The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-16
FIFTY YEARS OLD.
New Jersey Historical So
ciety Commentaries Its
Semi : Centennial
Anniversary.
AL FOR GENERAL HARRISON
he Widow of Ex-Gov. R. S.
Green Receives the So
eiety's Silver Medal.
Prof. Austen Scott Makes the Pre-
sentation Speech-What Jer-
seymen Have Done For
Civilization.
AL FOR GENERAL HARRISON
Civilization.
Special to the Jersey City Ne,cs.

NEWARK, May 16, 1S95.-The Essex
Lyceum on Clinton street was the scene
this morning of a brilliant gathering of
lterati and savants interested IN the
celebration of the semi-centennial ami
versary of the New Jersey Historical
Society. Among the audience were promi-
nent people from this and other States
and representatives of kindred historical
societies, colleges and institutions OF
learning throughout the United States.
Many of these showed their interest in
the proceedings in a practical form by
contributing to the society's library
+ books, pamphlets and miscellaneous pap
ers relating to the past and present
history of their respective towns, cities
and counties, and genealogies of their
families as far as they were able so to
do.
At a very early hour a small army of
workmen were busy decorating the
walls of the Lyceum with American
flags, streamers and parti-colored tapes
try. Under the balcony was the old
charter of the society, granted IN 1845,
and directly above the heads of the
speakers on the stage was a portrait in
oils of the late Joseph C. Hornblower,
first president of the society and for
Court of this State.
The seats arranged, programmes de-
lvered and guests duly ushered to their
places, Rev. DR.. Samuel H. Pennington,
president of the society, followed by
General w. S. Stryker, Ernest E. Coe
of Newark William Nelson of Pater-
son, Charles Bradley, L. Spencergoble,
Nathaniel Niles. Rev George S. Mott,
D. D., of Pennington; Jonathan w.
Roberts ofMorris Plains, ,FranklinMurphy
David A Depue, LID; John 1. Blair.
Garret D. w. Vroom, Robert F, Ballan-
tine, F. Wolcott Jackson and others took
seats on the stage.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
President Pennington, who IS a vener-
able and noble looking zoctngena rian- was
wheeled onto the platform. few weeks
ago his leg was fractured and his great
age made it impossible that he could
take any active part. He, however,
opened the meeting, and after a few
minutes gave way to General William S.
Stryker.
1--WE of the society are delighted said
DR.. Pennington, 'to see you at this, our
commemoration of fifty years of sue
cessful history. We will observe this i'm
portant stage in the history of the So
sent ex-Pres:dent Benjamin Harrison
and the widow of Ex-Governor Robert
Stockton Green with the gold and silver
medals commemorative of the centennial
organization of the Government of the
United Staes."
Then followed batch of reports from
officers and committees. Among these
was that of Recording Secretary e. E.
Coe, who after half an hours reading of
minutes of the dullest and driest char
acter reported as follows
1.-THE Committee on Genealogy would
respectfully report that they are con-
stantly receiving letters from all parts
of the country inquiring about the his
tory and genealogy of families, that the
demand for information is steadily in
creasing by reason of persons desiring
to join the Patriotic Society of Sons and
Daughters of the American Revolution.
Colonial Danes and kindred societies;
That since our last meeting we have ad-
ded to our library nineIy-nine books and
pamphlets and all are now accessible to
the public, making in all about six hum
dred books and pamphlets. Your commit
tee would recommend that printed list
be made and a copy sent to each member
in order that they may know what fami-
y
and awaken greater interest in the well
fare of the society"
WHAT JERSEY HAS DONE.
The ladies in the audience, and there
were precisely seventy-five, took the
liveliest interest in the reports, particu-
larly when William Nelson read that of
the Corresponding Secretary, said all
manner of sweet things about New Jer-
sey's part in the history of the country
and sandwiched in a compliment to the
ladies. His report was exactly $500 words
in length, which he ratified off at the
rate of 100 to the minute. AT the close
of the report he called attention to the
following interesting facts, contributed
by j. Elfreth Watkins, Curator of the
National Museum in Washington, show
ing New Jerseys influence upon the in
PRODUCTION and invention cf the steam
engine, steamship, locomotive and cleo
tric telegraph in America.
First-The first steam engine on the
Western Continent was erected at the
Belleville Copper Mines. near Newark,
in 1853, by Hornblower, sixteen years
before Watt began his Investigations.
Second.-The first steamboats, driven by
single and twin screw propellers were
constructed by John Stevens, at Hoboken.
in 1902 and 1904.
Third.-The Phoenix the first steam
boat to navigate the ocean. was designed
constructed and navigated by Jerseymen
John Stevens and his son, Robert L.
Stevens, in 1SO7-180S.
Fourth.-The first charter for a rail-
road in America was granted by the
Legislature of New Jersey in 1874, for a
railway from Trenton to New Bruns-
wick during fba war Of 1912
Fifth.-The machinery of the "sa-
vannah," the first steamship to cross the
Atlantic ocean, was constructed at the
Wall Works, Speedwell. near Morristown.
~. J., in 1918.
Sixth.-The first steam locomotive in
america to convey human beings on a
railroad track was constructed at Hobo
ken in 1926.
Seventh The first successful expert
ments with the electromagnetic tele-
graph. based upon the discoveries Of Prof.