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Vol. 22 No. 7 «

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February 12, 1986

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By Mary, Not Abe Key Lincoln Decision Made Here

By JOHN MERRILL CAPE MAY — We might not be observing Abraham Lincoln's birthday today but for a decision he reached while visiting in this city in 1849.

Lincoln then was a "lame duck" congressman from Illinois. While in Washington, he was befriended by a wealthy Vincentown, N.J., agriculturalist. John Irick. Lincoln, after finishing his Congressional duties earlier than expected, accepted Irick's offer to escape the hot. muggy climate of Washington and travel to the cooler, more agreeable climate of Cape Island (which was to bepome Cape May City in 18961. Lincoln had previously planned to remain in Washington and await a response from the then president. Zachary Taylor, regarding Lincoln's application for a land grant commissioner's post.

MEETING IN Philadelphia. Mr and Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. and Mrs. John Irick and family, and Mr and Mrs. Issac Fieid ia wealthy iron manufacturer from Fieldsboro. N.J., and a friend of Irick) arrived by steamship at the "Steamship Landing." located at the end of Sunset Boulevard. Lower Township. From there, he and his fellow tourists, were shuttled by one of the many carriage services to their destination on cool Cape Island. The Lincolns arrived on July 31. 1849. at the Mansion House (which burned to the ^ ground in 1857) and registered into room I 24. signing the register as "A. Lincoln and | ( Page 25 Please )

l&W ABRAHAM LINCOLN

/Ji^NEWS INgV DIGEST ) //i / Tl,e Week's Jj /J j j Top Stories Freeholders to Tape COURT HOUSE - Citing this newspaper as being "very critical" of closed freeholder meetings. Freeholder Director William E. Sturm Jr. last week said the board has budgeted $3,500 for equipment to tape its public and closed meetings, probably by mid-year. Sturm made the announcement in response to a question on private meetings by this newspaper's editor, Joseph R. Zelnik, during Channel 2's "On the Record" program which aired Monday night. Sturm added that tapes of closed meetings, like their minutes, will be made public only after the issue is no longer sensitive. Slow Down RIO GRANDE — Remember when the old menhaden plant on Route 47 just east of the parkway was in operation? John McCarthy, area traffic engineer with the state Department of Transportation, warns that just as many workers will be there for the next two years during construction of the MUA's Wildwood/Lower sewage treatment plant. His point: Be careful because a lot of cars and heavy equipment will be pulling in and out at that location. Good Job; More Money TRENTON - Officials from the Atlantic/Cape May Consortium, which administers the Job Training Partnership Act ( JTPA) for the two counties, were slated to receive at least $200,000 from the state yesterday as an incentive (Page 32 Please) Farty Deadline COURT HOUSE — This newspaper's office will be dosed Monday Feb. 17 in observance of Presidents' Day. The paper still will be distributed next Wednesday, but the deadline for news and advertising will be 5 p.m. tomorrow.

LABOR OF LOVE — Anybody can send a Valentine to a sweetie. But Melanie Donley, left, and Melissa Ryan, both 10. are among 5th graders at Elementary No. 3 In Court House working on Valentines for patients at the Veterans' Hospital in Vineland. Teacher Harry LaBov heads the project. The girls are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John Donley and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ryan, ail of Rio Grande.

County United Way: What's the Problem? By GREGG LAWSON Why does the county United Way consistently fail to meet its goal? According to Executive Vice President Virginia Beryl Budd, the problem is a lack of support from volunteers, community leaders and summer businesses. But other United Ways said the reason may be inefficient leadership and the way volunteers are solicited. "United Way is all right, we're not falling apart," Budd said. "But,

we need to have new community leaders and volunteers." WHILE OTHER United Ways are increasing campaign goals, the local agency lowered its goal from $150,000 to $128,000 in 1985. To date, $65,000 has been collected. That's 51 percent of the quota and $35,210 less than last year's record total of $110,210. Because of a change in federal legislation, elected officials and county and municipal employes have yet to be contacted, and the campaign, which began in mid-October, will continue. The local United Way only had 10 to 15 active volunteers this year, according to (Page 25 Please) ■J

Some Succeed; Some Don't No matter how they respond to United Way, countians each year dig down to support dozens of other appeals. Some offer nothing but a thank -you; others sell hoagies, baked goods, raffle tickets, you name it. Some succeed; some don't. THE RED CROSS uses a yearly direct mail campaign that is augmented by (Page 25 Please)

The Budget Marshal, No? Museum, Yes; And a Raise for a Vacant Job By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE — County freeholders last month lavishly praised a firemen's presentation in support of increasing the county file marshal's budget from $2,700 to an estimated $35,000 in 1986. The proposed '86 budget is released and contains for the fire marshal — the same $2,700. Freeholder-Director William E. Sturm Jr.. who also is in charge of revenue and finance, said his own view is that the requested boost is

not justified. Sturm said the county has people "inhouse" qualified to inspect co inty property as required by the state's new fire code. As for non-county property, he said, the municipalities seem to be handling their own inspections. "THE JURY IS STILL OUT on that request," said Sturm, "but if they're talking county buildings only, the increase is not in line, in my opinion. "That may not be the view of the other freeholders," he cautioned. Final answer will come during or before the budget's public hearing, second reading, and likely adoption at 4:30 p.m Tuesday, Feb. 25. The budget is up $2.5 million, to $44.5 million, and includes a nine-tenths of one cent per $100 of assessed valuation tax hike. ONE GROUP THAT came, asked, and got, however, was the board of the county's historical Museum, which last December requested an additional $20,000 toward the cost of a new administration building north of the John Holmes House in Swainton. The freeholders put the $20,0GO in the appropriation for "other expenses" of the Cultural and Heritage Commission, which climbed to $26,931 from $3,000. That's in addition to about $77,000 for salaries and other expenses for "aid to museums." OTHER ITEMS of interest from the p;oposed '86 budget: Biggest percentage increase goes to the

Prosecutor's office whose 1985" "other expenses" item was almost doubled, from $243,250 to $484,920 That's because the county has agreed to pay local municipalities for the time that their police participate on the county's special Crime Task Force. (Page 4 Please)

What's That Freeholder 'OE' Item? Freeholder OE ("other expenses")? It's a $239,400 item in the county's proposed 1986 budget, a 10 percent increase over last year. ^ It is not the freeholders' salaries, which total $83,800 It is not the $207,249 in pay for the clerk to the board < Diane Rudolph ) and 10 others in that office. And it is not the $26,000 OE for that office's operation. FREEHOLDER OE includes a dozen categories of expenditures, including the expenses for attending a convention or taking a consultant to lunch. But that kind of expense makes up only $7,000 of the total, $1,000 more than last year. Tne two biggest OE items are postage, unchanged at $98,200 this year, and professional fees, also unchanged at $83,000 this year. The postage covers a mailroom that handles the bulk of the county's mail. THE PROFESSIONAL fees will go primarily to attorneys Louis F. Homstine of Wildwood Crest and Lawrence Pepper Jr. of Cumberland County. Hornstine will be paid $47,250 to handle the county's litigation. Pepper is on a retainer to do the " county's labor negotiations Hornstine. (Page 53 Please)

—inside... HENTCES calls courthouse renovation "a serious mistake," Page 5. 2,000 letters protest off-shore burning, page 6. ONE wish: enough socks, joyride, page 55. DOLLS are big business; collectibles, that is. Antiques, page 14. I ALPHABETICALLY through the library. "C is for Canada, page 55. '