The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-29
The Grade Question.

Inc trade question.
The Township Committee held spt
cial session on Saturday evening to liste
to the arguments of residents of uppe
High street who are not satisfied with tn
grade that was established some time sine
for the relaying of sidewalks. The oh
jections came from Frederick H. Lee,
F. Fl. Shreve and ex-Judge Wills.
The two former own the strip of Liant
between Broad and Ridgway streets. The,
claim that If they conform to the grad
as it now stands. their payements will b.
cut down to such an extent as to require
them to build additional walls and step
around their properties, and possibly de
stroy some of the shade trees In front.
Judge Wills objections were mainly
owing to the fact that he would have tC
cut his shade trees down, and that the
damage that would result could not be re-
compensed by all the new sidewalks thai
might be laid.
A map was presented whereby 1t was
shown that compromise might be effect
ed. The proposition was that the grade
In front of the Lee and Shreve properties
should have starting point in the centre
of the square and decline each way to-
wards Ridgway and Broad streets. Judge
Wills wanted the same condition to exist
In front of his property. If the commit
tee would allow him to cut down the
grade to less degree than what the or
dinance provides for and then make de-
cline in the sidewalk on each side, 1t
would save his trees and do no injustice
to any one.
Eckard P. Budd called attention to the
fact that he had obeyed the ordinance as
soon as it was adopted, and he could not
see any reason why others should not do
the same thing, but he was willing to
agree to any arrangement that would
abolish the gravel sidewalk that was next
to his property and give decent footpath
to those who had the right to use the side
walks. If the arrangement proposed by
Judge Wills was adopted, it would leave
Mr.. Budd few inches below grade, and
the water that would be shed from the
adjoining properties would run down on
him. but he was perfectly willing to sub
NIT to this If the gravel sidewalk were
abolished.
John r. Howell said he had been wait
ing for year to lay his sidewalk, but as
others had expressed determination to
ignore the grade ordinance, he thought he
would wait until something definite was
settled upon.
A suggestion was then made that the
owners who desired modification of the
ordinance should tear their sidewalks up
at once and show just where they thought
the new walks should go. The owners
expressed their willingness to this sugges
ton, and said they would get to work at
once, and asked that some member of the
committee be designated to oversee the
work with power to approve the new
grade.
This was objected to by Messrs Nip
pins. Atkins, Dill and Elbertson, who
thought the entire committee should have
supervision, SO a suggestion was adopted
that the present sidewalks be torn up, the
grade fixed according to the ideas of the
owners, and If it conformed to the idea of
the committee the sidewalks be author
lied to be laid.
This brought up another question
whether this action could be taken with
out repeating the ordinance now in effect
and passing another, but Chairman Dill put
a quietus on that by saying he would never
vote to repeal the present ordinance, and
as 1t takes the entire vote of the commit
tee on such measure, that practically
settles that part of it,
Another interesting point may be
brought up and that is by what authority
the Township Committee may modify an
ordinance and plan In favor of one person
while 1t makes another conform to it
strictly. 1t is not likely that this query
will be seriously considered now, but if
there are other property owners In the
township who have not yet laid sidewalks
under the ordinances now in effect, will
they be allowed to change as suits their
or will they have to come
right down to the text of the paper2