Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-04-19
BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS
Important Meeting Held on Tues
day. c. w. Saul Chosen
County Collector

Cape May county met on Tuesday, In
regular monthly session, at Cape May
Court House, eleven members answer
ing to the roll call. In the absence of
Director Henry Rutherford, John w.
Young, one of the members for North
Wild wood, was elected Director pro
tenn. After hearing reports from the
different committees, a number of bills
were ordered to be paid, and then came
unfinished business. Under the latter
head, the differences existing between
the county authorities and the Stone
Harbor Boulevard Co., relative TO ur-
gent repairs needed on Stone Harbor
badge, were testify aired. The struc-
ture, we regret to say Is in an unsafe
condition; and at the instance of our
Board of Freeholders, placards have
been printed aud posted at either end
of the bridge, to warn the public of the
danger incurred in crossing. Reese
Risley, representing the bridge Co. aud
the Borough of Stone Harbor, appear
ed before the Board, making a strong
protest against the action of the Free
holders in posting the notices referred
to; but the county's representatives re-
fused to rescind tleir previous action,
and the order and the warning still
stand. Our Freeholders claim that the
bridge Co. has mol fulfilled its part of
the 10 year contract. Seven years have
elapsed since the county took over the
structure, and there are three years
more for the contract to run. From
what we can understand, the bridge
corporation has fallen down in its
agreement to keep the lower part of the
period specified. The notices may have
some effect in divertiug travel from
Stone Harbor. Why not remove the
cause of all this friction? A contract
is a contract. Why not carry out to
com pletion all Its terms. We feel sure
our Freeholders have teen faithful in
the performance of their part of the
contract. Why not the Boulevard Co?
The next subject TO engage the atten-
ton of the Board was the reports of ex-
traordinary damage entailed by the
April storm upon the county roads.
District by district was taken up and a
detailed plan of procedure marked out,
looking toward rapid aud effective re-
pairs. To Sutton & Corson, of Ocean
(titu mo aalinnod tho marI1 ~ Ha d4-a
on the Ocean City road, and the Sea
Isle City road, under the direction and
supervision of l. Nj. Rice, the county
engineer. We are told that Sea Isle
road sustained very little damage. Let
US call this district No. / District No.
2 comprises Stone Harbor and Middle
Township road. The repair work
necessary in this district was delegat-
ed to- Joseph Camp, OF Dias Creek.
Levi Wentzell has charge of the Ava
lon Road in district No. 8, where wash
outs have not been extensive. District
No. 4 embraces the Ocean City Turn
pike, aud the Tuckahoe Petersburg, and
Cedar Swamp Creek road. The work
of restoring things to their original and
normal condition in this district was re-
ferred to Hope Candy. 1t is estimated
that the damage to county roads by
the storm will amount close to $50, 900.
The Ocean City road seemed to have
suffered the most.
A motion was passed to proceed at
once with the repairs needed on Stone
Harbor bridge. The contract wssgiven
to Nickerson-C raythorn Co., Inc, with
instructions to proceed at once with
the work. An engineer from the State
Highway Commission was present to
discuss mays and means for building
the new state road to the naval base
near Cape May. Either this represent
tative or State Engineer Thompson him.
self will meet the board again soon and
something definite will be decided
upon as to the course and maner of
construction of this proposed new road.
Under direction of l.. M. Rice, James
McLinden, of North Wildwood, will
take charge of all repair work necessary
to be done In the Lower Township and
Wildwood road. When the Board fin
ished its labors for the day adjournment
was ordered to meet again on Friday,
the 10Th, in Cape May City at 10 o'clock
a. NJ, with the purpose in view of
making a thorough Jour of inspection
or examination of all the roads in the
county, from Cape May to Ocean City,
and from the latter place to the Della
ware bay. Prior to adjournment, an
election was held TO fill the office of
county collector, a position made va
cant by the demise of the late Joseph
l. Scull. Only two candidates were
presented to the board, Charles w.
GouI NJ Wild uood oud T.aeIio 9 Ind