The Van Buren press., 1898-09-17
OBSOLETE TOWNS.
Form of OG.ciaI Extinction of In.
corporated Communities Pc
euliar TO New York.

The New York legislature exercised
until 1919, when the power was given
to local boards of supervisors, the
double right of creating and of abol-
ishing towns. Originally the legisla-
ture more actively engaged in Great
ing 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
it were, wiped from the map. In this
particular New York is exceptional.
Its 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 re-
mark applies to the obsolete villages"
very much fewer in number.
1t was in Westchester county, for
instance, the village of Sawpits -four
ished for IA years and was then
snuffed out like a candle. Among the
obsolete towns are those of Church
Track, in Livingston county, Belona,
in Genesee; 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; Buck
TOOTH in Cattaraugas, Oak Orchard, in
Orleans, Rice in Cattaraugas and
Caughnawaga, in Montgomery.
The theory of town government
which prevails in New England, which
carried to what may be called the log
ical extremity of setting up separate
and independent township govern
ment, has never been recognized TO
large extent in New York. Town
ships in New England are regarded in
philosophical phrase as political en-
titles" or units of presentation, and
in several of the New England states,
despite changes in their constitutions
and statutes, each town, however
small, however meager and diminished d
its population, and however insigniti-
cant when compared to the large cities
in the same state, is inviolably en-
titled to presentation in the legis-
lature. Such town cannot be abol-
ished. The political rights of its resi-
dents cannot be taken from them and
their title to separate political ex-
istence is beyond the power of the
state to alter.
But in New York towns and villages
are created by the legislature. Orig
inally where town was to be admit
ted, to be incorporated application to
the legislature was made by at least
IL freeholders affected by the division,
and notice of intended application
posted in at least five public places
and published in the local papers. A
survey and map of the town were
made and filed in the secretary's Of
fee. There were elected by ballot in
each town mot excepted by statute)
supervisor, town clerk, three as
SCISSORS, a collector, two overseers OF
the poor, one or three commissioners
of highways, and four justices of the
peace aud constables. AS many pound
masters as the electors determined
were chosen by a viva voce vote of
the electors. One overseer of high
ways for each road district, except in
New York, Lcng Island and Staten Is
land, was appointed by the commits
sioner 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 New York
than in some states.-N. Y. Sun.