The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-10-01
The Board of Freeholders.

1 AAOA1
on Thursday. transacted business in
/ manner that could not be considered prU
dent, but illegal results are not likely t
| follow, as no contracts were awarded an
moi bond issue authorized.
| The purpose of the meeting, as read b
clerk Hawkins, was to take action on til
bids for the erection of bridges at Broa
and Pearl streets, Burlington, q filte
plant at the asylum and almshouse, and t
determine whether or not bonds should b
Issued to pay for the WORK, and to pa
| bills.
Contractors had mailed bids two an
| three days before the meeting, and som
arrived after the time limit for receiving
them had expired. In some cases the lei
tsrs were sent to director Dubell withou
being marked as to their contents. Tn
solicitor decided that such bids could no
be received, as they were really privat
mail for Mr.. Dubell He also said
| would be illegal to receive any of tn
bids, as the persons interested must b
present and hand them to the Boar
promptly on the hour of meeting, as
would be illegal to receive them eithe
before or after the hour, otherwise tn
Board would be guilty of misdemeano
under the Crimes act.
On motion of Thomas w. Fairbrother
of Riverside, all the bids were received
and opened. The solicitor announced tina
such action would invalidate any bono
issue.
Bids for the filtration plant were as fol
lows:
Roberts Filtering Manufacturing Co.,
Darby, Pa, $500.
Loomis Manufacturing Filter and Dis
Fri h1Ifinn phfloAalrhfo frun hide
$685.
New York Continental Jewell Filtration
Co., two bids, $4,000.
For drilling artesian wells:
Ridpath 81 Potter Co., Philadelphia,
CO mbination bid.
BIDS for Broad street, Burlington, bridge
Ferro Concrete Co., Harrisburg, Pa,
$1,000.
4. A. Hennessey, Belvidere, so, 400.
Owego Bridge Co., Owego. N. Y, $13, $50
Bids for Pearl street bridge. Burlington
Owego Bridge Co., $15,875.
Ferro Concrete Co., $l5, 900.
T. A. Hennessey, $14 700.
These bids were referred to the respect
I've bridge committees.
A letter from the State Board of Health
called attention to the dangerous supply
of water being furnished the county In
situations at New Lisbon, stating that
analysis shows the water is getting worse.
A resolution was adopted for reimburs.
ing this years budget for the money that
was taken to pay lett over bills from last
year.
Referring to q recent tabulated state
ment showing the financial condition OF
the county, Mr.. Birkhead said he did not
sign the statement as presented until he
had been given a release from all liability.
In order Lnat the freeholders might know
exactly where they stand by personal
search of their own, resolution prevailed
that the finance committee go back as tar
the May meeting of 1908, and make an
investigation of their own, with power to
employ an accountant ii necessary. MI.
Blrkhead said he graduated from bust
ness college at the time Lincoln was elect
ed president, and he feels his ability to
assist in this work.
These bills were ordered paid: Court
house and grounds, $448 O3; asylum, 81,
62S. 06; Ferro Concrete Co., $849; stone
road material, $67 o.; labor, u, 3S5.76. 1t
was also ordered that w. s. Gale be paid
money due him on the Bankers brook
bridge In Springfield township.
Referring to the bill presented by road
supervisor Hilton for material and labor,
Samuel G. Roberts, of Chester, while he
did not doubt the veracity of Mr.. Hilton,
wanted to know If it was proper for the
supervisor to order material and go ahead
with work without consulting the road
committee, which is supposed to make u
report and approve the bills. Mr.. Roberts
said he took up the matter in the presence
of the supervisor because he did not like
to sanction any bills he knew nothing
about. He could see no urgent necessity
under the present condition of things for
either q road committee or supervisor, as
In many cases the resident freeholder
orders his material, has the work done,
and presents the bills under affidavit for
approval by the committee and supervisor
Solicitor Rigg said it was the duty of
the road committee to order all material,
and the supervisor to have charge OF the
work.
Mr.. Roberts thought 1000 should be
set aside for the improvements 10 the
Mullica river road leading to tue Chestnut
Neck bridge In Bass River township.
Engineer Logan did not feel that under
his salary of 81, 900 it was his duty to pay
for drawing plans and specifications, as
such work was costly. He was not asking
an increase. but thought the county should
pay for it, as he had already expended
81 900 himself He made it plain that he
was not anxious to do any more work on
the same basis, but resolution was pass
ed requiring him to do so.
The resolution bearing on the matter
was decided out of order by the director,
and Howard Russ said the Board was get
ting back to last year, when the members
turned down engineer Thomson for want
ing extra pay for his services
A letter from State Road Commissioner
Stevens called attention to the fact that
the pipes and bridges on the Cookstown-
New Egypt road had not been put In
place. The delay was holding back a
much needed road The contractor threat
ems to abandon the work and hold North
Hanover township for damages. The
commissioner said the matter was very
serious and urged the freeholders to get
busy.
Messrs. Bovine and Phillips, representing
the bridge committee, reported that ali
bidders had failed to comply with The
specifications, aud no contracts could be
awarded.
A resolution was passed to compel the
Burlington County Traction Company to
repair y street in Moorestown, running
from the Mt Laurel road to Stanwick.
1t was recommended that contract be
awarded the Loomis Company for the in
stailation of filtration plant at New
Lisbon. The matter was declared out of
order as no money is available.
Mr.. Phillips said that If there was to be
delay In building the Broad street bridge
the present structure should be reinforced.
Mr. Bovine said he did not think Bur-
lington ought to be held up, considering
the amount of tax 1t pays.
A.suggestion from Mr. Birkhead brought
many members to their feet, and the sec.
Rotary was kept busy recording the sums
given him as necessary to complete I'm.
finished bridge work. The amount was
$l1, 600. When II was suggested that q
special meeting be called to issue bonds tc
meet this expense, the solicitor stated thai
1t would be necessary to issue bonds for a
single case, even II the amount was only
$50.
Mr.. Bovine wanted special meeting
called so that new bids could be asked fol
the Burlington bridges, but as they can
not be built before winter the matter may
be left to the new board for settlement.
Director Dubell wanted to know why
the bidders had not followed the specifica
tions, and Mr.. Durham, of the Ferr(
Concrete Co., was asked to explain. HI
said his plans were three inches highe
than those approved by the government
He did not decrease them but EXTENDED
the plans so as to please the people o
Burlington and the Board as well.
Solicitor Rigg queered the efforts OF
Howard Russ to have the company's plan
changed. and the matter will have to b.
gone over again.
The board then adjourned.