The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-03-11
Freeholders Discuss Many

L Questions
: The Board of Freeholders held i
: monthly meeting Wednesday with a
; the townships represented. A prop
sition was presented with the view
having some of the districts whic
want improved roads pay fair propo
ton of the cost of the work. TIL
places referred to were designate
"congested districts" among ther
being the city of Burlington. 1t Wa
thought it was no more than fair
ask these districts. which haze S
much travel over them and do niue
toward requiring repair work, to ali
in improving. Consequently resolu
ton was offered as follows:
Whereas, it is the opinion of the
road committee that where improve
ments to county roads are made il
congested districts the districts s.
benefited should pay a substantial por
ton of the cost of the improvement
and
Whereas it is the judgment of th,
road committee that the amount of thu
i cost to be borne by any district should
be in proportion to the benefit derived
and to the wealth of the community
therefore, be it
Resolved, that it be the policy of the
Board of Chosen Freeholders to refrain
from improving roads within longest
/ ed districts unless the district so bene
fitted should comply with the preamble
of this resolution
OF course this aroused the members
from districts that would be affected
Mr.. Smith, of Burlington township
did not relish the idea little bit. He
thought it would be very bad policy
to ask or require Burlington city to
appropriate money for roads through
that place. Taxes are high enough now
and to put more upon the people would
be unjust.
Mr.. .LeConey, of Chester, took the
opposite view. His township has been
paying portion of the cost of main
tenance for years, in fact has built
roads at its own expense. He was of
the opinion that the law makes it COM
pulsory on municipalities to pay por-
ton of the cost of Improvements. At
any rate he thought it good plan.
Chester has already bonded itself for
$4,000 to)build roads, and the people
in that township feel that they are not
getting aproper recognition, as other
townships, which have not done as
much in the movement, get large
share of the road money without obi
eating themselves for the benefit re-
ceived.
Mr.. Barrett, of Bordentown town
ship, was opposed to any movement
that would impose more taxes on the
people. He said there are many
municipalities that are unable to con-
tribute toward road building as the
resolution suggests.
Mr.. Bright, of the road committee,
said this resolution might be thought
to be ''knock" at Burlington, but
such was not the fact. No particular
place was in mind, but it was thought
this was good time to introduce an
idea that would be of benefit to all.
Mr.. Wright, chairman OF the road
committee, also disclaimed any inten-
ton of putting a burden on Burling-
ton. He referred to what Chester had
done, and he thought it was not any
more than fair that other municipal
tiles that are clamoring for work that
will cost thousands of dollaTs, should
be put on the same basis.
The roll was called, and for the first
time in the history of the board, posi-
bly,, there was an equal division, and
clerk Hawkins announced that the re-
suit was tie vote. This put it up to
Director Joyce to cast the deciding bal
lot and he voted in the affirmative.
Solicitor Peacock reported that he
had notified the officials of Borden
town city that the county is not liable
for the care of some culverts in that
city-a subject that has caused discus
sion more than once.
1t was ordered that bids be advertis-
ed for placing new deck on Ashby's
bridge and wooden block decks on the
Delanco and Hainesport bridges.
Chester township has offered to pay
a liberal portion of the expense of con-
structing sheet asphalt roadway
through Moorestown to connect with
the new road that was recently built
from one end of the township to Mer-
The offer was accepted,
and the engineer was directed to pre-
pare plans and advertise for bids.
A new bridge is to be built at Wad-
ing River, and the engineer was in
structed to prepare the necessary plans.
The county solicitor was directed to
bring suit against all transportation
companies that cause damage to draw
bridges unless they settle within sixty
days.
North Hanover officials had request
ed that the county accept the road be-
tween Cookstown and Jacobstown, but
the road committee reported that the
road is not yet in condition to war
rant it being accepted. The matter
was laid over temporarily.
The Medford Concrete Company was
awarded the contract for the compile
ton of Willow bridge at the price of
Sc, $50.
Two bids were submitted for a wood
pile trestle bridge near Georgetown.
Richard d. Garon, of Mount Holly,
bid 81 ,24S.SS and Louis d. Steele, of
Delanco, bid 1915. The latter was
given the work.
Solicitor Peacock'gaves some decisions
that were according to law, although
some might not have been appreciated.
One was that law passed by the last
legislature made it impossible for free
holders to get anything but mileage
for their services. A new law is being
considered which will give freeholders
SO per day and three cents per mile.
Another decision given by the solicitor
was to the effect that road bills cannot
be paid between meetings. A bill has
been introduced in the legislature with
the view of allowing bills to be paid
weekly.
No bids were received on the con
struction of new bridges at Midtown
on the Bridgeboro and Moorestowr