The Penn's Grove record., 1920-12-10
County FreehOlders
Last Yearly Meeting
More Prisoners In Jail. Pros
pect of More Taxes Next
Year

The Salem County Board OF Chosen
Freeholders adjourned sine die on
Wednesday afternoon after what was
one OF its longest and most interest
ing regular meetings of 1920. The
new Board will meet at loon on Satur-
day, January LIST, 1921, New Years
Day, for the purpose OF organization.
One. of the new members took his
seat in the meeting of the old Board
on Wednesday. This was John M.
Weldon, of Carneys Point, who
was elected for Upper Penns Neck
Township for the full three years
term beginning January. He was APP
to fill the unexpired term of A. X.
Brandriff, who resigned to take up
the duties of the office of Sheriff to
which he was elected in November.
Mr.. Weldon was sworn into office on
Wednesday morning and took a very
great interest in the proceedings, be-
ing especially concerned during the
discussion of the question of the road
building with particular stress on the
continuation OF the construction of the
concrete road from Salem to Church
town.
The new concrete section of the
Pennsville-Penns Grove road from
Canal Bridge to Churchtown was for
mally accepted by the Freeholders.
A committee of the Salem Chamber of
Commerce, headed by former Free
holders Clerk Isaac Smashey, was
present to urge that the completion
of the road to Salem be hurried as
fast as possible without resorting to a
bond issue to meet the cost. This
committee also urged the making of a
permanent highway out of the road
from Salem to Quinton.
Mr.. Smashey presented the claims
of the people of Salem and vicinity
for permanent and good roads lead
ing in and out of the city. Although
Salem is the capitol of the County
it has not one substantial and up to
date approach. While large sums of
money have been expended in perman-
road building in the northern section.
This committee has taken the matter
up with Engineer Keasbey and had
also met with the Road Committee.
1t was felt that it would be a grave
mistake to curtail new and permanent.
road building in 1921 and that the
Freeholders should pursue their tenta-
tive program in that line and also
seek the greatest possible amount
from the motor vehicular fund by the
policy of putting up dollar for dollar
or to match with County money receiv-
ed from the Highway Commission,
There would be no good coming in the!
long run by making a lower tax rate
for the people and losing to them the
better roads because the commission
would not give as much money the
coming year al was appropriated IN
1920. atoms .uoI.. e.e5 =.
~ Mr.. Smashey also spoke in favor OF
the building of a permanent roadifrom
Salem to Quinton because it is one OF
the most travelled highways inosthe
County. He said it would be foolish
for the Board to take his word or any
ones unsupported word as to the
amount of travel over either OF the
roads and he advocated a traffic GEM
sus for the purpose of finding put Jusp
how much travel there; is over every;
road in the County. -
President Summerlin, of, the Cham
Der of Commerce, also made a strong
plea for the continuance OF the work
on the road north from Salem and the
building of a good roadbed between
here and Quinton. !.
There was a spirited discussion OF
the matter and an informal vote
showed that the Board was unanimous
for matching the State dollar for dol
lar in providing funds for permanent
road construction. At least another
mile of the road between Salem and
C%hurchtown will be built next sum-
mer.
Prior to the discussion on the road
construction the Finance ommlttee
submitted a statement which explain
ed the financial situation and gave an
estimate of the amount that it would
be necessary for the County to raise
to meet all legitimate demands IN
1921. A subsequent statement from
the County Collector showed that
while the Board had appropriated
funds for the several departments to
the amount of $422 900 for 1921, the
unexpended balance at the end OF Ihe
YEAR would not exceed $500. The
finance COMMITTEES report had txed
the ~unexpended balance at approxlm-
atelv $4,000. The latter statement
also showed that it would be necessary
to raise in the neighborhood of $685.,
1925 for all purposes in 81 and
hat while the tax rate was 900 on
the hundred dollars for 1920 it would
not be less than $1.14 for 1871.
The estimated increase TO pc ra1 Ht
hv taxation amount to $9~5,232.65: The
psstables in 1920 were $50, 797, 10000 GOO
T. IS assumed that they will be $751;
600, 100000 in 1921. r.u &c
Contractors Allowed oi
Time
Because they could not finish their r
oontracts before the winter set IN ~
was agreed to allow the contractors OF
Woodstown road and the foartr p.n n,,s
sfth sections Of the Maiaga-fe ems
r r.sm road an extension of time until
June Tse li bill Of Charles F. Brown. who no
was sent to Penn. y e ca to eTlo on a.