The Penn's Grove record., 1920-06-18
Permanent Roads
A Great Problem
FreehOlders Urge Laws To Re-
strict Size and Weight of
Motor Trucks

Motor Trucks
Realizing the necessity of making
a permanent highway out of the
Salem-Penns Grove road by complet-
ing the section between the canal
bridge and the county seal in the
quickest possible time the Board of
F'reeholders at their meeting on June
9th, decided upon an amount to be
asked from the State Highway Com
mission from the motor vehicle fund
chat will enable them to complete sew
eral miles of the concrete work from
C~hurchtown, south, during 1921. The
State Highway Commission met
in the Hotel Dennis, Atlantic City,
Saturday morning, 12h, att 1890
o'clock for the purpose of hearing the
claims of certain counties so that they
can make a partition of the motor We
hicle fund that will be available for
State Road building after July 1st.
Among the counties heard is
Salem and the Board authorized the
Road and Finance Committees to-
gether with the County Engineer, H.
IL. hCdoOCyy LII doolSIdllly OdIilto
Sparks, to attend the meeting. The
motor transportation committee and
he president and secretary of the
Salem Chamber of Commerce also
attended because they have been asked
to come back and renew their claim
for financial assistance to finish the
Salem-Penns Grove road as soon as
possible.
The Freeholders were shown a
table prepared by Engineer Keasbey
as to the probable needs of the county
in the way of State aid for road build
ing next year. This year the COM
mission cut the county's appropriation
10 $4,000, when it was clearly dem
onstrated to them that twice that sum
was required TO help carry out the
program of permanent road construc-
ton.
How Roads Are Ruined
Director Gray called the Boards at
tention to the way in which our roads
are being cut up by heavy motor
trucks which use the highways at no
cost to their owners but which means
a heavy burden on our taxpayers.
Director Gray said that highways are
used by people from other counties
and other states and help to ruin them
and do not contribute anything to-
wards their building or upkeep. On
the other hand the owners of these
trucks are quick to complain If. our
roads are not in good condition or if
by reason of their being in bad condi-
ton the trucks are damaged.
In this connection a communication
from the State Highway Commission
was read which included a resolution
to this effect:
"The New Jersey State Highway
Commission declare itself in favor OF
urging the passage of laws which will
first, restrict the size and weight OF
motor trucks allowed to operate on
the highways of the State; second
that there be an increase IN the an
nual registration fees of motor trucks
to amounts nearly commensurate with
the damage done by such vehicles to
said highways"
1t was first determined to ask the
Commission for $150,C0U, but at the
afternoon session after hearing the
needs of the City of Salem as told by
Chairman Morgan of Councils Street
Committee it was decided TO ask fol-
an additional $4,000. This sum viii
be required by the city to rebuild Its
portion of the road leading into Elsln'
boro township which runs to the rlvel
shore and t he Salem Country Club
The township has p%etitioned for STATE
aid to the amount of $4,000 to make
a good road and the city will have tc
repair it's portion in order that a rea
highway may be completed. 1t Is
roughly estimated that Salem's por'
ton of the road will require all OF the
$40. 900 and the present plans contem,
plate making the base this year ant
putting on a hard surface next year
Unfortunately the county has nc
funds available this year to help along
the good work. 1t is generally con-
coded that the Elsinboro road is az
important avenue of traffic although
il is not a State road.
Road Too Narrow
While the Board was on the matter
of roads MI. Heron called attention tt
the trouble that has arisen at the CEN
etery at C~hurchtown, where the con,
crete road is being built toware
Pennsville. While the original SUI
vevs call for a three rod road the
highway is very marrow at this POM
and it is very doubtful whether the
county can get a twenty-foot roadway
at this point. 1t was asserted thai
The property owners at his point hae
encroached on the public highway ant
at the suggestion of Mr.. Gaventa Of
,he Road Committee the Board wen'
out there as a committee of the whole
after adjournment and investigated
e is expected that the matter can be
amicably adjusted so that the proper
width of road can be secured without
distressing anyone.
The Finance Committee submitted
table showing the tax rates in the var
ious counties of the State for 1871
This table showed that Salem county
IS the eighth highest with a rate OF
691s cents. Las. year the rate was
Sc. Gloucester is the highest with
rate of S1.O66, while Ocean is secone