The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-01-17

rninistratIye work in this connection
could be performed with little or no ex
pense by the state board OF geological
survey, and our game wardens could &c
as fire wardens.
Agriculture.
The population of BUR sta4e and the con
tributiug reputation in the near vicinity
amounts to about 5,000,d06 This vasl
market for our products makesethe agri
cultnfa1 interests Of New Jersey OF spe'
cial value. The wealth of our farms
$780, 900 00O with an annual product o1
$44, 900, 900, is worthy of announcement by
the state. Our appropriations for. agri-
cultural purposes have. been wisely in
creased during the last ten years, and the
state can well afford to make further
investments for the encouragement and
development Of this resources Farming
has ceased to be a mere gift Of nature;
1t requires the aid of science and skill
Other states have given special attention
to education in this direction. Short
courses In agriculture in the winter
months have proved eminently success
full, New Jersey can well follow their
example. We have facilities ct the Ag-
ricultural college for school of this
character where such instruction could be
given to those engaged in agricultural
pursuits as would add to the wealth and
productiveness of our soil. knowledge is
power" in the fields as well as in the
office.
Riparian Lands.
Most Of the riparian grants of our
state have been disposed Of in fee sim
pie and are no longer state assets. Ri
parian rights yet in our possession are
worth perhaps SIS, 600 900. These rights,
especially such as are located along the
Hudson river, will grow in value with
the growth of the country Nature has
fixed their limit. They cannot be multi
piled and the business demands upon
them are continually growing. If in the
past the state had not parted with her
rights in this respect, she would now
have an immensely valuable asset and
one that would be source of perpetual
revenue. If the policy of the past has
been mistaken one, let us at once cor
rect it. The legislature can provide that
riparian lands shall no longer be dispos-
ed of in fee simple but shall be leased
on rentals which at proper periods
shall be readjusted on fair basis OF
increased value. Such readjustments
could be determined in cases of dispute,
by a representative of the state and a
representative of che lessee. which would
insure fairness to both parties.
One riparian grant made twenty years
ago is now assessed at q sum five times
larger than was paid for it. another made
ten years ago at $50 front foot is now
valued at 81, 600 front foot, and still an
other made less than five years ago is
now held at many times its cost to the
grantee. There are many similar in
stances. submit that is an unwise policy
for our state to part with this valuable
source of income.
The preservation and development OF
the resources and interests of our COM
monwealth are the legitimate functions OF
Ct<.1 hos sal
our state in the years that are gone. Let
us prove worthy of his mercies in the
years to come righteousness exalteth
a nation" and patriotism rather than par
tisanship should mark the administration
of government. Such a policy tends to
the public good. develops spirit of civic
pride and makes every citizen of the
state feel that he has direct and per-
sonal interest in the successful admins
tration of her affairs. Good government
is not only the desire of the people, but
a just obligation imposed upon their Off
Gals 1t demands that useless offices be
abolished that state boards unneces-
sarily large be reduced; that public Off
Gals render full services for the compen-
sation they receive; that the system OF
abolishing fees in public office. so auspici-
ously begun, be extended throughout the
state, and that spirit Of wise economy
pervade our councils. The cry that the
state is rich even If true, does not justify
the unwise or needless expenditure of
single dollar, The surplus in the treasury
is not dangerous. nor. indeed, has 1t yet
exceeded the proportions Of a safe and
necessary working balance; but, whatever
it's amount, 1t belongs to the people and
should be prudently employed The state
of New Jersey will not be rich until it
has sufficient money to provide school
accommodations for every child in the
state. to care properly for every state
dependent, to complete the system Of
good roads, to pay necessary expenses of
government and to relieve the people from
the burdens Of excessive taxation. To
these ends and to the good Of the peo-
pie of this commonwealth l pledge my
best energy and service.
Centuries ago, when the Roman empire
was in the height of its glory, embassies
from all the Roman provinces presented
themselves before the emperor to pledge
loyalty and allegiance. Gifts of various
kinds they brought him-costly orna-
ments wrought from the ores of the rich
est mines, products of the fields and for
ests and rich devices of industry and
skill The emperor thanked the embas-
sizes and expressed his qualification at the
evidence their gifts afforded OF the vast
resources Of their mighty empire. But"
he added, II would that instead Of these
offerings you could have brought the
hearts of your people that with them
we might build a nation bound together
by the ties of love- Imperial rule is
passing away. In our land no divine
right marks the insignia of office. NO
hereditary line claims preferment No re-
gal hand guides the destlnies of state. The
people themselves choose their officials as
agents to execute their will But their
obligations end not with the choice.
Every citizen has his just responsibility
In the work Of good government and in
the faithful execution of the law. No adj
ministration can succeed without popu-
lar sympathy and support and so in the
years to come, as i tread the wine press
of duty, / shall want and need as comfort
and solace and cheer the loyal. loving
hearts Of the people Of this common
wealth.