The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-11

must be given consideration ana arten.
ton as a matter of craftsmanship
Such legislation was recommended by
the governor in both his inaugural adj
dress and his first message. Steps have
been taken and are being taken that
will prove of great benefit to future
generations. The preservation of the
forests of the state presents one of the
most important aspects of the stu
ation
The forests, long neglected, have
been taken under the state care. The
state forestry act of 1904, enacted at
the suggestion of Governor Stokes in
his inaugural address, has been quoted
abroad as model law Governor
Stokes showed that the states wood
lands covered 46 per cent of the up
land area, yielding an annual product
Of $4,1S2,537 The new law created
a commission which is acquiring ex-
tensiye tracts Of forest land for reser-
walton development and future use as
public parks.
The legislature this year authorized
the riparian commission to inquire into
the possibility Of the acquisition OF
the inland lakes and the state owner
ship and control of the sources of wa
ter supply The state forestry commits
sion is endeaYoring to purchase forest
lands around the head water sheds Of
our streams for this purpose. The wis
dom of the legislature, which looks
ahead to the acquisition of the inland
lakes for public parks by the people,
and as reservoirs and storage ponds,
the acquisition of all our water sup
plies, needs no defense in state
whose rapidly growing population
makes the question Of water supply
the most important problem of the
day
A notable and far reaching act by the
Legislature this year was that which
prohibits the piping Of potable waters
out Of the state for commercial profit.
In this matter the governor and legis-
lature withstood appeals from promi-
.nent national as well as New York
public officials and Influences. This
new law is of immense significance.
Control Of the watersheds Of the state
has largely been acquired by private
corporations, and plans have been
made for diverting their waters to 9TH
er states. 1t would not have been very
long before the ownership and diver
sion of state waters would be con-
verted into intrenched vested interests.
Republican legislation has anticipated
and prevented that.
The governor and legislature inaugu
rated a new and highly important pol
icy respecting the preservation Of the
rivers and streams of the state from
pollution and for the prevention of dis
astrous floods. By an agreement eff
fected by the governor the municipali-
ties on the Passalc consented to await
the report of an engineering expert
employed by Paterson to determine
whether that municipality would join
In the construction of a sewer The
Legislature win be called in extra ses-
sion in September to pass the neces-
sary legislation. The state also is,
through commission, cooperating
with the state Of Pennsylvania with a
view to the redemption of the Della
ware river from pollution. These steps
are preliminary TO cleansing up Of all
the rivers and streams Of the state.
To Save the Riparian Domain.
A state commission was appointed
last winter to Investigate riparian
leases and grants, TO ascertain the ex-
tent and value Of the states riparian
domain and report recommendations
for its preservation for the state school
fund. Governor Stokes in his inaugu-
raj address said in respect of grants
in fee Of riparian land, 'sThe legisla-
ture can provide that riparian lands
shall no longer be disposed Of in fee
simple, but shall be leased on rentals
which at proper periods shall be read
5usted on fair basis Of increased
value" He reiterated in his annual
message last winter THAT the legis-
lature provide in some practical way
that these lands may not be disposed
Of in the future in fee simple, but shall
be leased on rentals which at proper
| periods may be read1usled on IaiE
basis Of increased value" It will be
the duty Of the legislature next winter
to carry out the governors repeated
recommendation
The state riparian board a few years
ago made an estimate Of $20,000,00o
as the prospective value Of what re-
manned Of the states riparian domain
which, held intact as an investment fol-
public school purposes will ultimately
yield a magnificent and ever increas-
ING revenue from rentals, 70 be az
! voted to public euacatlon.
/ Mosquito determination.
| The act BY the legislature this yea
| authorizing an appropriation, covering
| several years. Of $4,000 for the ex
tirpation Of the mosquito pest deal
| with state evil the magnitude 3
which the people of the state fully com
prehend. It has given to our state
name abroad that has done incalculabl
| injury to the states material interests
| 1t has retarded the development Of on
magnificent seacoast and mountains
/ been serious obstacle 70 the popula