The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-05-11
Board. of Freeholders.


court house.
The advisory bridge committee recon-
mended the building Of two bridges on
the Jobstown turnpike at probable cost
of $2100; new bridge in Medford on the
road to Ballinger's mills over the Medford
branch of the Rancocas creek at pro-
bable cost of $4,000, and two bridges on
the Union Mill road in Mount Laurel
township at probable cost of $4,000.
On account of a diversity of charges
for the same Items the printing committee
asked that those bills be laid over until
the next meeting, for investigation, and
it was so ordered.
At about this time the members of the
Atlantic County Board of Freeholders
came to the meeting, as previously ar
ranged, to discuss the subject Of rebuild
ing the county line bridge over the Null
lica river at Chestnut neck.
The county engineer of Burlington
county, Mr.. Thompson, was requested to
explain his ideas about the bridge. He
said the structure is supported by large
steel cylinders filed with concrete of an
inferior quality. The steel casing has
nearly rusted away, leaving the weight
of the bridge to be carried by the con-
crete, which makes the structure danger
GUS. This could be remedied by placing
large caisson around the old one, and
| fill in the space between the two with
first-class concrete mixture. A diver
should be employed to ascertain the con-
dition of the foundations.
The Atlantic county plan is to replace
the old pier with new ones, which would
be permanent job.
The cost of the Burlington county
plans to fix the piers and make other re-
pairs to the bridge will be about $50, 900.
The Atlantic plan will cost about $35, 900.
1t was finally determined to employ a
diver to inspect the foundations before
any other work is done
that the Hammonton and Atsion i'm
proved road had been built with the I'M
Outstanding that Burlington county would
build road to meet it, but thus far moth
ing of the sort has been done.
Mr.. Brick replied that the road in ques-
ton would be built as soon as this county
had the funds to do it. The Hillery tax
law was the cause of the delay as this
makes it impossible to reduce our tax
rate and at the same time raise more funds
for road purposes. The road has been
approved, and is only waiting for avail
able funds
Mr. Hilton offered resolution that no
stone roads be built in this county during
1909.
This brought forth quite discussion.
Mr.. Donnelly, of Florence. who had a
resolution ready to introduce, providing
for bond issue of $3.50, 1000 to build stone
roads, was vehement in his opposition to
the Hilton resolution. He said when the
Changers get all they want they oppose
any other roads. He thought his part of
the county should have some considera-
ton.
Harry E. Dubell said the Changers are
not unfavorable to stone roads but are
opposed to an issue of bonds.
Mr.. Hilton said the Hillery tax law is
not optional. 1t is mandatory in its pro-
visions about not increasing the tax rate.
If there is bond issue this year there
must be another next year to pay the
interest.
Edmund Braddock, of Medford, present
ed resolution passed at a meeting of
taxpayers, held in Mount Holly, that
morning, on the question Of issuing bonds.
1t follows:
Whereas, at previous meeting of the
Board of Freeholders efforts have been
made to issue bonds to the amount of
$3.50, 900 for the building of stone roads
and Whereas, 1t is the consensus of opin-
ion of the taxpayers that such action is
contrary to public policy, Therefore be it
Resolved, That the taxpayers of Burling-
ton county, assembled at Mount Holly on
May 4th, that the Board of Freeholders is
hereby enjoined not to bond the county
for the building of improved roads or for
any other purpose.
| George Wildes, Thomas s. Gibbs and
Franklin s. Zelley were appointed com
mittee to present this resolution to the
| Board.
Several taxpayers were given permits
sion to speak on the subject.
Mr.. Wildes said the people in his sec
ton of the county are not favorable to
issuing bonds for any purpose. On the
matter of stone roads he said we are far
ahead of other counties in the state. We
have now 100 miles of these roads, and
there is no need to build more at present.
There are no improved roads in his
section, said Mr.. Wildes, and the people
there are willing to wait longer for them.
Let others also wait.
Edmund Braddock also presented a
resolution adopted at the recent meeting
of Pomona Grange at Columbus when
there were over 500 members present. 1t
was strongly opposed to the proposed bond
issue and also to the recent plan of increas-
ing the membership of the committees of
the Board of Freeholders from three mem
bers to FIVE.
| A. G. Buck, of Jacobstown, said it
might be Judged from Mr.. Donnelly's re-
marks that the latter was Roeblings' free
holder instead of Florence townships
representative. The taxpayers had held
meeting because 1t had been reported
that the bonding question was to be con-
sidered and might be passed.
Isaac E. Harrison said 1t would be
great mistake to bond the county.
i A vote was then taken on the Hilton
resolution and it was passed by vote of
18 to 8.
Then Freeholder Donnelly insisted on
the bond issue proposition, he wanting
some action because the matter had mere
lly been laid over from the last meeting.
This caused considerable disorder, as
everyone wanted to speak at once. Di-
rector Horner finally restored order and a
vote was taken, resulting in instant death
for the proposition by vote of q to 1,
Donnelly being alone In the minority.
John Fl. Hutchinson presented bill Of
$40 for surveys made for several proposed
, stone roads in the past ten years for which