The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-01-26
The State H'way Sys-
tenn As Il Affects
HunterdOn County

created by an act of the Legislature |
in 1917 and was composed of fifteen
routes connecting important cities |
throughout the State. The only route |
in the system that enters Hunterdon
County is Route Number 9, running |
from Elizabeth to Phillipsburg, APP
proximately sixteen miles of which |
from Bloomsbury to County line east
of White House, are within Hunter
don County. Only one highway, |
Route No. l6, has been added to the |
system by the Legislature since the
passage of the original act.
Theoretically, as the name, State
Highway System, implies, only roads
of Statewide Importance are includ-
ed Hence, in presenting route
for the consideration of the Legisla-
ture, its general, rather than local,
Importance should be emphasized.
With this fact in mind. those in
terested in procuring a north and
south route through Hunterdon Co.,
selected the highway running from
the State Capitol at Trenton, north
ward by way of Woodsvile, through
the County Seat of Hunterdon; thence
connecting with Route . at Clinton,
where the State Reformatory is 10
Gated and not far from the State
farm at Annandale; thence to Glen
Gardner, where the State tuberculosis
Sanatorium is located and thence TO
Washington, connecting with Route
and thence to Butt2ville, connecting
with Route u and over It to the Co.
seat Of Warren County,
ALSO EFFECTS BUCKS CO.. PA.
This proposed route is added spur
from the Delaware River Bridge at
Lambertville to Ringoes, this being
part of the Old York Road leading
from Philadelphia to New York over
which a large amount Of north and
south traffic passes daily. (And
as The Pennsylvania Highway Depart
ment is preparing to put n concrete
| paving on the York Road from Will
| low Grove to New Hope, this connect
ing link between the two states would
create valuable highway to both
sides Of the Delaware. Pennsylvania
has been wise in planning to use con-
crete on this stretch of their high
way system, because thereby they
secure Federal aid to the extent of
some $4,000 mile for the York
Road work from Willow Grove to
New Hope, which is connected with
Lambertvile by the Delaware River
Bridge.)
| Senator Agans introduced in the N
Jersey Senate last week, Senate Bin
Number G6, providing for an amend
ment to the act including the above
outlined route in the State Highway
Sysem as Route No. II. To procure
the passage of this Bill and its APP
proval by the Governor, it is import
ant to advance every legitimate argu-
ment for its inclusion in the State
System and the situation requires the
earnest cooperation of every indi-
vidual taxpayer.
| The local Importance of this effort,
from a financial standpoint, can scarce
| ly be over estimated. AT the pres
ent time, Huntcrdon County is over
burdened with the care and manten-
anee of Ga miles Of county roads,
many of which are worn so that they
are becoming increasingly difficult to
keep in order. Traffic is heavier each
| year and the burden correspondingly
greater. The proposed route, No. II
would include "a miles of roads now
maintained by the County (besides
| ten miles of new road from Fleming
| ton to Clinton, which the county
surveyor estimates will require an
average annual up-keep cost of 49,
10000 per mile, $40 900 90 or an extra
ordinary reconstruction cost mt $751;
100000 per mile, totaling 1850, 900. 90.
If this cost can be placed upon the
State, it is apparent that a tremen-
dous burden will be lifted from the
shoulders of Hunterdon taxpayers for
all time. Ultimately it would mean
a modern concrete highway through
| the county, costing the State over II
million dollars.
The $40 1000 100000 bond bill is re-
stricted to the existing State High
way System 80 that the only cN2en-
ditures directly from that source eff
fecting this County would be on Route
Number Q. However, it is estimated
that approximately $4,000 600 90 will
be raised by automobile fees and part
Of this money will be available for the
construction Of new highways Mil
lions Of dollars are being expended in
New Jersey for Highways and it is
exceedingly important to the taxpay-
ers Of Hunterdon that the State as
sumes some Of their local highway
burden since much Of the traffic comes
from without our county
The situation is so urgent and inn
portant that the question Of the To-
cal routes taken, matters little. The
main idea now is to relieve the county
Of the burden Of the up-keep Of ex
listing county roads (the exact local
roads finally selected being Of second
airy Importance and other benefits
will follow
What is needed is united effort
on the part Of all TO the end, that the
members Of theLegislature will see
| their way clear to pass the Act and
the Governor TO approve it. The
hope Of the Board Of Freeholders and
the Highway Committee is that local
controversies and political friction win
combine in big and effective effort