The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-02-12
Not Very Exciting

at the meeting Of the Board of Free
holders, Wednesday, and matters wen
along very smoothly.
Prosecutor Kelsey asked that the
county purchase a safe for his office
lie said he had q number of valuable
papers in cases that are still under in,
vestigation and it would be great loss
If they were stolen. His personal safe
was not large enough to accommodate
his own business and that of the
county and he thought the county
should own its safe. He showed a pic
ture of a safe that he thought would
meet all requirements, the cost of
which would be 1925. The matter was
referred to the committee on court
house and gounds.
A communication was read from a
New York lawyer in which he asked
that The contractor on the Mullica river
bridge be paid for the work that he had
done. The bridge, he said, is practi-
cally completed, but engineer Logan
refuses to furnish a certificate allow
ing the contractor the money that is
due him.
Engineer Logan was called upon for
an explanation. He said he had re-
fused to certify the bills of the con-
tractor TO: the reason that the work is
In such shape to justify retention of
the money. Certain spans of the
bridge have not been completed and
with the great amount of ice in the
river 1T is possible that damage NAV
be done for which the county would
not be responsible. Mr.. Logan called
attention to the fact that the contrac-
tor should have completed this bridge
year ago and it was his own fault
that his money had not been handed
over. Mr.. Logan also stated that in
his action of not giving the certificate
he was upheld by the county engineer
of Atlantic county, which municipal
ity is to pay half the bill.
The Board of Guardians of the State
Home for Children notified the Board
that it would be necessary to increase
the rate OF board for inmates of the in
stitution from 50 to So per week.
The men who have been acting as
tenders of draw bridges in various parts
of the county were reappointed and in
some cases there was an increase in
the monthly salaries paid them.
The committee on rules reported.
They made changes in some instances
to conform to the laws and in other
respects. One change that caused con-
siderable comment was the item which
made the charge for teams and labor
certain price. 1t was contended that
the rule would not hold good in all
communities as labor might be higher
in some places than in others. 1t was
thought that uniform price should
be established for the entire county.
but it was finally decided that the mat
ter should be left with the resident
Freebooter with a maximum rate that
could be charged.
Contracts were awarded as follows:
Light road oil, divided between Will
liam 5. Logan, of Newark, and u. S.
Asphalt Refining Co., New York, both |
bidding III cents gallon; heavy oil, |
TO U. S. Asphalt Refining Co., III
cents; stone for road repairs, to Lam
bertville Stone Quarry Co.
Surveys were ordered of the roads
from Vincentown to Earl's Corner and
from Florence along the river to Bur-
lington preparatory to permanent inn
being made.
The latter proposition met with |
some opposition. Director Joyce was
opposed to building two roads parallel |
with each other. The state is going to |
build boulevard from Bordentown to
Burlington, and the Florence people
have good road on which to get to
this main artery. There did not seem |
to be any necessity for going to the ex-
pense of road from Florence to Bur.
lington along the river.
Mr.. Smith took an entirely different
view. He called attention to the fact |
there is more important travel along |
the river road than there will be on the
boulevard. The manufacturing plants
at Roebling and Florence are compelled |
TO use the river road because it is more
and shorter route. The
road would be for business
purposes, while the boulevard would
De for pleasure rides. This subject has
been before the Board for about twenty
years and there have been promises
hat have been forgotten almost as
soon as made and Mr.. Smith thought
she time for action had arrived.
Messrs. Stout and Delaney supported
Mr.. Smith in his ideas and heartily |
favored building the proposed road.
Surveys of the two roads were ordered
10 be made.
The meeting was about to adjourn
when Mr.. Walther arose with a ques-
ton chat he deemed of Importance
He wanted to know why the county |
was paying for the bond of the county |
when the other officials had |
to pay for their own.
Director Joyce said that question |
should be addressed to the solicitor,
who was not present. 1t was matter
of legality.
County Auditor Worrell was present
and was allowed to express an opinion
on the subject. He said the bill had
been called to his notice. He called
to the fact that he had been
elected Auditor to look after the inter
ests of the county and he did not pro
pose to paw this bill until somebody
showed him a law that made it legal
for him to do so.
This ended the business and the
Board adjourned.
If the Auditor had waited little
while before making his speech he
might have found that the matter
would settle itself. That the charge is
legal is beyond question. The law of
1916 settles this question. 1t is not
very lengthy and we print it. 1t reads
thus: Every bond given hereafter
by any public official of the state or of
any county or municipality or school
district, pursuant to any law or ordi-
nance, may have as the surety there