The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-16

1
by Vail and Morse at speedwell Works,
near Morristown, in 1885,
The invention and introduction in
America of the steam engine. steamship,
the locomotive and the telegraph-the
mightiest factors in modern civilization
were thus due, in a great degree, to
Jerseymen.
REPORTS. REPORTS! REPORTS!
Exactly a bakers dozen of reports
came next, some of interest, but the
bulk of them not calculated to arouse
any particular enthusiasm. Mr.. +. VOL
colt Jackson, General Superintendent OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad, in replying
for the Committee on Statistics, said
that the library of the society contained
many valuable books which members
should consult. Among these is report
of the United States Commissioner OF
Education of inestimable value, contain
ing as it does information touching the
education Of the people by universities,
colleges and schools. Mr.. Frederick W.
Ricord spoke of the library; Franklin
Murphy read the Executive Committees
report, and Messrs. Goble, Froom, Bal
lantine, Niles, Bradley and others read
reports ON this subject and that ccn-
nected with the routine business of the
society.
The course of business was switched
off here into an election of members,
and a score of names were added to
the roll. On this roll was the name
of Benjamin Harrison, ex-President OF
the United States.
ORIGIN OF THE SMITHS.
The members of the society 1eari.ed
rare bit of history when the report of
Burlington Countys Historical Society
was read. Mr.. Abraham C. Vossler, in
finishing an account of the old families
in his part Of the world. said that his
great-grandmolher Has a Smith
do you know where the Smiths come
from?' he asked Of the society and then
proceeded to eEHgnten the members. IF
you go to Philadelphia you will see a
big factory, and its sides are these
| words, Smith Manufacturing Compa
n.y. Roars of laughter.)
Another member in speaking of his
county, thought it would be a good thing
| if the society endeavored to discover
| the best means to induce longevity and
| health.
That's simple cried a voice in the
| rear seats; drink applejack,' and a
| merry peal of laughter followed
"A Lew minutes before lunCQ6On, Wnlcn
followed the adjournment of the session,
Corporation Counsel John l. Blair of
Jersey Iity entered the hall C5her
Jersey City visitors included Assembly
| men James Usher, Henry NJ Nulzhorn,
Henry c. Gruoer and Richard NJ Smart
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Immediately after luncheon the guests
quickly made their way to the big hall
and sat waiting for ex-President Har-
rison. In the meantime Messrs. Franklyn
Murphy, Nathaniel Miles and f. VOL
colt Jackson. as a reception committee,
proceeded to the Market street depot to
meet the guest of honor, Mr. Benjamin
Harrison, who arrived on the train ar
irving at two P. M. The ex-President
was quickly escorted to the Lyceum
where he received a fattering welcome,
the audience rising en- masse and cheer
ing. Assemblyman Nutzhorn of Hudson
was 50 overcome-It coufd not have been
the luncheon because lemonade and coffee
only were served that he waved his
haa dkerchief and called out "The next
President of the United States"
President Samuel H. Pennington, when
order was restored. introduced William
Nelson, who dscoursed most eloquently
about Fifty Years of Historical Work
| in New Jersey" He was succeeded by
Prof. Woodrow Wilson, Phi. D., L. L. D.,
of Princeton University. who made an
other interesting address in the same
line.
A MEDAL FOR MIR. HARRISON.
Stepping to the front, President AUS
tin Scott. Phi. D., l.. L. D., of Rutgers
College, made the presentation of the So
ciety's gold medal to Benjamin Harrison,
Centennial President of the United States
in 1889. The medal is of gold and was
struck by the society to commemorate
the formation of the Constitutional Gov
ernment of the United States and the in
auguration of Gen. Washington as the
first President, April 80, 1889.
In making the presentation Mr.. Scott
spoke as follows
Honored Sir-Just two centuries ago
the General Assembly of East Jersey
laid tax to maintain 1.-The new road
from the Raritan to the Delaware, be-
cause it was, in the language of the law,
'a part of the great thoroughfare of this
Province. from New England and New
York to the westward"
1t is still part of the great highway
between the political and the ccmmer-
cial capital of our country.
The medal N my hand, which, at the
bidding of this society 1 am to give to
you, commentaries the fact that once
a great man passed this way; and that
one hundred years later and within the
memory of our youngest children, New
Jersey served you as a path when you
went to pay your tribute to Washington,
and that you marked out your journey
by tracing his footsteps
A million and q half of TarSpyrnan
joice that their State has done this ser
vice; has for generations welcomed and
sped the coming and the going; that its
soil was used as the ''warpath of the
Revolution as well as a constant path
of peace.
But, sir. New Jersey is more than
a way, often trodden by men and well
worn by events. Those who know it
best, and those who pass and repass
with clear eyes and open mind, know
that it has served as a gather.ng-place
of many of the forces which have made
our Union. Those who have studied or
who have OWNED its character, recog-
nize in New Jersey, as in no other State,
a representative of the whole. We will
not claim that it is type of the best
alone; it is, if you will, the average
State. Were all the other States blotted
out, New Jersey could reproduce from
it's annals and from it's composite fac
tors the essential elements which would