The Penn's Grove record., 1922-02-10
The Old Covered
Bridge To Go
Sentimental Reasons Given For
Its Retention, But 1t Will Not
Stand Heavy Traffic

The contract for the reinforced
concrete construction of the Shirley
Oldmans Creek road, which is now a
part of section 5, route 8, of the Staoe
Highway SYSTEM, was awarded 10
Benjamin Foster Company, of Phlla-
delphia, by the Board of Chosen Free
holders at the regular monthly meet
ing on Wednesday. A resolution pro
viding for a bond issue of $285,OO0:OO
to V the appropriation was also
adopted. The contract price is SZo4'-
021 SO.
The Board also decided to ask the
State Highway Commission to build
a concrete culvert to take the place
of the old covered bridge at the north
ern end of Market Street, Salem'
crossing the Fenwick Greek. This ac-
ton was taken at the request Oh the
Salem Chamber of Commerce alter
the Board had heard a delegation OF
the Chamber for the proposition and
one from the Salem Woman's Cluo
Tbe Board of Directors of the
Chamber of Commerce had sent a
communication to the Board when
contained a copy of a motion adopted
in which the request for the modern
bridge was embodied. The Woman's
Club at their meeting on MONDAY
afternoon had taken up the matter
and for sentimental reasons as wen
as on the ground of economy declded
10 get up a petition asking that the
old bridge be retained if possible.
This petition as signed by a large
number of women of the city and also
nv some men. 1t was presented TO
the Board by Freebooter Reeves.
The hearing was held at the after
noon session. Mrs. Beckett spoke fol-
The Woman's Club and stated that
thew wanted to preserve all OF the
historic landmarks possible and they
believed that the covered bridge was
rood for many years to come.
A representative of the State de-
partment of bridges was present n
uuofficially gave a report as to M
condition of the bridge at the present
time, He said that the roadway OF
the bridge which is 10 feet is toon ar-
row for present purposes The bridge
being covered makes it dark and dam
gerous to the present character OF n
traffic. The stonemasonry abutments
on the north side are in bad condition.,
many of the stones being loose and
there being many cracks. The TIM
hers underneath are bent and badly
rotted, while the uprights are lnvarl-
ablv rotten, one being useless. The
flooring is very bad. He stated that
the capacity of the bridge would prob
ably stand five tons safely but it was
not fit for the heavier loads that 1T is
now being made to bear Any new
bridge that the State would bulld
would have a roadway of thirty feet,
with a six foot sidewalk and would
stand a truck load of twenty tons. IL
is likely that the bridge would con-
sist of two spans of twenty feet each
and would cost 100000. 1t might
cost a little more or a little less.
Mrs. Beckett stated that the Club
was not working in opposition to
ogr but wanted the a TO
consider the matter seriously and if 1t
thought any way advisable to leave
the bridge stand and repair it if that
can be done. If it is thought advisable
to replace the old bridge then they
thought that a suitable tablet might
he placed on it telling that it took
the place of the old bridge and giving
a brief account of that historic
structure.
It was stated that this was the in
variable practice of the State High
way Commission.
Among those who spoke in favor OF
the old bridge and state that the old
one is not fit for present service were
Messrs J.. William Gayner, Smith
Bessett, R. N. Vanneman, Isaac
Smashey, H. j. Mangan and Samuel
Klein.
Figures were produced to show that
the old bridge had been a source OF
heavy expense to the County and that
it would continue to be so with the
possibility of it going down at any
lime. II was also stated that the
taxpavers of the County would not
he saddled with the burden of build
ing the new bridge but that the money
would eventually come from the State
Department.
A petition from the Elsinboro
Township Committee asked that the
road from the lower end of oak
Street, Salem, known as the river
shore road through Cooked Hat to the
Salem-Hancock's Bridge road, be
constructed by the County as a per-
manent road 80 feet wide, the Town
ship agreeing to pay the usual ten
per cent. of the cost.
Messrs. Frank Powell and George
Hillman spoke in favor Of the petition
and the resolution of the Committee.
They claim that it is one of the most
travelled roads in the County and that
many of the autos that go owe it are
from outside of the County and the
State. It is in very poor condition
and the Township has had very little
from the County in the way Of road
building. This is one of the great
needs at the present time. The petit
ton and resolution were received and
filed.
A petition was also received from
Allowav Township in which the Town
ship offers to pay its share of ten per
cent. for the construction of the road
from the halfway house to Cohansey;
It was decided to nov the Road
Camn u,ban II ;s finished at its present