The Morris County chronicle., 1910-02-15
NEW BRIDGE
AT WHARTON
Borough Mayor Tells Freehold
ers Lehigh Valley Railroad
Is Holding Up Action.
MUST THE COUNTY PAY HALF !

MUST THE COUNTY PAY HALF :
Mayor Thomas f. Dram appeared
before the Morris county board OF free
holders at its meeting Wednesday and
asked the board what it was going to
do about the bridge over the Morris
canal at Main street, Wharton. He
characterized the bridge there at pres
ent as dangerous for several years past,
how last summer the bridge commit
tee of the board and County Engineer
King had visited the bridge and con-
demnedit it as being unsafe. We have
been promised new bridge and would
like to have it provided, that's what
you are here for, he told the board.
Councilman Edgar F. Hopler told
the board that Freeholder Kitchens
had done all he could to remedy con-
ditions at that point and asserted that
the building of a new bridge was held
up by the Lehigh Valley railroad.
Director Becker, after Freeholder
Edward Neighbour had said that a
contract was in force between the
county and the railroad requiring each
to pay one-half the cost Of maintain
ing bridge at that point, he thought
such was the case, and If not. the rail-
road should be compelled to build a
new bridge at its own expense, and
called upon Counsel George G. Runyon
for his opinion. The counsel said that
as he remembered it there was such
contract in force, but it had been a
long time since he had looked up the
matter. At any rate, he told the
board, it.would take litigation to COM
pei the railroad to do anything.
A letter from former Mayor Edward
Kelley twas read, protesting against
delay and describing the bridge as a
menace to life and property. Director
Becker promised that the BOARD would
do all in it's power to get the new
bridge.
A petition from the Somerset Water
company was received and referred to
the road committee, asking permits
sion to lay mains and erect, hydrants
on the road from Chester to Glad
stone for about 1000 feet and recit-
ing that the permission for doing the
work had already been obtained from
rho v,ro,aorrU nunnrc
Chairman Johnson, of the road COM
mittee, reported that his committee
was not yet ready to take definite ac-
tion regarding the request OF the New
York Telephone Co., to erect a pole
line on road in the upper part of the
county and requested leave to let the
matter 90 over for another month.
This application was made at the last
meeting and it developed during the
ensuing discussion that the company
quotedan exorbitant rate for service
at the Morris County Aims house when
asked for figures and in consequence
it's request for permission to use the
county road has been held up until
the company comes to terms.
Judge Alfred Elmer Mills notified
the board that several sets of law books
were required for the county law Ii
brary and the matter was referred to
the finance committee.
Local newspaper men presented
petition asking that better facilities for
doing their work be provided in the
county court room. 1t was referred
to the court house and jail committee.
The bond OF Road Inspector John D.
Smith was received and filed. 1t was
to the amount of 81 1000 and was signed
by Mr. Smith, William f. Birch and
Thomas o. Basset.
Twenty-one prisoners are the
county Jail. according to the port Of
Freeholder Reuben FL. Burchell. He
also presented Jail Physician James B.
Griswold's report, of having made
twelve visits to the Jail in the month
and there being two cases of illness,
both sent TO hospital.
Freeholder Prudden reported 116 in
mates in the aims house and seventy
one in the children'S home.
In the state hospital, according to
Freeholder Estler, were eighty-seyen
females and ninety-seven males.
Bills were ordered paid as follows -
county clerks office. $S55.53 surro-
gates office, s623.33; sheriff's office,
1852; coroners and post mortems, Sl03-
20 stationery, $l,607.80; court ex-
penses, $456.5l officers salaries, S508-
.32 freehol5ers' salaries, S398.72; fox
bounties, S2l.5O; incidentals, $232.5O !;
state aid roads, $1,610.O5; snow re-
moval, $S84.36 advertising and print
ing, s62.5O; elections, S217.lO; court
house and Jail current expenses, S472-
20 aims house current expenses,
S802.5O children's home. $542.85
state hospital for the insane monthly
bill, 81, ,62T.49.