The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1915-01-07
HUNTERDON
COUNTY ROADS
THE ROAD QUESTION.


roads in 1915, and advised the Free
holders to wait until the roads now
under construction were completed,
the money due the county for pay
ments advanced for the State, Dor
oughs and townships for completed
and accepted roads, as well as for
those now under construction, was
paid and thus avoid paying interest
for the accommodation of others, the
following facts will show the condl-
tions and bear me out.
The fiscal year for 1914 closed at
twelve o'clock noon January LIST, 1918,
and I desire to show how the road
finances stood at the close Of the year
and ask you whether when advised
the Freeholders to wait until the slate
was cleaned before undertaking fur
ther road construction in 1915, was
right or whether the few interested
persons were right in insisting that
their favored or favorite road should
be constructed without regard to the
financial condition of the county?
Bonds were issued December list,
1914, by the Freeholders to pay the
countys share of the Lambertville-
County Line road, Section No. OF
the gton-F'renchtown road, and
the Whitehouse-NeW Germantown
road, amounting to $4,000, divided
into 100 bonds of $500 each. Up to
and including January LIST, 81 bonds
were sold and delivered, making it
necessary for the county to renew
notes for it's share, or $69, 10000 to be
paid out at such time as the bonds
are sold and delivered.
There is due from the State 40 per
cent. advanced for the Lambertville-
County Line road, Bloomsbury West
Portal road, Section No. 2 of the
-Frenchtown road, White
house-New Germantown road, and
Whitehouse-Leba road and balance
of automobile fund for road repair,
amounting to $52,O00.00, for which
amount the Freeholders renewed its
note to be paid when the State pays.
There is due the county for ten per
cent. advanced for Raritan, Delaware,
Franklin, Kingwood, West Amwell,
Lebanon, Bethlehem, Readington and
Tewksbury townships, and French
town, Hampton and Bloomsbury bor-
oughs, S37, 10000, for which the Free
holders also renewed its note to be
paid at such time as these municieali-
ties pay, which makes a total of
$3.50, 100000 unpaid road accounts, and
until these amounts are received the
county pays interest. Some part of
these amounts will be paid soon and
some not before 1916.
Do you know the interest paid on
the advancements for State, townships
and boroughs during the past two
years would pay the Sheriff's salary,
Jailor's salary, feed the prisoners and
maintain the county buildings for one
year, and yet under the conditions
pressure is being brought to bear for
more roads to be constructed in 1915,
estimated to cost $140,000. You can
readily see this would add payment of
considerable more interest.
You do not fully realize what road
construction means, not only to the
county as a whole, but to the town
ships and boroughs that are required
to pay the ten per cent. Why, Beth
lehem township with very low rata
bles cit being small township is
compelled to issue bonds in the amount
of $2,492.58 to pay for its ten per cent.
of the cost of the Bloomsbury West
Portal road, and cannot pay the coun-
ty until the bonds are sold. Kingwood
township is compelled TO. bond in
$4,000 to pay it's ten per cent. of the
first section of the Flemington-F French
town road Now think what that
means tc the townships to raise, viz:
interest and sinking fund for town
ship bonds, interest and sinking fund
for county bonds and road repair and
interest for advancement by the coun-
ty for future roads if constructed.
Does that look encouraging, and with
all that, certain individuals are clam
oring for the construction of a road
in Bethlehem township that is esti-
mated to cost over $4,000 per mile,
the townships to pay ten per cent. of
it's cost If that road is constructed,
how much will little Bethlehem town
ship be bonded for, and what will her
take rate be? Why, an increase of
more than 40 per cent.
| will take case nearer home to
further Illustrate, to wit: Raritan
township-her tax rate in 1914 was
5000 per $100. In 1915 she will be
required to pay more than $4,000 to
the county for it's ten per cent. share
fo,. +ba caoapd caofin,, Of tha EJar,