Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-10-05
HEARING ON The NEW HIGHWAY
SYSTEM THAT REACHES
CAPE MAY COUNTY

In spite of the fact that Cumberland
County men were scarcely able to reach
a common decision regarding route No.
Is in New JERSEYS proposed SIS 600 900
State high way system, Cape May coun-
ty folk who attended the public hear
ing at Cape May Court House on Thurs
day of last week were unanimous in
urging the Commission to begin route
No. IA as being the more inn portant of
the two. Where route No. Is Is to con-
meet with route No. IA, while mentioned
by nearly all Cape May officials who
spoke at The hearing, seemed to be in
consequential, and the burden of their
remarks maicated JnaJ Iney would be
behind the Highway Commission when
final decision is to be made.
H. s. Rutherford, Director of Cape
May County Board of Chosen Freehold
ers, stated in his opinion the most di-
rect route would be from Millville to
Port Norris and thence to Tuckahoe.
He said Cape May folk had no serious
objections to running the route as en-
tatively proposed by the Commission
from Millville south to connect with
Cape May Court House. If the pro-
posed southern route from Bridgeton
were adopted, Rutherford said, the
bridge owe the Maurice river alone
would cost near $500, 900. He advised
the Commission to begin work as SOC
as feasible On route No. IA. In arguing
for the direct route from Bridgeton to
Melville he stated the toll road near
the latter place If abolished would bene-
fit the greatest number OF tourists.
Senator Lewis T. Stevens, who was
instrumental in having routes No. IA
and 10 incorporated in the Edge Act,
favored the construction and taking
we of route No. Ia as soon asad visable.
His argument of priority in the con-
struction of routes showed that Cape
May County, Of all the counties south
of Mercer, with the exception of At
lantic, had the greatest assessed valua-
ton, totaling nearly th%irty-nine mil
lions Of dollars. He opposed the sug-
gestion of going to Mays Landing, sub
stituting Tuckahoe, instead. Clayton
Brick, of Ocean City, also argued for
quick action In the construction of
route No. IA.
"People speak of pleasure affic as
opposed 10 commercial. We folk at
the shore resorts who derive our live
lihood from tourists consider pleasure
as much a business as any other line of
endeavor," Brick stated.
The Mayor of Ocean City also sup
ported the contentious of his County
men in advising the Commission to
act quickly on route No. IA.
Chairman John w. Herbert, and
Commissioners Walter j. Buzby and
WATSON @. Clarke attended the hear
ing. General George w. Goothals, state
engineer, was unable to be present. He
was detained in Washington where he
is negotiating with the Federal officials
In an attempt to secure Federal aid for
the construction of roads in the vicinity
of Camp Dix at Wrightstown
The Commission before 1t makes f.
nal decision will takeinto consideration
all the suggestions made at the public
hearing. Every address was steno-
graphically reported and from the mass
OF suggestions made the Commission
will undoubtedly derive much nforma-
ton that will lie valuable in guiding
them when they finally decide which
way route No. Is will run, and the
importance of beginning work on each
respective ioute.