The Penn's Grove record., 1919-12-12
Concrete Roads Wanted
How To Get Money To Spend On
Roads The Great Problem

it was OF the most important SEES
sions of the year. Besides a vast
amount of routine business transacted
the Board agreed to take up the ques-
ton of constructing the concrete ex-
tension of the Salem-Penns Grove road
from Canal Bridge all the way to
Pennsvi1le instead of stopping at
Churchtown as was originally intended.
If this can be done it Will soon mean
mother mile of the road built in 1920,
thus bringing the dream of a perma-
nent highway all the way from Salem
to Penns Grove that much nearer real
iEation.
1t was at the afternoon session that
a large delegation of the Salem Cham
Der of Commerce appeared before the
Board in the interest of this project. The
delegation was headed by President S.
l.. Sinnickson and was composed of
prominent business men of Salem and
Lower Penns Neck. There are a few
farmers and business men of the W
ship who are members of the Chamber
of Commerce.
After a discussion which consumed
over two hours and in which most OF
the F~reeholders and members of the
committee took part it was decided to
have a committee of the Board join
with a committee from the Salem
Chamber of Commerce and the Penns
Grove Chamber for the purpose of ar
ranging plans of procedure and to go
before the State Highway Commission
at it's january meeting and ask for
further State aid so that the proposed
extension of the road can be completed
next year with the original section.
F~reeholders Reeves and Horner have
been very active in favor of the ex-
tension and the former presented a Pc
tition signed by 6S taxpayers who use
the road daily. Mr.. Heron stated that
he also had a petition with rs names
but forgot to bring it along. The dis
cussion was conducted with the great
est degree of harmony, although many
of the Freeho1ders could not see how
the increased amount of work could
be financed at this time.
When President Sinnfckson had stat
ed the object of the visit of the dele
cation, Director Gray called upon En-
gineer Keasbey who gave a clear state
ment of the finances of the County as
they bore on the business of building
new roads. He said that the Board
had been able to secur only about
$4,000 of the 800, 900 asked from the
State Highway Commission to be taken
from the vehicular fund OF this
amount only S25, 900 was available for
the concrete road from Canal Bridge
to Churchtown. He could not give
any hopes of the Board being able to
finance any more of this road in 1920.
Mr.. Smashey aid that at that rate
the road would be finished sometime
after most of the present generation
had no further use for roads. He ad-
vocated building all of the roads into
Salem now.
Mr.. Heron and others pointed out
tina the road is needed now. The
Board has mad no provision for keep
ing the road in condition next year,
and that in another year it would be
in such condition as to make it inn
possible for travel. 1t has been re-
paired in former years with oyster
shells but those who use the road do
not want this kind of material used
any more.
Mr.. Crispin said that if they waited
two more years they would have moth
ing to travel on. He also called at
tention to the fact that it was the most
travelled road in the County. that one
out of every ten cars seen on the road
was from some other state.
Edward G. Gayner said that as the
road was really needed it should be
completed at once all of the way to
Salem within the next two years.
There was no reason for delay when a
thing of this Importance was to be
lone some time.
NIL. eoAo Niok
is a great hold back to the prosperity
of Salem. Besides it kept families
from the city who were waiting only
for a good road to come here. They
would not come as long as the road
was in it's present shape.
Among those who took part in the
discussion were Messrs. F. E. Hurley,
o w. Acton, H. J. Mangan, Secretary
Foster and Freeholders Reeves, Gaven-
ia NAV ROrtOn and Powers.
1t was on Mr.. Heron's motion that
the committee was appointed to act
with the committee of the two Cham
bers of Commerce. This committee
VIII be made up of the Road Commit
tee of the Board together with Mr..
Heron and Engineer Keasbey.
Farm DemOnstratOr Retained
Another delegation to come before
the Board was one composed of farm
ers who appeared in support of the re-
tentfon of the farm demonstration. In
this delegation was Professor j. A.
Clinton, of State College, who gave a
ten minutes talk during which he
showed the great and valuable work
that had been done by and through
Farm Demonstration Brodie last year.
He referred to fighting the hog cholera
and the work on potato scale which in
one instance had saved one farmer
SO. 900. He stated that Mr.. Brodie had
been called to Ohio at a salary OF
5000. but that in County Agent Girls
sey they had secured an able successor.
He asked the Boar to grant an appro-
priation for 1920 that would pay $500
of the farm demonstrators salary and
also the expenses of his office. The
amount should be $4,000.
Agent Crissey was introduced to the
Board and made a short address in
which he outlined the work he would
have before him for the year.
Vice President Crispir of the County
Agricultural Board said that it was the
general opinion among farmers of the
County that the agent should be re-
tanned. Charles r. Hires also spoke
for the retention and proper support
of the department.
BY a unanimous vote it was decided
TO make the farm demonstration for
1920 the amount asked by the state
Agricultural department which is
$4,000.
An Important Conference