The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-24
TOWNS.

A Form of O1lcial Extinction of %IncorpO-
rated Communities Peculiar to New York.
The New York Legislature exercised until
1S40. when the power was given TO local Boards
OF Supervisors. the double right of creating and
OF abolishing towns. Originally the Legislature
more actively engaged in creating than in doing
away with lawfully organized towns. There now
exist what are known as " obsolete towns" or
places which once existed. but do so no longer
officially. having been. as II were. wiped from
the map. In this particular Now York is excen-
tional. It's list Of obsolete towns is very much
larger than its list of incorporated cities; and
some of these towns which have been done
away with officially had a brief existence. The
same remark applies to the obsolete villages"
very much fewer in number
10 was in Westchester county. for instance.
the village OF Sawpits fourished for fourteen
years and was then snuffed out like q candle.
Among the obsolete towns are those OF Church
Track in Livingston county. Belona in Gene
see. Halfmoon in Saratoga, China in Wyoming.
Smell in Yates. Jericho in Chenango. West
Grove in Allegany. Suffrage In otsego. Hebe in
Wyoming. Erin in Erie. Bucktooth in Catta-
raugus. Oak Orchard in Orleans. Rice in Catta-
m TEe shh s6T Iau toWn goVer IN mentte TRieEy pre-.
England States has been carried TO what may
be called the logical extremity of setting up O
separate and independent township govern
ment. has never been recognized to q large eX-
tent In New York. Townships in New England
are regarded in philosophical phrase as po-
Utica! entities" or units OF representation, and
In several Of the New England States. despite
changes in their Constitutions and statutes.
each town. however small. however meaRre
and diminished It's population. and however
insignificant when compared with the large
cities in the SANG State, Is inviolably entitled to
representation IN the Legislature. Such q
town cannot be abolished. The political rights
q its residents cannot be taken from them and
their title to a separate political existence is
beyond thu, power Of the State to, alter.
created by the Legislature. Originally where
a tovn was TO be Admitted. to be incorporated
application TO the Legislature was made by
at least twelve freeho!ders affected by the
division. and q notice of intended applioa-
ton posted in at least five public places
and published in the local papers. 4
survey and map of the, town were
made and filed in the Secretary's office. There
were elected by ballot in each town mot eX-
cepted by %statute. q Supervisor. Town Clerk.
three Assessors. q Collector, two Overseers Of
the Poor. one or three Commissioner OF High
ways. and four Justices OF the Peace and Con-
stables. AS many Pound Masters as the cleo
tors dsterdned We're chosen by q viva voce
vote of the electors; One overseer Of Highways
for each road district. except In New York,
by the Commissioner Of Highways. Assessors
and Commissioners Of Highways were elected
for three years. Justices for four years. and
most of the others for one year.
The division between villages and townships
Is less marked In Kew York than ia some States,