus. In almost every
State where one political party re-
mains in power for number of years
successfully, political lights with big
salaries fatten their purses at State ex-
pense. Democrats and Republicans
are equally guilty whenever they get
the chance.
An independent reform wave such
as sweeps over various States periodi-
cally, seems to be the only corrective
measure thus far discovered. The work
of reformers is a thankless one, but if
they did not get busy now and then,
public affairs would go deeper and
deeper in the mire.
AS a rule, heads of State departments
do not give up their private busines to
accept State positions. Ii they were
compelled to do that, seekers for office
would be less numerous.
1t has been evident for two years
that New Jersey Republicans are walk
ing on thin ice and that they need to-
tread carefully to retain the power they
won after many hard fought battle.
The spirit of inquiry into public affairs
is being stirred up all over the country
and New Jersey cannot escape being
looked into.
-'s~S~ss----