The Penn's Grove record., 1920-05-14
County Roads
A Great Problem
Board Of FreehOlders Order
Another Bridge And Dine
On Planked Shad

The May meeting of the County
Board of Chosen Freeholders use to
be the time of the yearly organization,
before the fiscal year was changed to
January 1st. The members of the
Board and County officials always had
their annual feast on that date with a
cheerful social, most cheerful years
ago mostly when there was a change
OF party officials. Notwithstanding
the change of the fiscal year the feast
Gay continues. At their meeting on
Wednesday the annual shad dinner was
held at the Country Club house or Ell
sinboro shore.
But Salem's efficient officials always
attend to business before pleasure so
it will be most proper to tell what was
transacted in the Court House, in
Salem.
Director Harry P. Gray presided.
Current bills were ordered paid. They
amounted to thousands of dollars be-
cause of the expensive presidential
primary election.
An appropriation of $500 was made
for the use of the Almshouse Trustees.
The Director and Collector were au-
thorized to borrow $4,000 from Salem
National Bank in anticipation of taxes.
While there was $4,000 on hand at
this meeting they will take most of it
and more will be needed by the time
of the next meeting. This shortage is
because the U. S. Government has not
paid $4,000 on the road account; Up
per Penns Neck Township Committee
mas not paid $6,969.99 and Manning
ton has not paid $6,135.07 on road ac-
counts.
The committee on Jail reported 8 in
jail and % in the road camp. Twen-
ty-four commitments had been made
during the month and 10 discharged.
The cost was 24.3 cents a day in Jail
and 48 cents in the road camp.
Superintendent of Schools H. c.
Dixon informed the Board that his
clerk for school work had quit for a
better paying position. He would en-
deavor to get another for the amount
of money the law allows $500 a year.
The members received an Invitation
to attend the annual banquet Of the
Woodstown Chamber of Commerce on
the goth. 1t will be furnished by the
domestic science scholars of the high
school.
Two bids were received for the con-
struction of a REINFORCED concrete
bridge and spilway at Wards mill in
Elmer. One from George w. Charles
worth, of Elmer, at $9,884.04 and the
other from Samuel Campbell, Bridge
ton at $9983.36. There was ony $99.32
difference in the two bids and the low
est bid was within $500 of the Engi-
neer's estimate. The contract will be
awarded Mr.. Charlesworth.
The Board received formal notice
that the State has taken over that por-
ton of Route No. 6 of the State High
way System that extends from Woods
town to Salem and also the small strip
from Shirley to the Cumberland Coun-
ty line. Market Street, we under
stand, was not included as had been
hoped for, but a stop made at the
Covered Bridge.
A resolution was passed accepting
the road between Auburn and o
town to be a county road.
Z. S. Foster told the Board that the,
citizens of Elmer were voluntarily
working to make a pleasure park.
There was an embankment OF gravel
on the side of the county road which
was an obstruction to the entrance to
the park where many vehicles Will
c~ongregate. He asked the Board If
they would appropriate money for re.
moval of the obstruction. They voted
500.
The proposition to buy a truck for
the County to use was voted down.
The hiring of men to drive trucks on
the road was left to Supervisor Abner
Patrick.
After the transaction of business
members of the Board, County Of
fcials, representatives of the press,
also other officials from other towns,
prominent citizens and State Road Of
ficials from Trenton went by automo-
bile to the Country Club, Elsinboro
shore. After shifting the ozone from
the placid waters of the brackish river
and viewing old Fort Delaware, Del
City and the passing steamers
all, to the number of 81, enjoyed a
luscious feast of planked .shad with
vegetables and relishes, spread with
steward FoX's best culinary art.
County Engineer Howard Keasbey
was postmaster. After giving some
historic "reminiscences of Elsinboro and
the County he introduced the several
visitors all of whom were enthusiastic
for the best of roads to be had. The
greatest problem was where the money
was to come from. P. S. Foster gave
figures CLEANED from the stats
tics of taxables and census in the State
that made Salem citizens feel rich
enough to pay for the best. While
Salem County was 10Th in the list OF
he counties in total valuation 1T stood
third in per capita valuation.
State Highway Engineer, w. G.
stated the Commissioners
l. l11~ Co,,f1 Tnrcoy