Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-22
COUNTY T0F|X
MANY BRIDGES;
BIC DAMAGES
Hold Meeting, View Damage
Done by Storm, and Then
Resume Afternoon Session
PLANS TO BE DRAWN
Aim to Fix Several Small
Bridges in County in Tenn
porary Way
PERMANENT REPAIRS
Plan to Put All Spans and Cul-
verts in Good Shape in
Short Time

NEW BRUNSWICK, July "a
Following a three-hour inspection
through the southern section of the
county late yesterday afternoon,
viewing the damage done to bridges
and roads as a result of the deluge
the early part of the week, the
members of the board of freeholders
passed resolution authorizing the
repairs needed as a result of the
elements.
County Engineer Alvin B. Fox.
who also made the trip of inspec-
tion, was instructed to Immediately
prepare plans and estimates of cost
and submit to the board.
In the meantime emergency re-
pairs are under way so that bridges
now out of commission may be
opened to traffic. Watchmen have
also been placed at the bridge ap-
proaches to prevent any possibility
of accidents to the travelling public.
The bridges on the road from Old
Bridge to Matawan and on the road
from Spotswood to Englishtown are
now closed to traffic, portions have
been forced out of place during the
time the water in the streams was
so swollen. Every effort is now
being made to make timber repairs
so that the bridges may be opened
to the weekend traffic.
Much time was devoted to a dis
cussion of the damage to county
property done recently as a result
of the heavy transforms at the start
of the weekly meeting of the Board
of F'reeholders, and after reports of
the various freeholders had been
received it was decided to make II
tour of the county, inspect the
damaged roads and bridges and take
steps for immediate repairs.
Freeholder Robert Vandenbergh
reported the washout of the county
bridge on the Spotswood- English
town road, where the great volume
of water had undermined the foun-
dations of the bridge and destroyed
it. This is on one of the important
roads carrying shoreward traffic and
requires instant attention. Mr.. Van
denbergh also reported the washing
away of another county bridge at
Old Bridge, on the Matawan road.
On the same road a third bridge has
been carried away by the heavy
rains. completely tying up traffic on
the road, another of the arteries of
travel to the shore.
Mayor George Burton, of South
River, appeared before the board and
advised the members of the badly
flooded condition of Daly's brook
that has prevailed in South River as
a result of the recent heavy rains.
During the past week much of the
lower section of the borough has
been under water. Mayor Burton
told the freeholders that this matter
had been one of great concern to the
borough for ten years and that plans
81 hn n hanf1
for the relief of the situation.
Most of the water comes down
from East Brunswick township
a series of small courses and
ponds. following the natural water
course that ends at South River.
Many of the ponds and streams car
rying the water are on private prop
erty. the mayor said. The course of
Daly's brook changes from time to
time and the proposition on foot to-
day is to widen and deepen the brook
where it passes through the bor-
ough and to construct culvert over
it. The cost of the project would be
approximately SIS 5000 and the coun-
ty will probably be asked to give So
900 of that amount, according 70
Mayor Burton.
County Engineer Alvin Fox.
aware or the COn0ltlOn at oOulH
River, gave it as his opinion that
the borough would always be flood
ed when heavy rains came, due to
its location at the end of the nat
ural course of the water coming
from the hills, but that the project
ed emergency repairs would no
doubt relieve the borough under
normal conditions.
The matter was referred to the
county engineer and to the engineer
of South River for a detailed report
next Thursday.
]. Randolph Appleby, attorney for
the borough of Spotswood, appeared
in reference to the brook flowing
under Main street in the borough
Year sago a culvert at the point
took care of the water in sood
shape, but about five years ago
thirty inch pipe was installed, prov
ing to be inadequate. The water
Facks up during the heavy rains
and lately many Easements have
Eeen flooded. 1t was suggested by
the Spotswood attorney that
larger pipe be placed in position
This point was one of those visited
by the board in its tour of inspec-
tion yesterday