The Penn's Grove record., 1923-05-11
A OF F~REEHOLDERS
Report On#ROads
Penns Grove-Malaga Road

IeuIlS GEONe-AIdIdgd ROAD
We waited upon the State Highway
Commission on April 9th and sub
mitted to them a letter which reads in
part al follows:
"The committee desired me to also
inform the Commission that they de-
sired this hearing in order that they
might consult with the Commission
with reference to the State Highway
road work in Salem County, and also
in regard to the county system.
"The committee desires to become
familiar with the desires of the Com
mission, and to express to the Com
mission their desires, to the end that
a program for future work may be
decided upon.
"In particular, they desire to re-
quest the Commission 1st. To pave
in 1928 Route 6, Section 10, Quinton
to Marlboro. End. To take over the
Penns Grove-Atlantic City road, and
to pave such part thereof in 1928 as
may be possible. They desire especi-
ally to request the paving in 1928 of
the portion from Pittsgrove (Pole
Tavern to Elmer. Sd. To allot to
Salem County funds which will enable
Salem County to pave in 1928 or 1924.
(a) The Pedricktown-Peachey' Cor
ner Road.
part of the Pedricktown-Penns
Grove Road.
(b) The CarlT's Corner Road.
'The Board realizes the importance
of the Carll's Corner Road to Cum
berland County, but Pittsgrove Town
ship, in which the road lies, has not
expressed a willingness to pay 1919
of the cost.
"The Pedricktown-Peachey's Corner
Road will, in the opinion of the Board,
serve a greater number of people of
Salem County, will connect with a
State Highway at Peachey's Corner
and Oldmans Township, in which the
road lies, has agreed to pay 1870 of
the cost.
"Salem County has never built a
road unless the township was suffi-
GENTLY interested to pay 1919 and the
Board feels it unwise to deviate from
this policy"
The Commission informed US that
they had no money to take over or
build the Malaga-Penns Grove Road.
The proceeds of the $40, 000, 900 bond
issue cannot be applied to this road.
They informed us that it had been
decided to issue shorter term bonds for
the S40,0 00, 900 than that allowed in
the statute. This would save consid-
cradle interest, but would require a
larger sinking fund, with the result
that there would be no funds avail
able for other construction. They
suggested that the county build the
road or such part thereof as was ur-
gently necessary. The portion from
Elmer to Pole Tavern is about three
miles in length and at $40,000.O0 per
mile, would cost S120, 100000. Of this
the Federal Government would pay
~S16.25000 per mile and the township
100 of 81, 100000 per mile, if built by
the county. This would make q net
cost to the county of about
$50. 100000. The annual interest on the
county's share would be $500. AS
the State Highway Commission from
the Motor Vehicle Fund has been pay
ing one-half of the road maintenance,
This added to the annual interest
would make $4,000 annually avail
able for the. maintenance Of this
piece of road.
As much as we sympathize with
FImer's desire to be connected with
the State Highway System with a
concrete road, we do not feel justified
in recommending an expenditure OF at
least S6O,0OO.OO Of county funds for
This road. We feel that this road is
q National or State highway. and
should be constructed by the State.
We have about so rifles of roads
which will have to be paved witt
asphalt or concrete with in ten years.
This will entail an expenditure Of
about a million dollars. We have ne
right to expect these roads. which
serve county purposes only. will be
constructed by the State, and we fee
It u duty to conserve the county's
resources for the paving Of these
] roads