Gloucester County Democrat., 1909-07-29
THE CHOSEN FREEHOlDERS
Imperial Road Rejected.

lmperial Road Rejected.
At 1880 this morning, Director Ton
kin called the adjourned session of the
Board of Chosen Freeholders to order
In the Court House. All the members
were present except Mr. Whitney.
One bill in favor of j. w. Mcclure,
for S4l.60 for oak lumber, was ordered
paid.
Mr.. Usinger called attention to a
tract of timber that encroached on
the Nortonville road at sharp bend.
kand obscured the view of the approach
Sof vehicles in opposite directions He
Ksaid it was dangerous, and that the
ltimber should be cut, so as to give a
Isclear view. He moved that the county
engineer give the lines of the road, so
steps could be taken to make the sit
uation SAFE Carried "a
Engineer Cattell and the Standing
Road Committee, recommended that
the $4,000 auto money be expended
as follows:
Paulsboro and Crown Pt Rd..$ 60OOQ
Woodbury. and Knights Run. 100000
Mullica Hill and Harrisonyille 100000
Glassboro and Hardingville 10000
Glassboro and Malaga. 100000
Clayton and Williamstown. 10000
Hurffville and Cross Keys. 10000
Westville and Glassboro . 100000
Solicitor Avis, in the matter of the
Quay demand for damages, reported
that under the law the county was
not liable He said that under the
law the county could not be sued for
damages, but the Board could be in
dicted for maintaining a nuisance.
Action in conformity with this advise
was taken
The report of the road committee.
adopted at the last meeting, and pub
lished in our last issue, was read.
Then Mr.. Cattell was asked to make
report of the road He opened a
cigar box filled with material of which
the road is made. This material was
in pieces of various sizes, from fine
dust to pieces three to four inches
long, and of irregular formation He
said the road was from to inches
higher than the profile, in other places
of right heights. He said the road
had not a firm, smooth surface, but
was rutted in some places. He did
not consider it corresponded with the
sample of Imperial road on file in the
Road Commissioners Office.
On suggestion of Mr.. Walton, the
contract between the Board and the
| Imperial Road Company was read.
Mr.. Avis said it was fair TO give
the Imperial Road Company or any of
it's representatives an opportunity to
be heard
Mr.. Sickler accepted the invitation
and began by saying that none of the
Imperial Road Company had worried
about the resolution adopted at the
last meeting. He said he did not fear
that this Board and his company
would have any trouble about it. He
did not want any better witness in
any trouble over this road than people
who travel it. If there is any thing
wrong in that road his company would
agree to make it right. There were
two or three 'sgivy' spots in that road,
and any body who drives overit can
tell them.
At his request letter from the
town of Harrison was read as follows:
Town of Harrison, July "a 1909.
Imperial Road Company,
Mr.. Spencer,
Dear Sir: We opened Jersey street
this afternoon for traffic, and the first
loaded wagon that went over the
street carried the steam roller, weigh
ing 95a tons, made no impression on
the street whatever. From all ap-
pearances it looks as though we have
a very fine street. You need not hesi-
tate to send visitors to look at it.
EDW. F. MAJOR,
Street Commissioner
Then he said If you would will keep
prejudice out of this question, there
will be no trouble between this Board
and the Imperial Road Committee.
Director Tonkin said the question is
that the Imperial Road committee
contracted to build a road satisfactory
to the Board of Chosen Freeholders,
and they have not done it.
Mr.. Walton asked if the road was
finished Mr.. Sickler said if it was
not, the road company was the loser,
because it had to be kept in condition
for five years.
Mr.. Best asked Mr.. Sickler why
these pieces taken from the road were
not like the sample shown when the
contract was made.
Mr.. Meeker, the State Road Super
visor, was present, and asked what he
thought of Imperial road. He said
the Imperial roads he saw in Kansas
City were good roads. As to this road
he thought it was too fat, that is has
too much heavy oil in it. AS it is
now load will pull harder on it than
hard road. He thought it would be
harder in year The older roads in
Kansas City were the best.
In answer to question by the Di-
rector, if he would approve paying
State money for this road he said no..
said no.
He said he thought to make the
road right it would have to be work.
ed over.
Elmer E, Clement said he had gone
over the road since lastMay They
tried to go over it with light loads,
but had finally had to give it up. Mr..
Clement said he felt very sorry for
the company, but it is not right to
make us come around by Woodbury.
any nav f0l1 He did nof think onv