The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-01-21
THANK YOUR %FREEHOLDER.

The amount of So, 584,O42. &c for the year of 1927 is an
act upon which the Freeholders may be congratulated
and in which the people of the county may take pride.
The budget is larger than any budget ever passed for
Atlantic County. 1t is about $45O,OO0 greater than the
budget of one year ago.
1t takes a tidy sum Of money to keep Atlantic
County highways, bridges and institutions in shape and
to keep them going ahead. Not only does depreciation
of public property have to be overcome, but extensions
have to be made in every direction.
Not only does the upkeep of highways, bridges,
buildings and institutions have to be taken into full con-
sideration, but the welfare of dependent, both adults
and children, care of the blind, care of epileptics, care of
the insane, care of the tuberculars and the soldiers bonus
also have to be taken into consideration. Nearly
100000 has to be set aside for the needs OF the less
fortunate in Atlantic County this year.
The county will pay off over $500, 900 in bonds and
notes. The bond amortization will amount to almost
$4,000 more.
The courts, justices of the peace and constables, sur
rogate's, county clerks and sheriff's offices, county
library, elections, etc., require approximately another
half million dollars.
Nearly ST, OOO, 1000 will be expended in Atlantic
County, under this 1927 budget, in an investment in high
ways, bridges and tunnels and in their upkeep. We use
the word Investment" because it is an investment. The
money of taxpayers is being reinvested to bring them re-
turns in their own home places. The money will be spent
to improve traffic Notwithstanding new roads and
bridges, repairing and improving old roads.
So important have traffic conditions become today
that it is vitality necessary to give them every possible re-
lief. This relief of traffic not only brings outside money
into the county, but is makes it possible for the taxpayers
of the county to move and carry on operations in traffic
conditions with less wear and tear on their own vehicles,
but also with a saving of time and effort.
At first glance it would perhaps seem that a budget
of two and onehalf million dollars for the County of
Atlantic for 1927 is large. Study and consideration of
the situation would dispell this Impression.
We must consider the fact that the members of the
Board of Freeholders are working ahead. They are not
ou1y falipO III IF rauuirpmenfS for this nit they
are preparing for next year, and the next, and the next.
Obviously a 100000 bridge built this year will not have
to be built next year. The bridge may stand for an age,
or until it is outgrown. The way Atlantic County is out
growing its roads, bridges, buildings, etc., is something to
think about, too.
1t is obvious, also that Atlantic County cannot wait
until the day when thousands of visitors want to use a
certain bridge, to begin the construction Of that certain
bridge. The bridge has to be built ahead of time else the
loss in revenues derived from the incoming tourists will
prove serious.
The Freeholders in their building operations must
keep in advance of the crowd. They would be subject to
criticism if they did not. Taxpayers would complain
about any methods which would seem to be dilatory.
Taxpayers, on the other hand, have something over which
to feel grateful when their county administrators have
vision and foresight and exercise it.
F. Fraley Doughty of Absecon has been director of
the Atlantic County Board of Freeholders continuously,
with only a short break, for over twenty years. No one
can say that the growth of the county has not been ex-
pedited by the men of the board over which he has held
so long and so conscientious a directorate. Ii any person
thinks that the highways, bridges or county buildings
have been overbuilt let them try these highways out on
any day in summer and visit the county buildings.
The Atlantic County Board of Freeholders are also
taking a hand in drumming up business for the county.
They propose to issue a piece of county advertising in the
form of a booklet. Heretofore the burden of the adver-
Using bill has fallen on hotelmen and businessmen in
Atlantic City. Other parts of the county have had both
direct and indirect returns from the advertising done by
Atlantic City boosters.
Atlantic County, as a whole, has many attractions
and features to exploit. 1t has historical interest,
appeal to vacationists and it holds advantages tor the
home seeker.
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The booklet will have an edition of $4,000 and be
circulated far and wide. If that booklet brings 1000 new
people to visit the county even for a few days it will more
than nav for itself. If that booklet results in the sale of
f;ftv home sites to newcomers it will more than pay for
itself. The booklet will be SO good that every taxpayer
can saw that his property is worth ten dollars more be-