Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-11-19

From the Ocean City Sentinel.
An adjourned meeting of the Cape
May County Board of Chosen Free
holders, Director A. b. Smith presid-
ing, was held in Council chamber, this
city, on Monday, November 8, 1909.
The meeting was called to order
shortly before noon and the call was
read.
The meeting was held In accordance
with a resolution passed by the board
on Wednesday Of last week, as follows:
"Resolved, That the director call a
meeting of the board and invite the
bridge committee of the Atlantic
County Freeholders and the engineers
of both counties to attend to go over
the question of plans for the proposed
bridge across Great Egg Harbor Bay"
No representative of the Atlantic
County board was present. 1t was de-
cided to telephone Freebooter James
Clark, of Somers' Point, for informa-
ton concerning the non-appearance Of
the members of the Atlantic County
Board of Freeholders. When Mr..
Clark made his appearance at the
afternoon session, he stated that the
engineer and members of the bridge
committee other than himself had
made business engagements that could
not be broken before receiving notice
of this meeting.
j. Fithian Tatem, representing an
electric rail way company, name not
given, but believed to be the Suburban,
which extends from Atlantic City to
Somers' Point, vas given permission
to address the freeholders.
MI. Tatem said that while it was
desirable and advantageous to have
the two counties connected by means
of a bridge for the accommodation of
teams and autos, it would be a greater
plan to have the bridge 30 built that
an electric railway could pass over it.
Mr.. Tatem further said 1t would be
the desire of his company to take the
matter up with the board to discuss
the electric company's share of the
cost of building. Az soon as the de-
tails are arranged, the company is pre-
pared to proceed. In conclusion, Mr..
Tatem said that they had brought
with them to the meeting two engi-
neers-Ellis K. Thompson, chief engi-
asssssp Of the-Break
Philadelphia, aud HI. w. Latta, of the
Latta & Terry Construction Company,
Philadelphia.
MI. Thompson, upon being requested
to speak, said that Captain Rand, of
the War Department, would approve
of any plans for the bridge that would
not close up Main Ship Channel.
There must be an opening of 500 feet.
Mr.. Thompson spoke OF filling in Drag
Channel.
The following letter from Capt.
Rand, received by Director Smith, was
handed Mr.. Thompson and read aloud
by him:
"Referring to your visit to this office
in connection with the map and plans
for the proposed bridge across Great
Egg Harbor Bay, l have the honor to
state that, so far as it appears to me at
present, the requirement of the Gov
eminent IN respect to navigation will
be satisfied with the insertion III this
structure of a draw-span having a clear
width of forty feet and a clear height
above mean high water of at least
eight feet.
"The details of this structure should
include such other openings as are
necessary for the flow of the tidal
waters across the location of the
bridge"
Olin Bryan, a Philadelphia lawyer
also representing the electric railway
company, spoke of the purpose of the
company to open up, by means of
rapid transit, a large section of the
South jersey coast, and he emphasized
the advantages to the people of such a
railway as proposed.
J. Thompson Baker, of Wildwood,
declared that there is nc question OF
the propriety of a boulevard as has
been planned. He said the freeholders
are opening the door to the prosperity
of the State, and are doing a tremend-
GUS work for the seashore resorts of
New Jersey. 1t is in their hands to
make or unmake the prosperity of this
section of the Commonwealth, and the
freeholders have shown themselves to
be men of broad grasp of mind. Mr..
Baker expressed himself as in favor of