The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-06-11
The Iohstown Turnpike.

court house, on Friday George M. Hill
man represented the petitioners an
Franklin B. Lewis appeared for the turn
pike people.
Mr.. Hillman opened the case by Stain
that the road was built in 1858. 1t is a
old road and is worn out. The charte
and the law under which it was granite
provide that the road for width of l
feet must be bedded so as to make it pas
sable the entire year and bridges must b
kept in safe and passable shape. MI
Hillman said he would produce evidenc
to show that these provisions had not bee
regarded and that the claims of the ap
pellants were just.
Mr.. Lewis objected to testimony beinj
taken. He held that the law was yer
plain on the subject and that the com
missioLers could not hear evidence. Tha
was presented to the court when the pc
tition was offered and on the testimpn,
then given the commissioners were. ap
pointed. The law says that after the APP
pointment is made the commissioners mus
view the road and render a decision OF
that view.
The commissioners decided that i
would aid them very much to hear wha
might be testified to and they directed
that witnesses be called.
The petition asking for the appointment
of commissioners sets forth particularly
that the road is worn out, being heavy
and sandy-muddy in wet weather and
sandy in dry weather. 1t is not kept In
proper condition; not sufficiently arched
to be properly drained, bridges not good
and unsafe for heavy travel Mr.. Hill
man said be would substautiate all these
propositions by sworn testimony
Clayton Hancock was the first witness.
He frequently drives over the turn
pike and has found it in bad condition
more than once. Just at present it is
fairly good. 1t is good summer road
but bad winter road. He had known it
to be from four to eight inches deep in
mud. Not much had been done in the
way of repairs since last summer The
bridges are bad, that nearest to Jobstown
being particularly bad. A heavy rain or
a heavy load would be likely to cut it
down. For travelling purposes the bridges
may be all right, but they are dangerous
for heavy loads.
DR.. George W. Van Derveer uses the
road many times in the course of year,
mainly as far as Chambers corner, some
times going the entire length. He con
siders the road worn out. In the past year
he had frequently been compelled to leave
the main bed of the road, owing to bad
ruts and holes, and had to 90 to the side
Of the road or to any place where he could
get good roadway. At the present time
the road is fair, owing to the weather
The particular cause for complaint against
the road is that 1t is worn out. There is
no crown to it and 1t is not kept uniform.
The bridge nearest to Jobstown he con-
siders very unsafe. When driving over it
one day he fancied the structure shook
and in order to verify his idea he retraced
his steps and repeated the action. He
found he was right and that the bridge on
one side gave evidence of being very
weak
Pearson Taylor, of North Hanover, uses
the road a great deal, sometimes as often
as four and five times week, driving the
entire portion of it from Jobstown to
Mount Holly. He did not remember any
thing being done to improve the condition
since last summer 1t is in better condi-
ton today than at any time in the last 90
years. This is due to the fact that new
has been put on. The material
is supposed to be gravel but it is not the
kind that people in the neighborhood of
use. Very little gravel
shows, but plenty of clay and loan. In
winter the road was full of ruts and holes.
Toll was collected when canal boat
would have been more fitted for travel
than carriage. Mr.. Taylor objected on
an occasion when the conditions were ex-
tremely bad, but the toll-gate keeper said
the company needed the money and could
not take the toll off. Mr. Taylor consid-
ers the road. taking its condition the year
through, much worse than the majority
IF public roads.
G. Craig Tallman said the road had
been repaired at times with dirt taken
rom the side and thrown into the center
At one time there were dangerous spots
marked along the pike but toll was taken
ust the same. He said the road is worn
'ut and the bridges are unsafe. He had
the bridge mentioned so many
lines as being nearest Jobstown and found |
t in very bad condition. The cap was
rome and the wall was pushed in from 10 |
imbers in many places. The bridge is
,nly 151 feet wide. Mr.. Lewis cross-ex-
mined Tallman very sharply in an en-
leavor to show that he had feelings |
Igainst the company. The witness admit |
ed he had expressed opinions against the
Dad and that the toll-gate had been closed |
N him when he had refused to pay toll |
or the reason that, in his judgment, the |
Dad was not tollable. He had said he |
would cut the gate down if it was again |
hut on him under similar conditions. He |
lad known toll to be collected when |
he roads had been so bad that teams were |
tuck in the mud.
Samuel w. Shinn drives over the road
)nce or twice a week 1t is fairly good |
low, but was quite muddy in the winter
He thought the material used in mending
was more of loan than gravel. He re-
the hole referred to near Hor-
1or's Mr.. Lewis asked Mr.. Shinn if his
Irving was not entirely for pleasure and
the witness answered that he owns farm
up the road and drives out to see it. II
did not know you are a farmer" said Mr..
Lewis. 81 have that honor" was the re-
ply.
Maurice Lippincott has farm, portion
of which fronts on the turnpike. He fire.
quently uses the pike. The past year it
has been, at times, almost impossible
owing to ruts, defective drainage and
other deficiencies. 1t is in fair condition
now, in fact this is the time of year when
it is at its best. Speaking of the material
used for repairs Mr.. Lippincott said he
would not like to buy it for gravel. He
did not think the bridges were any too
strong, but he was of the opinion that the
heavy wagons of the Standard Oil Com
panY passed safely over them When