The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-13
STATE QUARRY
TRUST NOT
SHOWN
Explanations Offered As to
Higher Cost of New
Jersey Stone Roads.
[speclal to the Evening start

TRENTON, Nov. 13,-The committee
recently appointed by Governor Stokes
in accordance with q joint resolution
passed by the last Legislature to In
vestigate into the matter of the in
creased cost of stone roads, met in the
office of State Road Commissioner e
c. Hutchinson today. The action was
taken because of a popular idea that
the quarry owners throughout the
State had entered into a combination
to raise the price of stone used for
road building.
From the testimony given before
the committee today nothing developed
that would indicate hat the quarry
owners had entered INTO any arrange
ment to raise prices. The testimony
given shows that the increased cost
was largely due to the fact that in re-
cent years the contractors have been
compelled to live up to their contracts
more closely than in former years.
Other causes for the increased cost is
a slight advance in price Of stone, the
cutting down of grades increased rail-
road freight rates, and that better ma
terial are being used in road building,
Charles r. LaLcomp, a contractor, OF
Lakewood, said he had not received
any contracts in which the cost had
been increased to any great extent. He
thought, however, that the increased
cost of stone was about 10 per cent.
He also said hat he had been COM
PEELED to pay demurrage charges to the
railroads, which had averaged between
$3.50 and $500 for each mile of road. He
also complained of the delays and ex-
pense added to the cost of road build
ing because of the i~rregularity of the
railroads in making quick and regular
deliveries of the ears containing the
stone. He also experienced considera-
bic trouble in hiring men.
Some years ago." said Mr.. Lacomp,
81 could get men for $1.25 per day. I
am now compelled to pay from $1.75 to
81, and do not get as good workmen."
Milton j. Black, Of Rocky Hill, was
asked how much he paid for stone.
He answered by saying that he pur-
chased his stone in accordance with an
agreement he had with Robert A.
Montgomery, of Lambertyille, who
owned a quarry at that place, and
did not care to make public the agree
ment.
AL lnlS point MT. mlSi-
rupted and said he had no objection
TO uMr. Black stating the price. Mr.
Black then testified that his price was
eighty cents per ton for all sizes. He
thought hat from several causes road
building had increased over II per cent.
during the past eleven years.
John S. Dlckerson, Of R~ocKaway, testi-
fled he had paid as high as sl9O per ton
+. o. b. He was of the opinion that the
scheme Of compelling contractors TO sub
nit bids In lump sums worked hardships
and compelled them to submit higher BIDS.
He thought the contracts should be given
out for figures upon dirt and rock excava-
tons. He thought this would In some
cases decrease the cost. Contractors are
bound to figure high on cxcavnting, for
fear of striking long stretches OF rock, he
said.
1t was the general opinion If the quarry
men that the increased cost of labor and
transportation were the main cause
which brought abou the increased cost of
road building.