The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-12-26
Governor Recommends That
Riparian Lands Be Leased
Not Sold
STATE SCHOOL FUND LOSES
THE LANDS IN QUESTION FORM
ITS MOST VALUABLE ASSETS
AND THEY ARE SLIPPING
AWAY.
Especial to "The Jersey city Newg.")

Especial to "The Jersey City News.')
TRENTON. Dec. 26, 1905.-The
State authorities have been looking into
the sale in fee simple of riparian lands,
especially these State lands located in
Hudson County.
Investigation shows that in many in
stances the prices received for such
lands were very small and it is a possi-
bility that inquiry win cause further
development Of many smaller sales.
The money received from the riparian
lands. either through sales or leases,
forms the public school fund and Gov
ernor Stokes sees a possibility of these
lands eventually passing away from the
State if something it not done to insure
their retention.
In his inaugural address he said:
Most of the riparian grants of our ssate
have been disposed Of in fee simple and
rights yet in our possession are worth,
perhaps, $5,O00,OoO. These rights, es-
peelllly 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
have an immensely valuable asset and
one that would be source of perpetual
revenue If the policy of the past has
been a mistaken one, let US at one cor
rect it.
The Legislature can provide that RI
parian lands shall no longer be disposed
Of in fee simple, but shall be leased on
rentals. which, at proper periods, shall
be readjusted Oh fair basis of increa s.
ed value Such readjustments could be
determined, in cases of dispute, by rep
resentat tive of the state and representa-
tive of the lessee. which would insure
fairness to both parties. One riparian
grant made twenty years ago is now as
sessed at sum five times larger than
was paid for it; another made ten years
ago at fifty dollars a foot front is now
valued at one thousand dollars a foot
front, and still another. made less than
five years ago, is now held at many times
its cost to the grantee. There are simi-
lar instances. / submit that it is an un-
wise policy for our State to part with
this valuable source of income"
In spite of this expression of senti-
ment by Governor Stokes, the riparian
laws were not changed materially last
winter and during the past year grants
have been made in fee simple by the
Board of Riparian Commissioners as in
| the past.
In the year 1908 the riparian commis-
sioners did big business in state lands.
1t was the largest business done in ten
years. In that year eighty grants were
made, ranging in value all the way
from $40 to $4,000. The total amount
accruing to the state from these grants
was $97, ,57S.23, The same year there
were six leases and six licenses granted,
\ totaling an income to the state for the
year Of $204 4,944.27. The report of the
| riparian commission for this year says:
''The statement shows an increased
revenue Of about $4,000 from convey
ances of lands under water made by the
commission during the fiscal year and
| that of last year, and the location ard
character Of the conyeyances made
mark a continuance of the demand for
water front property over the <endre
riparian front of the state"
1t is notable fact that the prices re-
ceived for the lands disposed of in the
southern part of the state were exceed
ingly small as compared with the prices
for which the land in the northern part
of the state were sold.
In the fiscal year ending October 21
1904, sixty grants of land were made
and eleven leases and licenses issued
The aggregate profit to the state from
these transactions was S127, ,92s.90.
The Riparian Commissioners estimate
that there is within the State of New
Jersey lands under water the value Of
which, at the present rates asked by the
State amount to over S20,000,0OO, and
while the more important waterways Of
the State are being rapidly taken by en-
terprises that are attracted by the near
ness to the cities Of New York and
Philadelphia, and by the availability Of
| the WATERWAYS and the proximity Of the