Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-04-06
Observation-Disclosures NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
COMMENT From the
ELMER TIMES
IMPRESSIONS OF THE NEW HIGH
WAY COMMISSION
From the
ELMER TIMES


the intention of giving every portion
of the State a square deal, including
South Jersey. If their action proves
as good as their promises we may con-
fidently look for proper treatment in
road problems. While there is
much disappointment over the failure
to name one member of the Commits
sion from South Jersey, we may still
be congratulated
IF the day of browbeating boards
of freeholders is to be a thing of the
past.
IF a member of a board may now be
permitted to voice openly his opinions
on road locations and material for
building without knowing that he and
the district he represents will be pun
ished if he happens to differ with an
all-wise state road Kaiser.
IF the building of roads shall cease
to be a matter of barter and trade for
votes.
IF the day is past when a board
may have an expensive patent paving
contract slipped over on it without
getting its eyes open until too late to
retrace it's steps.
IF you tickle me and I'll tickle
you," shall cease to be a Highway
Commission policy.
One of the last acts performed by
the New Jersey Legislature before
final adjournment last Friday ven
ing was the passage of a number of
bills over the veto of Governor Silzer,
adding a considerable amount of mile
age to the State Highway system.
Among them was Senate Bill No. SO,
introduced by Senator Allen, of Salem
County, at the behest of residents of
Elmer and Woodstown, which desig-
mates as Route IS, the road from
Pennsgrove to Atlantic City. a little
over 60@miles in length, and passing
through the counties of Salem, Glou-
cester and Atlantic. All but % miles
of the road are already improved with
concrete or asphalt, the gravel sur
faced portion lying between Woods
town, Salem County and Downstown,
at the Gloucester-Atlantic County line.
The road in question is one of the
most important in the southern end of
the state. 1t is in no sense a local
road, although it bears a great deal
of local travel, but is primarily an
Interstate highway, being the most
direct route from Wilmington, Wash
ington and all points South to Atlantic
City, the Queen of all seashore resorts.
Throughout the summer months the
road accommodates a constant stream
of cars bearing license tags of almost
every state in the union and the pres
ent gravel surface is totally made
quate to handle the situation. Real
izing the Importance of the road, At
lantic County has already improved
the large mileage within her borders
at a tremendous outlay of money.
Salem County has also expended a
considerable sum upon the road, hav-
ing hard surfaced the portion from
Pennsgrove to Woodstown, but has not
been able to complete the work be-
cause of the heavy drain on the funds
of the county in other directions.
1t is to be hoped that the new High
way Commission can see their way
clear to make some immediate i'm
provements to a part or all of the I'M
completed portions of the highway.
The matter was clearly brought to
their attention on Thursday of last
week, when they made their initial
visit to Salem County. At the time
of that hearing the road was not a
part of the highway system as the bill
was at that time vetoed by the Gov
ernor, but the action of the Legisla-
ture the following day brought it back
to life and places it directly in the
power of the Commission to improve
as they see fit.
Members of the Highway Commits
sion have unoficially stated that they
are in sympathy with the pressing
need of the road and have promised
action as soon as the time arrives
when action is possible. 1t is also
stated that the Governor has expressed
himself favorably in regard to the
road, and all Salem County will await
with interest to see what action will
be taken. Federal aid is already avail
able to assist the state in the con-
struction of the road.
Chairman Scott, of the Commission,
made special effort at the conference
in Salem to impress upon the gather
ing that the new Commission had the
interests of South Jersey at heart
even if they did not reside here. Gen
eral Scott said: Because there has
been some criticism of the fact that
none of the members of this board
happen to reside in the southern part
of the state, we have come first to
South Jersey to reassure you of our
interest and desire to help you with
your road problems.
1--WE don't belong to the North, the
Central or the Southern part of Jer-
sey-we belong to the entire state. 1t
is the purpose of this Commission to
divide the money for road work fairly
and impattially. We are going as