The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-06-30
Whitehouse -Lebanon Road.

There have appeared in the press
throughout this and adjoining coun-
ties. from time to time certain arti-
oles concerning the construction of
the road from Whitehouse to Lebanon
and we have taken the trouble to
make careful inquiry concerning the
construction and present stats, both
as to condition, acceptance and pay.
ments. We find this road was, under
the insistment OF the then State Road
Commissioner, to be constructed of
new and practically untried ma
terial called Trapite, patented
preparation for road construction.
This road was, as was stated at the
time, expected to be taken over as
one of the State roads, crossing our
State, and the county was compelled
by the State authorities to use the
latest methods in construction.
When the road in December last
was said to have been completed,
upon an examination and inspection
Of it it was found that there were
some apparent defects in the surface,
and the then State Road Commission
or was aware of the defects, but de-
sired that the road be accepted by the
Freeholders, he having stated that
the State was satisfied to pay the
one-third due the county for it's con-
struotion, but desired the Freeholders
in the resolution OF acceptance to
state that there being certain appar-
emit defects in the surface OF tho road
that II would retain more than the
five per cent. mentioned in the con-
tract, to insure the proper replace
ment OF the defective surface. When
upon the passage of such resolution
the State would pay to the county its
one-third cost of construction.
Under such request by the Road
Commissioners the Board of Chosen
Freeholders on the Goth day OF De-
cember, 1910. met the contractor,
County Engineer and State Super
visor, and went over the road, and
found in some places small and in
other places large spots that had
ruifeled out on tho surface. Other
complaints were made by citizens at
Lebanon and other points along the
line of the road that sufficient quanti-
ties of material had not been placed
on the road by the contractor, and ut
all such places mentioned and desig-
mated, the road was picked up and
tested in the presence of the contrae-
tor, Freeholders, Engineer, Super
visor and humorous citizens and tax
payers, and was found at every point
to contain not less but from one. half
to one and half inches more mater
ial than was called for by tho speci-
| fications.
! After the inspection OF the road and
testing as to quantities Of material
contained, the contractor, Freehold
ers. Engineer and Supervisor were
met by numerous citizens at White
house and presented petitions against
the acceptance of the road and pay
ing any more money for its construc-
tion. The contractor stated that he
did not want any more payments;
that he was willing that the twenty
per cent. due him upon the contract
should be retained by the county
| until he had cured the defects in the
| road, that he intended to make the
road entirely satisfactory to the State.
| county and township, but desired that
tho road be accepted 80 that it would
fix definite time after the road was
fully completed and the then existing
defects and any further defects that
might appear, were remedied, that 1t
could be finally taken over by the
State and county. The road under
those conditions and upon the recon-
mendation OF the State Road Commits
sioner and tho retention OF twenty per
cent. then due the contractor, was
accepted by the Freeholders.
The fact Of accepting tho road, as
we are informed, only fixes the time
to begin when tho contractor at his
own expense shall keep the road in
repair and shall in one year from the
date of acceptance hand the road over
to the county and State in strict COM
pliance, In every particular with the
plans and specifications. when the
final payment is made, providing the
same is accepted by the State and
county.
The statement that Road Commits
sioner Stevens has refused TO pay the
States one-third due on said road is
without foundation, as there has never
been demand made upon him for the
amount, and the only thing that
has been done by him is to meet the
contractor and Freeholders upon the
and in what manner the road shoul(
be repaired, and we learn that thu
method and manner of repair wat
reached without any difficulty what.
ever, on the part of either, Col.
Stevens, the contractor, State Engin
eer. County Engineer. and Freehold
ers, and the work is now fully under
way and no money will be paid eithel
by the State or county, and none viii
be asked for by the contractor, unit
every detail in tho specifications II
fully and completely complied with.
The use Of TrapIte in the building
Of this road was because the Stat,
through its then State Road Commits
sioner Gilkinson, demanded it. II
has not proved successful and the road
will have to have, aud as We under
stand it is now having, several thou
sand dollars spent on it by the con.
tractor to bring it up to the require.
ments of hrst-class road. The
Board Of Freeholders has safeguarded