The Penn's Grove record., 1921-03-11
County FreehOlders
Discuss Bridges
Trolley Wants To Cross Penns
Neck Bridge. Heavy Fines
For Fast Traffic On Bridges

meeting of the County Board of Free
holders on Wednesday afternoon to
ascertain the exact condition of the
Penns Neck bridge, with the ultimate
purpose of connecting up the line of
the Salem-Penns Grove Traction Com
pany by granting permission to x
tend the track across the structure.
The afternoon was given over princl-
pally to hearing of the Executive
Commute of the Salem Chamber of
Commerce on the proposition to m
ploy an expert bridge engineer to
make a thorough examination of the
bridge and render a report as to its
safety for all kinds of travel at the
present time and also to give an opin-
ion as to whether or not the several
spans can be so strengthened as to
permit the carrying of trolley cars
with the approval OF the State Board
of Utility Commissioners.
The hearing was notable for the
way in which every possible point was
brought out that had direct bearing
on the project. The fact that a con-
sulting engineer from Philadelphia
had voluntarily made a superficial eX-
animation of the bridge that morn
lllS ollu hdo P1CoC1lC W 51NC oNNANC
and data from the vast source of ex-
make the hearing one Of the most
complete and enlightening that has
been held in some years. This en-
gineer was Mr.. Amos w. Barnes, who
for man. years was identified with
the Pencoyd Bridge Works and had
participated in many of that. corpora
TONS most important building pro
jects. Mr.. Barnes came to Salem at
the request of his friend, Rev. E. j.
Perot, for the special purpose of CIV
ing the bridge a preliminary examin-
alton.
Briefly stated the opinion of Mr..
Barnes was that it would be necessary
for an engineer with an assistant to
spend a week or perhaps longer in
going over every part of each span
and then make computations and
drawings from which an intelligent
and correct report could be made. He
estimated that this work would cost
approximately $500. The Chamber of
Commerce presented a proposition
that the Board of Freeholders agree
to such an examination, the County
to pay o%ne-fourth of the expense of
the engineers, the Chamber of Com
merce to pay one-fourth and the
Salem-Penns Grove Traction Company
to pay the balance of $3.50.
In the absence of Director Grey,
who had occupied the chair at the
morning session, but was obliged to
be absent, the afternoon session was
presided over by Freebooter Borton,
of Woodstown.
Besides the members of the EXecu-
tive Committee and other members of
the Chamber of Commerce there were
present Mr.. Jere English, of the Lower
Penns Neck Civic Association, who
came armed with a numerously signed
petition from the people of his local
ity who want the trolley to run
across the bridge so that they can
go to Salem without walking from
one cal to another through all kinds
of weather and carrying all kinds OF
packages and bundles.
The hearing was opened by Mr..
Isaac C. Smashey, Chairman of the
Chamber of Commerce Executive
Committee, who made a clear presen
tation of the case and the needs OF the
trolley company and the people. He
was followed by Mr.. English who
spoke for P~ennsville, Churchtown and
Deep Water in the name of the Civic
Association. He said that his people
not only wanted the improvement but
were fully aware that it would prob
ably mean expense to them, which
they were willing to pay.
Other speakers for the project were
President Summerlin, former Sheriff
Mifflin, Samuel Klein and the Secre-
tary. Mr.. Barnes made a concise
statement of the conditions as far as
he found them and how the County
should proceed to get at full informa-
ton. He was asked many, questions
by members of the Board.
Mr.. Weldon, of the Board, went
over the subject very fully and advo-
Gated the examination with the idea
of setting at rest the question as to
the safety of the bridge and to find
out whether it could be strengthened
to carry the trolley.
Engineer Keasbey gave a brief
history of the bridge and the several
inspections that had been made throw
ing much light OH the subject.
Freebooter Heron also spoke in
favor of the inspection for the general
good and the benefit of the trolley
company which could not survive I'M
less it had the chance to increase its
traffic. He made the motion that the
Board cooperate with the Chamber
Chamber of Commerce and the Com
pany and bear its share of o~ne-fourth
the expense of the inspection and re-
port. 49,.
After some further discussion this
motion prevailed and then Mr.. Ga
venta made a motion that the Bridge
Committee with the County Engineer
be authorized to act for the Board,
with power, in conjunction with he
Chamber of Commerce and he Com
panv, which was also adopted.
The engineer to make the inspec-
ton will be selected by the three
bodies. e.
At the morning session resolutions
we're adorted which gave the Free
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