Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-01-11


50 of the laws of 1897 there was allotted
to various taxing districts out of the
iaxes on railroads the sum if S201 .631.13
This sum was until recently collected and
retained by the state for state purposes.
It's distribution serves to relieve the bur
den of local taxes to that amount.
SCHOOL FUND.
INCOME OF SCHOOL FUND-REcEIPTs.
From income sls4, ,SOs SO
Loan from state fual..... sl91009 90
Less amount returned..... 10000 90
10000 90
Total .................. s224, ,SOs 50
Balance in bank Nov. l,
1898 .................... 1924 81
Total ............... s22s. .2sa OF
DlsarnsanaNTs
For free public Schools. s20o000 90
Premium and interest on
securities purchased.... 2s,Os6 81
22s,ose 81
Balance in bank Oct 81,
1899 .........-....... s14e So
The school fund securities at the
close of the year were valued at. $S,62S,21 76
Showing an increase over the pre-
vious year of ...-......-........... 1927 80
State Debt.
The last of the bonds of the state.
amounting to $71 .000 issued for war
purposes, fall due Jan. 1, 1902. One of
the bonds of the denomination of $1,000,
payable in 1896, has not yet been pre-
sented for cancellation, and there is due
about 81 800, for coupons outstanding;
$4S,000, represented by certificates is
sued to the commissioners of the agricul-
tural college, are also due, but for all in
debtedness there is an ample fund.
The wisdom of the law authorizing
change in the policy of the state with ref
erence to some of its oyster beds and the
appointment of a commission to take
charge of the same has been fully demon
strated in its practical operation during
the first year since its enactment. All
the oyster grounds, lands and beds under
the tidal waters of the Delaware bay and
Maurice river cove, south of an estab-
lished line, were placed under the exclu
sive regulation and control of the com
mission. Its members were invested with
authority to lease the lands, license boats
and take all steps necessary for the pres
ervation and improvement of the beds
anu SiOuilUc anu liiG itVtCAAloA VI tAOoC
engaged in the cultivation and gathering
of oysters.
The commissioners are authorized by
the act under which they are appointed
to cause the lands which they lease to be
measured and mapped in such manner
that the same may be accurately fixed
and easily located. l would respectfully
urge that your honorable bodies comply
with their recommendation and authorize
an appropriation for the purpose, fully
believing as | do that the best interests
of the state will be served thereby.
Riparian Commission.
The commission. during a large part of
the year. suspended the making of grants
and other conveyances while it had under
consideration change in the method of
dealing with the state riparian lands. lis
receipts, therefore, have been less than
they would have been had the old policy
been pursued They report having re-
ceived:
From grants in fee...........-.....-.. sl1sS4 4
From leases. .......-.......... 1,726 0G
From licenses. s.......,.-.-..........-. 40 0o
From conversions. s...................... 41,Sl3 so
From rentals from leases. $1,000 s.
Total $IUZ,I4o 5Z
The state has realized in all from the
sale of its lands under waters about $4,
600. 900 and from rentals therefor about
81 100000. There yet remain undispos-
ed of many lands which, in comparison
with those already sold or leased, seem
to be far less valuable. They are located
on waters where there is no likelihood of
an early demand for them. Naturally the
demand has been for those situated near
the centers of population and ON the high
ways of commerce, where the rapid de-
of material interests and COM
mercial enterprises make necessary the
and improvement of lands of
this character.
And yet the value of those still unsold
is estimated by reliable authorities to be
worth at least S20,G00,000. The manner
in which they should he disposed of with
the greatest benefit to the state is sub
ject worthy of thoughtful consideration.
The nature of the proposed change
which the board had in view and the
reasons for its temporary abandonment
are set forth in the resolutions adopted
by them ON the second day of November
last and are as follows:
Whereas, This board had had under
a change in its policy
the practice hitherto followed
of giving absolute grants and perpetual
leases convertible into grants should be
and in place thereof a plan
should be adopted of giving leases for
a long or perpetual term, with no pro
vision for conversion into grants, but
upon such an annual rental as should be
fixed from time to time by arbitration
between the state and the lessee; and
Whereas, This board had been ad
vised by the attorney general and by its
rounsel that the board has no power un-
der the law to adopt and carry out such
plans;
BE 1t Resolved, That the further CON
sideration of the said proposed change
in the policy of the board be postponed
until the power of the board shall be en-
larged by act of the legislature and that
the board proceed with the applications
and business before it in accordance with
the practice hitherto followed"
Such a scheme has much to commend
it. In the light of experience had with
similar leases, far less fair and liberal in
their provisions, which had been made
and are now in force in other places
without serious objection or inconven-
ience, it is not to be hastily condemned as
contrary to the best interests of the
state. If, in your judgment, the inter-
ests of the state would be promoted by
the change which has been under con
sideration, you should adopt such meas
ures as will clothe the commissioners
with the necessary power.
National Guard.
The present strength of the national
guard is 23S officers and 3,455 enlisted
2en. No companies or troops have been
organized during the year. A commits
sion, consisting of Major General Viii
liam ]. Sewell, Brigadier General Bird
w. Spencer, inspector general of rife
practice, and Brigadier Gene.al r. Farm
Pr Wanser. commanding the first brigade.
was appointed for the purpose of ex-
amining into the practieablity of con-
soIidating and improving the present or
ganization of the national guard. The
scheme of reorganization recommended
by them was approved. and under gem
eral orders No. 6, dated May 2, 1899,
was ordered to be carried into effect.
Pursuant thereto there were created 4
regiments of II companies each, field
batteries, 2 troopsAof cavalry and bat
talions of the naval reserve, consisting Of
Z divisions each. In order that the rec
of the commission might
be carried out, II companies were dis
banded, new regiments We're organized
and 3 regiments consolidated with exist
II Ifff