New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-28
TO DIVIDE MONMOUTH COUNTY.
SHORE TOWNS WANT A NEW COUNTY ERECTED
THEY MAY CALL IT NEPTUNE.

SHORE TOWNS WANT A NEW COUNTY ERECTED
THEY MAY CALL IT NEPTUNE.
Asbury Park. n. j.. Nov. q (SpeciaD-A move
ment of formidable proportions has been begun
along the shore district for division OF Mon
mouth County, which bids fair at last to meet
with that success for which the people, have long
been hoping BY the opening of the legislative ses-
sion at Trenton next January. petition signed by
nine of the citizens and property-owners OF
the townships of Shrewsbury. Middetown. Eaton
town. Ocean. Neptune and Wall. In which are
situated such prominent town and cities as Red
Bank. Seabright. Eatontown. Monmouth Beach.
Long Branch West End. Elberon. Asbury Park.
Darlington, Ocean Grove. Spring Lake. Belmar
and Manasquan will be presented to the Legislature
praying for the separation.
For years efforts have been made by the sea-
shore towns to this boon, but in every in
stance these attempts have been foied by the
Vaccinations of ohicehoders and politicians. for
purely selfish motives. and the helpless taxpayers
of the shore towns mucted in assessments far in
of equitable proportion of the taxes. for
the purpose of supporting the inland towns who
have nothing In common with shore interests.
At every yearly meeting of the Board OF Assessors
the valuation of property along the coast Is raised
while that of the inland townships is lowered.
This works great hardship and injustice upon
the owners Of property the seaboard and they
have at last. when the opportunity arrived de-
termined to shake off the incubus.
The several Boards OF Trade In the different cities
and towns mentioned have taken the initiative in
this movement. and will hold mass-meetings during
this and next month to formulate plans OF action
and to arrange for the procurement OF signatures
to the petition it is proposed to present to the
Legislature. The first Of these meetings was held
in Long Branch on last Wednesday night and the
greatest enthusiasm prevailed In favor of the d.
vision. A Legislative Committee and n committee
to confer with Boards of Trade in other towns
rr.t.
called for at Asbury Park. and from that on mass
meetings will be held throughout that portion of
the county which proposes TO cut loose from the
old order Of things. The most popular name far
suggested for the county is Neptune" al
though "Navesink' and Highland" find favor with
some people.
AS an evidence Of the inequality of the tax-rate
az made by the County Board OF Assessors for
this year, 1t may be mentioned that Ocean Town
ship In which the city Of Long Branch Is located
alone pays $4,000 70. lacking but 5000 OF being
one-quarter Of the entire county tax, which this
year Is placed at $685. 1872 while Neptune Township
in which is situated Asbury Park town OF only
twenty odd years existence. pays nearly onetenth
Of the whole. and on. The six townships men,
toned above all on the seaboard, and they are
anxious to be divorced from the remaining ten
townships OF the sixteen which now constitute the
nearly three-quarters OF the entire county tax.
the of the sn as0rS
mouth County. The same unequal and inconsistent
condition obtains in the Board OF Chosen Free
holders, where the shore townships continually
outvoted on every project looking TO the advance
ment Of their material interests. For instance. the
people of these townships have been claToring for
good roads. OF which under recent enactment OF the
Legislature the State assumes one-thrd OF the cost
Of construction, leaving the balance to be paid by
the property along the line OF the proposed
roads and the Board OF Freehoders OF the
county. But here comes In the fatal barrier Each
township freeholder has one vote and thus the ten
minor inland townships are enabled to block local
LEGISLATION for improvements, but continue heap
up tax-rate that relieves them. while unjusty
burdenng the six shore townships. For iustra-
ton Ocean Township pays S3SS more than the
eight inland townships OF Atlantic. Milestone, Mat
avian, Howell. Marlboro Manalapan. Homdel and
Raritan, yet only has one vote, and gets a beg
carly S 900. one-sixteenth. with which 10 MAIN
tain her numerously extensive bridges out OF a
total appropriation Of s79.500 for bridge repairs
while she pays nearly so per cent OF the whole tax
In the same way the other hye shore townships
are treated. while some OF the ten inland town
SHIPS get Tor roads and bridges more than their
entire tax amounts 4
communities. and ambitious for good roads and
otner public improvements. while the inland town
ships are SLOW sleepy and unconcerned with re-
fectly contented. and willing to let affairs run
along In the same old beaten path marked out by
their foreiathers Of colonial times rather than that
tney snouIo pc Obliged to go down In their pockets
70 pay Tor the proposed improvements. but mani
lest an extraordinary zeal to avail themselves OF
All such improvements when the costs can be SAD
oieo "oon the seashore townships