The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1925-07-02
Citizens Committee Gets Action
From County Commissioners At
Doylestown.
Concrete Bridge To Replace Struc-
ture Which Has Been Closed
Twelve Weeks.

Commissioner Ernest Harvey,
chairman of the Bucks County Board
of Commissioners, last night phon-
cd from his home in Langhorne to
a committee of New Hope citizens
that the Board has approved a new
concrete bridge for South Main
street where the dlapidated struc-
ture has been shut off to traffic for
twelve weeks.
This action came as the result of
earnest appeals of New Hope citi-
zens to the County Commissioners
on two visitse to Doylestown. On
Tuesday of last week delega-
ton headed by Henry T. Melon
nell, and composed of Mrs. II. w.
Turner, James Skillman, Lewis
Brown, William Worthington and
Editor Cooper, went to Doylestown
and met with Commissioner Harvey
and Commissioner Oscar Helm, of
Riegelsville.
At that time the bridge, which is
on main street of the borough
and forming a part of the River
Road State Highway, had been clos
ed ten weeks. And the appeal OF
the citizens committee was as q
last resort in view of the fact that
the Borough Council apparently ha6
~ ~
the matter.
Commissioner Harvey explained tC
the delegation that there was nj
attempt on the part of the Com.
missioners to dodge the issue, but
that they hads been trying to gel
settlement from the trolley com
pany whose line had been aban
doned over the bridge. He readily
admitted that the bridge had beer
county bridge before the trolle,
company assumed responsibility foI
it, and that there had been M
thought of saddling it onto thu
borough.
But as the trolley company ha'
entered into an agreement witt
the Commissioners when the lin,
was first started to maintain tn,
bridge forever, he and the Commits
sioners counsel had been trying tc
get u settlement from the trolley
company to help bear the expense
of repairs to the structure.
A contractor had estimated the cost
of repairs would be about 100000
A demand had been made on the
trolley company's representatives,
Gaylord Thompson, manager, and
Judge Yerkes, attorney, for one
half these costs-$4,5 500 They had
tentatively agreed to this settle
ment, but Sidney Wright, president
of the trolley company, had re-
fused. Accordingly, Commissioner
Harvey explained, the Board had
been awaiting advice of their coun-
sci as to what legal steps could
be taken to compel the trolley com
pany to pay.
The New Hope delegation then
urged Commissioners Harvey and
Helm to take immediate action in
restoring traffic on the bridge, and
then fight it out in the courts with
the trolley company afterward. They
pointed out that the blocked bridge
was making the borough the butt
of jibes and condemnations, as well
as seriously handicapping traffic.
They also pointed out that it was
not only New Hope traffic that was
suffering, but that since the River
Road had been paved there is
heavy traffic from other parts Of
the county and state as we'll as
from other states. Travel to and
from the Washington Crossing Mem
orial Park lis growing heavier all the
time as summer advances, and as
the detour over the viaduct above
had a sharp and dangerous corner
into Ferry street, it involves SER
ious danger to traffic.
Both Commissioners Harvey and
Helm said they readily appreciated
these disadvantages, and after a
further discussion they agreed to
having temporary repairs made so
that the bridge could be opened to
traffic, and then prepare plans for
permanent repairs just as soon as
possible.