The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-12-15
Picturesque Paterson.

and u independent IN ts ptetos oh uH
local questions
Picturesque Paterson.
The enterprise and prosperity of
our sister city, Paterson. are pleas
ingly illustrated in a handsome vol
ume which has just come to u
hands. fresh from the press. 1t is en-
titled picturesque Paterson" and it
is mainly the work OF Mr.. Charles A.
Shriner, a journalist of high repute
not only locally but among all the
newspaper men and all the public
men Of the State.
The volume is a quarto of over
three hundred pages; it is printed on
fine heavy paper in handsome type,
and it is beautifully bound in morocco
leather. 1t is full of elaborate illus
trations, chiefly photo-lithographs,
which portray the picturesque en-
vironments of the city, its pretty
streets, its busy factories and its most
notable homes and public buildings.
There are also a large number of por-
traits of citizens noted either in trade
or politics.
The reading matter is in keeping
with the mechanical dress in merit
and interest. Mr.. Shriner has pre-
pared a large part of 1t himself; but
he gives. besides, a number of special
articles upon such subjects as the
schools, the banks or the churches of
Paterson. In the volume will be
found every possible item of i'm
portance regarding the city whether
statistical or historical. Thorough"
seems to have been the watchword in
its preparation.
The book is issued under the
auspices of the Paterson Board of
Trade. 1t shows that body to be at
once shrewd and liberal. No doubt
the city will benefit largely by this
presentation of its advantages as a
place Of business and residence.
The Legislative Outlook-County
Division
The Trenton letter which we print
in another column today takes about
the same view of the Legislative out
look that was expressed in an
editorial in THE SUNDAY MORN
INC NEWS Of yesterday. Evidently,
Governor Albeit holds the key
to the situation, and in his
message the first plain intimation
will be given of the majority party's
programme for the session. Astrong
feature win undoubtedly be the tax
alton question. Probably the Cover
nor will recommend the establish
ment of a State Board of Assessors to
secure uniform valuation throughout
the State. and we presume steps will
be taken to compel railway and other
corporations to pay a fairer quota of
the public expenses than they have in
the past.
We are confident Governor Albeit
will approach the county division
question: he touches it all-in a
spirit of moderation. 1t appears to
us that the plan. which Mr.. Pidcock
constantly talks of, is too radi-
cal for prudence il not for
justice. Minorities and small com
munities have rights which ought to
be respected, and we doubt the pro-
priety of wiping out immemorial lines
in order to effect a mere party advan-
tage. No doubt the separate identity
Of their county is as much a matter of
pride with residents of Ocean, Allan
tic or Cape May as with those OF Hud-
son or Essex. Indeed the local feel
ing is probably much more deeply in
grained in small than in large com
munities.
But whatever objection, whether of
expediency or good feeling, may be
advanced against the wiping out of
counties because they will not go
Democraticyfor that is what it
amounts to-there can be none TO do
ing the Democrats of Northern New
Jersey justice by increasing their
representation. Whatever practical
difficulties might attend the division of
Hudson and Essex-and there are GER
tain political dificulties-there can-
not be a word said against the justice
Of such a proceeding. The present
outrageous inequality of representa-
tion cannot be defended.
Whether the State leaders will per-
init the subject TO be taken up al all
by the next Legislature may be con-
sidered doubtful, on account of the
political endorsements we have
limited at. But If anything is done
we are convinced it will be done with
moderation, so that in winning an adj
vantage, mischief which more than
offsets it will not be done the Democ-
racy in the estrangement of votes and
the creati 0 n of a bitter feeling based
on a sense Of oppression and abuse.
We are convinced such a feeling
would result from the wiping out OF
wo or three South Jersey counties,