The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-09-12
Board of Freeholders.

business. All Of the members, except Mr..
Bozsrth, we're present. For time there
was more interest outside of the court
house than on the inside. The candidates
for county offices were on hand to look
after their fences and they did 1t In great
shape, each man feeling that he was sure
of securing the coveted prize.
Before the director raped for order the
finance committee had session to discover
how to provide funds for the bills that
would be presented and to look out for
future expenditures. The result was q
series of resolutions transferring funds
from various appropriations which had
balances In them to those which were de-
ficient.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
County Board of Taxation to allow the
county the benefit of the law which pro-
vides for an increase of ten cents on the
800 valuation for county purposes.
Then Mr.. Birkhead gave talk on the
condition of the appropriation for bridges.
The finance committee was at the end of
its string In this line and was not able to
provide for building or repairing more
bridges The appropriation was all gone.
There was no use trying to twist this mat
ter around, and it might as well be ac-
cepted as cold fact that the cash had
been used and 1t would not be legal to
overrun the appropriation.
Mr.. Wilkins said he had been economic
ing along the line Of bridges for some
time, but the Centreton drawbridge Is In
absolute need of something being done.
He was followed by Mr.. Evan who said
the bridge at Smithville had become so
badly In need of repairs that he had post
ed a notice that all persons with traction
engines and other heavy loads should
cross the bridge at their own risk.
Other members spoke, all of them hav-
ing bridges that need repairs, but there
did not appear to be any relief In sight.
Mr.. Birkhead showed that In 1908 there
was raised for bridges the sum Of $50, 200,
while this year but go, 900 had been ap-
propriated. Mr.. Birkhead stated, how
eyer, that the year 1908 was rather I'M
usual one, as there was heavy food
which swept several bridges away, and
the Centreton bridge was rebuilt at cost
Of $50, 900. Mr.. Birkhesd thought move
ment should be inaugurated whereby
some one with authority could be appealed
to and funds be legally raised. He was
opposed to borrowing money or bonding
the county. He called attention to two
roads that had been built for which $57,-
600 was borrowed. By the time the debt
and its interest had been paid the cost
would be more than the original expendi-
ture.
Solicitor Rigg suggested that the next
Legislature be asked to give special legis-
lation whereby Burlington county could
raise money or be exempted from the pro-
visions Of the Hillery act.
James Mercer Davis was given permits
sion to speak on behalf of owners of
property in Southampton township. A
road runs by their farms and a ditch
drains the lands. Freebooter Estilow
had removed bridge that spanued the
ditch and had put In pipe Is inches In
diameter. This does not drain the lands
and 1t does not conform to the law. The
statute provides for a bridge four feet at
the bottom and five feet at the top. II
was plain to be seen how far from the law
an 18-inch pipe was. Mr.. Davis commended
that the Board was liable for damages to
the lands that were harmed by the failure
to drain, and he also argued that, In keep
ing the small pipe in the place, the Board
was maintaining q nuisance, and was
liable to indictment.
MIR. Estilow, member from Southamp.
ton, explained that he had put the pipe in
after carefully considering the matter and
he felt 1t was large enough for all ordin-
airy purposes.
In order to get the question looked into
the Director appointed a special com.
mittee to go to the place and Investigate.
He named Messrs. Edward Haines, Buck.
age, Lennon, Wright. William Miller.
Estilow, the County Engineer aud the
Solicitor.
The bill of Mr. Estilow for doing work
80 hfol. oh ho1 hoI
been paid, and It was thought best to re-
consider that action so the bill was taken
up, the item for putting Ia the pipe was
cut out and the balance of the bill paid.
Mr.. Ford reported that he had not been
able to discover much of Importance in
the claim of Walter Leek against the
county for damages to an automobile.
Mr.. Leek was crossing the drawbridge al
Green Bank when his machine ran into
the rod used for turning the bridge and
which had been placed In the roadway by
some unknown person. Mr.. Leek claimed
the county was responsible for the damage
as 1t should have the rod so protected
that it could not be handled by anyone
save the drawtender The bill was laid
on the table but will probably be con
sidered when It Is presented with an item
lied statement.
A bill from Solicitor Rigg gave Mr.,
Lofiand chance to get In q little query
He wanted to know If the money paid the
Solicitor annually was a salary or merely
a retainer. If a salary why was there
frequent presentation of bills for services
The Director ruled that the annual pay
ment was a retainer and that the Solicitor
was entitled to extras for extra work.
County Clerk Knight presented some
bills that had not been approved by any
committee. There was slight objection
to them and Mr.. Knight said II the BOARD
would designate to which committees ht
must present his bills he would gladly doit
but he had handed bills to one committee
to be told to go to the next, and then SEN
to another, and 30 on until he got tree
and determined to put in his claims to ths
Board and let the members settle thu
matter. 1t was decided to pay the bill
| presented.
A bill was put in by Southampton town
ship for So to pay for new shoe for thu
township scraper. In answer to question
about this bill 1t was shown that 1t is no
every township that needed 1t. and 1t wal
the custom to use the township scrapel
and pay for any damage 1t might sustain
The bill was ordered paid.
George NJ Hillman presented bill fol
gentleman by the name of Wills. Th'
latter had prepared plans for the road
| from Gardner's Corner to the Atlanti,
County line, but before they could be uset
county engineer had been appointed
| The plans, however, were used by the en-
gineer and Mr.. Wills thought he ought tt
be paid for some portion of the work h
had done.
The general impression was that SOM
amount should be paid. and In order Il
determine how much the finance commit
| tee and the solicitor were Instructed tt
| look into the matter and settle upon thu
terms of settlement,
| A representative of the Ferro-Concret
Company claimed that the county is In
debted to that concern In the sum of 81
/ for extra work done on the Wallace Nil
bridge.
| Freebooter Horner opposed the paymen
of the bill because he said the work wa
never authorized, and the charge wa
exorbitant There was an agreement witt
the foreman that he would do the extr
work for certain concessions, and now thi
man comes forward and wants to charg
double what was agreed upon. The road
way was not kept open as 1t should hav
been, and the rural mail carrier was com
PEELED to go considerably out of his way
The bill was turned down.
A resolution was offered to build a con
crete bridge in Springfield township, bu
owing to the short condition of the treas
ury the proposition was laid on the table
The finance committee was instructed
to look into the request of County Super
intendent Stees to procure him room AM
n. ~. - L.