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

:
the actual residence OF these dependents
and a more stringent act passed to fix
the responsibility for their care; other
i wise the state will soon become a mere
guardian for every irresponsible and APP
parently homeless dependent
Character Of State AsyI0nis.
The third source ofeexpenset in this con-
nection is the character of the state In
4 stitutions built for: the custody of these
wards. State pride is always the cry
4 on the part of these whose eyes delight
in fine architecture and magnificent build
| ings 1t is a kind of self satisfying pa
| triotism. This, however, should not be
| carried beyond the limit of the states
ability to pay The best example the
state can set for its citizens is simplicity
| and wise economy in public expendi-
| lures. When the state has provided for
! the care of its unfortunates commodiOus,
4 well lighted and comfortable buildings 1t
has done its duty. One of our institu-
| tions has cost the state at the rate of
| $1,000 an inmate, another at the rate OF
81. 600 an inmate When it is considered
that our citizens can be housed in their
own homes at an expense of not. more
1 than $500 an inmate the uselessness Of
such expenditures for public Institutions
needs only to be stated to be acknowl-
edged Under our present law there is
| &c
| cure the best results for the least money.
| The public institutions of the state are
worth $12,000O00. Upon them in the last
| ten years we have expended So, 528, 600
| These expenditures have been made
| piecemeaI, without any reference to a
complete and consistent state policy
Paid Officials Needed.
| New Jersey has one most commendable
| feature in connection with her public in
| stitutions-her boards Of managers, con-
sisting of our best citizens, serving the
| state without pay, examples of civic pa
| triotism worthy OF all praise. The work
| Of these noble men and women cannot be
| too highly commended, and the freedom
of their action and Judgment in the work
\ should not, in my opinion, be hampered
| or curtailed. 1t cannot be expected how
| ever, that they should give all their time
| to the interest of the commonwealth or
| should act as sanitary engineers and ar
| chitects and day by day watch the prog
ress Of public buildings. Their uncom-
! pensated services should have assistance.
| A commissioner of charities and correc-
| tions, having at his command a state
| architect and state sanitary engineer,
| could pass upon all proposed new build
ings or additions to existing Institutions
and serve the interests of economy and
| the interests of our state wards as well.
OF the $35O0.O00 expended during the last
ten years for this purpose believe one
fourth could have been saved by proper
central supervision. Any private business
with assets of $12, 900 900 and expenditures
Of 1,311,000 annually could not be sue
cessfully carried on without some execu-
tive department. Such an official as has
been suggested could visit and receive re-
ports from state institutions, investigate
commitments of state wards and see that
a proper standard be maintained. He
should have as his advisory council the
heads of our various institutions. The
practical knowledge of such a. council
would insure New Jersey a system Of
charities and corrections which, like her
courts would be regarded as exemplary.
Fifty thousand dollars have been spent in
architects fees alone in the last three
years. The proposed department could be
maintained at a less expense annually
than is incurred for architects and would
promote other economies as well as rem
der important service to the unfortunate
wards of the state
Forestry.
OF New Jerseys forestry resources none
are more neglected and none more likely
to add to her reputation than her wood
lands. if properly cared for We are just
beginningsto realize the Importance of our
forests and the necessity for their preser-
walton. They not only furnish timber and
provide an important industry but they
beautify the country, temper the climate.
hold the rainfall, fertilize the SOIL furnish
game preserves and conserve our water
supply, an Indispensable feature of our
rapidly growing and congested civilization.
The woodlands of our state produce an
annual product amounting to $4,182, 537.
They cover 46 per cent of the upland area
of New Jersey and for the most part they
occupy soil that at present. Is adapted
neither to grazing nor to tillage. These
forests grow without the aidiof man, and,
as with all wealth provided by nature,
we are most prodigal of the gift and
neglectful of the heritage. Forest fires in
two years destroyed timber worth nearly
half million, and the indirect loss from
this source-the inpoverishment of the
soil and the effect upon the water supply
is beyond calculation in dollars and cents.
The Importance to human health and
comfort of an abundant supply of whole
some water needs no recommendation.
From all over the state we have reports
Of the increasing difficulty in obtaining
water of a satisfactory quality and guam
tity for our municipalities. while the pres
ent supply is rapidly diminishing. The
springs of our state are lower than they
were fifty years ago. Our wells must be
driven deeper from year to year. Brooks
and rivers once living and flowing no lon-
| ger exist and streams once considerable In
size are now. in the heat of summer. mere
trickling rivulets Rivers that once float
| ed RATS Of lumber with ease are now so
reduced in volume that they are no longer
navigabe even by small boats The men
ace of water famines. with all their in
convenience to urban population and
doubly so to farmers and stockmen, con-
front future II not present generations.
Forests are natural reservoirs in which
are stored the water gathered from rain
and melting snow, to be drawn upon as
necessity demands. Stripped of the wood
land, the water rushes to the sea, and no
supply is held in reserve for the dry sea-
sons. Every year the government Is
spending thousands upon thousands of dol
lars in deepening the channels of our
streams that are again promptly filled
with soil carried by the rainfall from the
treeless plains along the river banks The
same money expended In developing the
forests along the streams and around the
sources of their supply would check the
rush of water save the soil that Is now
| carried and deposited In the river chan
nels and reduce to a considerable extent
the necessity for the river and harbor APP
propriations.
The geological board of our state has
made Investigations concerning tree cul-
ture, covering the kind OF trees best
adapted to our soil, so that we have am
pie information for an Intelligent treat
ment for our wooded and abandoned
lands. Pennsylvania and New York have
already established forestry reserves
4 million and q
,s9th by purchase
4.i Sa' o. The tax laws, and
Pena aa Aiea % 100000 acres, OBJ
4 Va. NIYl