Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-01-18
SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
HUNTER STREET BRIDGE
City Council Holds Special Session.
Mayor Ladd Recites History Of

Case.
Messrs. Batten and Matlock were
the absentees at the special session of
City Council held Monday evening.
The purpose of the extraordinary ses-
sion was to take action on a summons
to appear before the Court of Chan
Gerry at Camden suit being brought
by the West Jersey and Seashore r.
r. Co., their purpose being to de-
termine liability for the structure
now spanning the railroad tracks.
over Hunter street.
The railroad claims that the bridge
is unsafe and to bear out that claim.
have had a watchman stationed at the
bridge, day and night forbidding
heavily laden wagons to cross same
Mr.. Bayer moved and it was carried
that the Solicitor appear at the Court
OF Chancery to answer the summons
and represent the interests of the city.
Mayor Ladd was present and volun-
teered to give the history of the
whole case, Council being glad to
hear a; thorough review of the matter.
The substance of the Mayors talk
is as follows:
The land in that section was origin
ally farm land. When the railroad
ilrst came into Woodbury., they built
light wooden bridge over their
tracks which would bear the wagons
belonging to the owner of the farm
through which the tracks passed.
merely for private accommodation.
This bridge was built about 1858.
In 1875, a new bridge was needed.
few of our citizens asked Council
to appropriate $450.00 to help the rail-
Eroad build another and larger bridge
there. The money was appropriated,
but the railroad declined the money.
Till October of 1875, negotiations
were in constant progress between the
city and the railroad In that month
however, the bridge was reported un-
safe, and the roadway boarded ND by
Council to prevent use of the bridge.
In December, 1875, the offer of $3.50
to the R. R. was repealed.
The next step is a counter offer by
the railroad of $4,000 to the city if
they will build the bridge, but Coun-s
Gil would not consider that PROPOSE
ton.
On March 21, 1876, the Engineer Of
the w J. & s. S. R. r. said the r.
e would build the bridge provided
he city would then take it out Of
their hands. This too was turned
down, at the same meeting. Council
passing resolution to make no more
propositions to the railroad, the Soil
citor saying it was not the City's duty
to build the bridge
1t was on October, 1873 that Hunter
street was first opened as a public
street, running from Broad street to
Woodland ave. The bridge was then
ordered opened to public travel The
Freeholders were appealed to by
Council to build the bridge, and one
was ordered built by them.
With the decision of the Freeholders
the Changers got up in arms, and
started Injunction proceedings to stop
the building of the bridge by the Free
holders.
In 1878, June II, the Court of Chan
Gerry decided that the. Freeholders
must build the bridge-and ever since,
they have kept it in repair.
The Mayor said he thought the first
bridge was a wooden one and that the
iron bridge was built about 1888
Last summer, said the Mayor the
plank got bad Freeholder Best was
appealed to and he said he had been
told by the Solicitor of the Freehold
ers, Mr.. Avis, that the county did not
have to repair same-the county did
repair it though
Mr.. Ladd said he was certain that
the city was in no way liable for the
condition of the bridge. He advised
that the city block off the road, thus
preventing use of the bridge, declaring
it to be unsafe, just as was done in
1875.
1t seems that Mr.. Avis found de-
cision of the Court of Errors of about
three years ago, and by reason of that
decision, it is said, the railroad is
liable for the bridge.
1 On motion of Mr.. Wickersham, the
Street committee was instructed to
confer with the City Solicitor and
take the necessary steps in safeguard
ing the lives of the citizens of the
City.