The Penn's Grove record., 1919-02-14
Much County Road Work
Big Bond Issue and Many improvements Needed

toward making the country prosper
Gus in 1919 was indicated by the plans
laid down and the appropriations made
by the Board of Chosen Freeholders
at their meeting on Wednesday. Not
only will the Freeholders eXpend large
sums of money in repairing and re-
building roads and bridges, but they
also voted Salem $4,000, Woodstown
$4,000 and Elmer 5000 to help those
municipalities in their program Of
street improvement. With the help
given by the County, Salem will have
100000 to eXpend on her streets this
year. Woodstown will eXpend $4,000
on her main streets and Elmer will be
able to make much needed improve
ment. All this will give many men
employment:
In the County the Freeholders will
build the Malaga-Penns Grove road,
sections 3, 4, 5 and 7, for which a bond
issue of $125,000 will be arranged with
the banks of the County. The State
road from Woodstown to Swedesboro,
which is in very bad condition, will be
put in good shape if the Freeholders Of
Gloucester County agree to do their
share. The road from Lower Canal
Bridge to duPont's Plant No. 2 will
also be built.
Besides the Freeholders adopted the
estimate of the Engineer which calls
for the expenditure of $104, 900 on all
roads of the County.
The plans and specifications for the
new Cranberry bridge were also ap-
proved and bids for its construction
will be invited at once.
1t was the busiest meeting that has
been held for a year. For the first time
in many months there was a real
crowd of taxpayers present. Woods
town had by far the largest crowd,
over a dozen of the members of the
Chamber of Commerce having come
down to boost for an appropriation
for their own streets as we'll as for
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. road and
the Penns Grove-W road.
Their plea for the latter was particu-
larly strong, as they claimed that al
ready a number of men of standing
at the dye works at Deep Water had
brought their families there and others
would remove from Wilmington if
they are assured that a better road
will be built from Woodstown to Penns
Grove.
The Street Committee and other
officials of Elmer were present and
Mayor Grier spoke for Salem.
The Elmer delegation said they were
prepared to spend $500 if the County
would give a like amount toward
building the link between Chestnut
and Front Streets. They also were
ready to put up 10 per cent. of the
cost of rebuilding a portion of Main
Street which is a township road. This
they wanted made of concrete. Late
in the afternoon the Board conceded
both requests.
Every member of the Woodstown
Chamber of Commerce, including
Messrs. Crispin, Snellbaker, Andrews,
Newton, Richman, J. f. Watson, John
E. Driver and others addressed the
Board. The Board granted the ap-
preparation of $4,000 and assured
them that the work on the Woodstown-
Penns Grove road would be pushed
and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. road
repaired in due time.
Mayor Grier told of the intended eN-
penditures on the streets of Salem
and said that at this time it was par
ticularly necessary to make public I'M
provements in order to give employ
ment to men that might otherwise be
idle this year.
Road Bond Issue
The matter of building the Malaga
Penns Grove road, section 3, 4, D and
7, was taken up at the afternoon SEES
sion after the delegations of taxpay--
ers had been heard. Solicitor Hilllard
reported that they had been success
full in making arrangements with the
banks of the County to take the $40,
900 of the 100000 bond issue at a
rate of 4 90-100 per cent, but that the
banks wanted the Board to issue the
bonds in denominations of $1,000 each
with coupons. The bank representa-
tives had met the Finance Committee
in conference and letters had been re-
ceived from some of them in which
they stated just what proportions OF
the issue they would take. The banks
agreed to take allotments as follows;
Penns Grove National ......S 25,OUO
Salem National Banking Co.,. 25,O00
City National, Salem ........ l22,000
First National, Elmer ....... 25,00o
First National, Pedricktown.. 2O,000o
Salem County Trust Co....... 1,20100
First National, Woodstown . I'5oo
A number of private parties had eN-
pressed a willingness to take portions
of the issue but it was decided to give
it all to the banks. The County VIII
receive go interest on all deposits
made in these banks.
On motion of Mr.. Borton it was de-
cided to apportion the issue among
the banks.
A resolution authorizing the bona
issue of $780, 900 which had been pre-,
pared by the solicitor was adopted ana
the Director and the clerk were IN
structed to have the bonds printed
A resolution to appropriate the pro.
ceeds of the bonds to the building OF
the Malaga-Penns Grove road, sectlohs
3, a., 5, and z, was adopted.
The schedule prepared by Engineer
Sparks giving the amounts estlmateu
to be expended on the several roaaS
of the County was read and accepted.
A resolution approving the schedules
and authorizing the Director anu