Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-30
Reuben T.. J0hnson's Strong Plea
Against Opening of New Road
10 Cape May

10 Cape May
A special West jersey and Seashore
train on Tuesday, January goth,
brought down to Bennett Station, Off
icals OF this road and of the Reading
aud also members of the Public Utility
Commission of the State, who were
Joined there by members of the Board
Of Freeholders aud many citizens of
Lower Township to examine into the
feasibility OF the closing present all
road crossings and opening a new road
from Erma to Cape May ~diagonally
across to Schellenger's Landing. Po-
tent and unanswerable arguments were
presented to the Commission why this
should not be done, 1t being urged and
proven thatsuch action would be an un-
w~arrantable Injustice to the people OF
Lower Township, West Cape Msy,
South Cape May, Cape May Point and
Cape May City. Those who presented
the case of the people of these sections
were Lawyer s. f. Eldredge, solicitor
for Lower Township; former Senator
r. e. Hand, merchant r. 4. johnson,
former Collector Charles Bohm, DR..
Lake, Virgil Weldon, David Hawn and
others. 1t was stated that the Public
Utility Commission had the power to
order the construction of the new road
if in its wisdom, they considered it adj
visable.
Freeholder H. s.. Rutherford, of this
city, presented the only plea In favor of
the project.
Charles A. Mead, of Essex County,
one of the members of the Public Util-
ity Commission, listened attentively to
all which was offered and replied to
such questions as were put to him, and
the Commission will take action after
due consideration.
All of the arguments presented
against the project were, as we have
stated, unanswerable upon any reason
able grounds, in which the rights of the
people are considered. r. Il. johnson
presented some facts, showing the abso-
lutte lack of necessity for the proposed
arrangement because of a complete
automobile route from Philadelphia, on
the bay side, which avoids all railroads
and ross ings. His points were as fol-
lows: "What will be the cost to put
through the new road?
First, for grading and right of way,
$50, 1000.
Second, depreciation of land on the
old State Road, valued at $500, 600, at
% per cent, 500. 600.
Third, 25 per cent, loss of patronage
to the business houses from w. Cape
May up on $14O, 900 worth of business,
$85 600, and q yearly loss of 81, 900 pro-
fit. Total cost to tax payers $780,, 900"
THE GAIN
First. Two minutes of time gained
for the autoist.
But their case is not as important as
that of the millinaire who had not made
his peace with God. When told by the
physician he was about to die, he ex-
claimed, mn give thousands of dollars
for q minute of time"
Second, saves to the railroads the cost
Of two flagmen which the railroad COM
panies have to pay and not the county,
and If the road run to the West Of the
p. r r. from Samuel Garrstson's to
Bennett Station, the P. R. r. Co. would
probably not ave even the two flag
men or at least one would certainly be
employed. 1t crossing at Tabernacle
church.
The proposed new road would have
no dwellings upon it. 1t would be so
near the meadow that no building boom
would be started"
Addressing Mr.. Mead:
"Do you know that the County Engi-
neer has been ordered out on a county
road two mile to the westward and that
the county proposes to build this road
through Fishing Creek upthiough to
Green Greek which would make road
two miles shorter than this one here and
not even one railroad crossing to cross
in Cape May County? Our people have
been paying heavy taxes for this and
other county roads for years and gath
cred nothing in return tospeak Of. And
do you expect US to favor a new road
when 1t is going to depreciate our prop
erty 25 per cent?"
"On the seaside, we have one state
road and two soil roads and our neigh
bors to the westward of us have at pres
emit nothing but a poorly cared for town
ship road. / pray you that the Public
Utilities Committee or the railroads do
not heap upon US the great oppressive,
unnecessary and outrageous burden"
Star of the Cape.