The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-09-22
Public Hearing.

On Friday afternoon there was pub
lie hearing in the house of America HOSE
Company ON the subject of objections tt
a bulkhead built by the firm of r. c
Chance & Sons on the Rancocas creek a
their King street factory.
| G. S. Boyer, w. Parker Runyon and
b. F. Cressy represented the New Jersey
idarbor Commission, Mr.. Cressy being
the chief engineer of the commission
Major K. N. johnson, United States en-
gineer, was also present to look after the
interests of the government.
Mr.. Boyer presided and stated the OBJ
iect of the meeting. Messrs. Joseph and
Benjamin S. Cross had entered protest
against the bulkhead and it was to hear
testimony to show whether the protest
was or was not well founded that the
hearing was held. The law requires plans
of such work to be presented before .the
job is commenced. In this case the work
was completed before the plans were Of
fered for inspection. But Mr.. Boyer said
there would not be any arbitrary ruling
because of this condition.
Joseph Cross was first called upon to
give his side of the story. He claimed
that the bullxhead extends into the
stream many feet further than it should
and that it will defect the current to such
an extent that his property on the oppo-
site side OF the creek will be injured. He
presented the deed showing his bound
airy line. He thought the bulkhead was
at least twenty feet out from the position
it should occupy. The government en-
gineer asked several questions respecting
navigation on the creek at the point in
controversy, with the idea of discover
ing whether boats for commercial pur-
poses ever get up as far as King street.
The answer was that the stream was
used entirely by pleasure craft. The en-
gineer said the government had no right
to interfere except where navigation is
INSTRUCTED.
Wilmer Chance told of the building of
the bulkhead. He said his deed called
to low water mark and he thought he
had the right to build to that point.
When the bulkhead was put up the men
who worked on it were able to walk at
any place without getting their feet wet,
with the exception of one point near the
bridge. He said the bulkhead has an
irregular shape, but otherwise it follows
the line of the old bulkhead which had
been in existence for years. His reason
for building the concern that is causing
the controversy was to preserve the prop
erty and make 1T look better. Prior to
its being built there was nothing but dry
ground there without any protecting
wharf. He did not believe it would in
iure any other property. ''Tell US where
we have encroached," said Mr.. Chance,
land we will willingly do all in our
power to remedy matters"
After listening to those concerned and
maps and sketches the com
mission remarked that the proceedings
would be presented to a meeting of the
when all the members
would be present. 1t looked as if the
entire matter hinged on the question of
rights of the owner and the state. The
latter is supposed to own from high
water to low water, while the deed of
Mr.. Chance calls to low water. This
would appear to indicate that there was
a difference of law or opinion between
the two parties. The Attorney General
had been asked to give an opinion on
this question and it was hoped to have
had it at this meeting, but it had not
been received. The commission adjourn
ed about half-past four and took the
papers in the case with them.