Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-01-15
PILOT COMMISSIONERS.

PILOT COMMISSIONERS.
The number of Sandy Hook pilots licensed
by the State is IS, and Of Perth Amboy pilots
8. The service comprises eight boats, the larg-
est being 71.S5 tons, and the smallest 44,2S
tons. One thousand six hundred and seventy
four steamers and vessels were piloted inward
and ,29f outward during the year. e
The Board again calls attention to the ne
cessity for some provision for the payment of
the expenses which it is called upon to incur
in the enforcement of the act for the preserva-
ton OF the navigable waters Of the State 1t
reports that it is impossible to reach those en-
gagged in obstructing navigation except BY the
employment Of tug boats, and that the Board
has no money at its disposal for this purpose.
They ask for an appropriation Of $500 per
annnm therefor.
RIPARIAN COMMISSION.
The Commissioners report that the results
for the year Of the sales Of lands in fee and the
principal sums named in leases of leases
heretofore made turned into absolute grants. Of
rental on leases heretofore made, and of inter-
est received, is the sum Of $294, ,28S.63. The
total amount of absolute grants made since
April l. 1864, is 81, ,S9057O.71 The total
amount of the principal sums of leases cOnver-
tible into grants, made during the same period,
- Ay1O1,o11.A1, uidhluB JUSCLu6I the buul Oh
So, ,124 ,911.S5. During the past year the Com
missioners have consulted with the Port
Warden of the city of Philadelphia with ref
erence to the prevention of dumping of mud
and refuse matter into the Delaware River. 1t
is found that the present law is inadequate to
| prevent this evil and the Commissioners recon-
mend the passage of more stringent laws on
this subject imposing heavier penalties for
such offences.
NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT
STATION.
The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment
Station in the interest of practical agriculture,
| has tested the quality of 81 100000 worth Of
commercial manures; this amount represent
ing the consumption in this State during the
past year.
| 1t has instituted large number of field
| trials to determine the kind and quantity Of
fertilizers which may be economically used
upoh crops growing upon different soils
To advance the dairy interests it has ana
| lyzed feeding stutfs and made experiments to
illustrate the profits and losses resulting from
the management of large herds Of mich cows
1t has made inquiries and collected statistics
relative to the peach, vine, sweet potato and
cranberry interests with the view Of ascertain
ing their peculiar wants, and given all the aid
and assistance in its power to the sorghum
sugar experiment in the southern portion of
the State.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The Agricultural College, under the control
Of the Trustees of Rutgers Scientific School,
receives annually from the State 9,960 This
sum is derived from fund established in 1868.
which now amounts to S116,000 and is in
vested in the war bonds of the State, which
are in the custody of the Sta . Treasurer.
The Board Of Visitors, in their report, speak
with approval of the course of study pursued
and the faithful manner in which the students
are instructed. They consider that the Trus-
tees Of Rutgers College are carrying out their
contract with the State with hberality bey-
ond what could be fairly expected Of them.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The Geological Survey of the State con-
| tinues its useful work. The elevated topo-
| graphic maps of the State showing its noun
tains, hills and valleys, with their measured
heights above the sea, its drainage and river
| system, as well as its surface and geological
features are approaching completion Ten of
the seventeen maps are finished and three
more are reaay for drawing These
maps are highly useful to engineers and Others
| engaged in rural and larger internal improve
ments- They are splendid specimens Of care
full surveying and drawing. These mans pro-
1
the geological formations of the State, and
work to that end is being pushed forward both
in its northern and southern portions.
| The useful results Of the survey are seen in
mines, quarries, clay and mari pits, and in
artesian wells; in projects for water supply,
for drainage, for locating roads, railroads, and
other internal Improvements, and for
| drawing clear distinction between our farm
/ and forest lands.
1t is gratifying to know that our work has
been taken as model by other States and bv
the United States Geological Survey. For the
use Of the surveys and records already made,
both the United States Geological Survey and
the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
are paying part of the expense of the work.
STATE LIBRARY.
The report of the State Librarian shows that
during the year there have been added to the
library by purchase and donation ,2S3 vol
umes, making the total number in the library
at the end of the year 80 9S4. Additions have
been made which give an increased capacity
! for the library of 1850 volumes. The Lii
brarian states that the annual appropriation Of
81 80 is insufficient for the requirements Of
the library and recommends that it be in
creased to s., 900. ~,Ffi-f
STATE PRISON.
The average number of conyics in the State
Prison during the past year was S63, an in
crease over the previous wear of AS. The
total expenses of the State Prison for all pur-
poses during the year were S134, 4,651. "a, the
earnings amounted to S57, ,541.S5, making the
cost of the tate Prison $77, ,109 &c., This in
crease IN cost is due to two causes one the
necessary loss of time in changing the system
Of labor from the old contract system to the
"piece-price plan," and the other, the exceed
ingly low price paid upon the alleged Downs
u Finch contract, in reference to shirts, to
which / shall hereafter refer.
The wall around the State Prison constructed
under the act Of April Is, 1884 has been com
pleted since my last annual message. 1t was
constructed under the personal supervision Of
the Keeper Of the State Prison, under the
direction of the Supervisor and inspectors.
and reflects credit upon tie prison authori-
ties
Under "An act to provide additional shop
room at the New Jersey State Prison." ap-
proved March 10th, 1885, O.. 1885, D. 67,) ad-
ditional shop room he's been provided. These
shops have been built in the most substantial
and complete manner. at the lowest possible
cost, and reflect credit upon those under whose
supervision and personal management they
were erected. They enable the State to en-
ploy two hundred convicts that prior to their
erection had no rooms in which to work.
CONVICT LABOR.
The act passed BY the Legislature April 1s.
1884, IL. 1884, p. 2S0,) to provide for the en-
ployment Of the inmates Of any prison. peni-
tentisrv, jail or reformatory institution located
within this State authorized the managers Of
such institutions to employ convict labor
either under the stpiece-pr1c plan ar under