The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-09

latuTe Under the provisions OF that act
a forestry commission was appointed,
The commissions aim has been, first, to
secure a tract where tree culture coeld be
excmplifed and sthdied II q practical
/ way ana thus serve as an incentive to In
/ dfyidnals ana private interests to engage
in this work on their own account; sec
ond, to secure a tract containing tim.
Der ready for cutting, that the state might
at once derive a revenue from this source
and al the same time be growing trees to
take the places of those cut and removed:
third to secure tract capable Of grow
Ing timber, even though it require q gen.
Grafton OF more for its development
These three objects seem to cover com
paratively wide field OF forestry work.
Ten thousand dollars was appropriated
for these purposes. tract of 26S acres
near Mays Landing was purchased for the
sum of 81 ,O75 rs, to which has been added
I04.65 acres, the gift Of John clifford, and
tract Of 597 acres Of young timber in
Bass River township, Burlington county,
has been secured at cost Of 1919. The
aggregate acreage now acquired is 970.5
acres at a cost of S1,954.76 for the land and
$19S50 for surveys and maps required by
law.
Negotiations are in progress for tracts
of larger acreage, subject to the approval
of the Legislature in the way Of sufficient
appropriation. Among them is Weymouth
tract of 24,700 acres wen timbered, lying
near Mays Landing and Egg Harbor
City, which has been offered at s. an
acre The tract contains a pond of 200
acres and a water power already develop
ed, with future possibilities Of $50 horse
power. The average flow is 100000
gallons daily and the minimum 32,250000
gallons. With storage, 12S,000000 gallons
daily may he collected. The tract also.
contains deposits of clay gravel and
stone, fully equipped sawmill, paper
mill a store and twenty-four houses.
Arrangements are pending between the
forestry commission and the board of wa
ter commissioners of East Orange where
by the forestry commission can take
charge of a tract of $50 acres located in
Milburn township Essex county so that
this tract may practically become part
of the forestry reservation of the state.
The acquisition of such tracts tends to
the preservation of our water supply In
deed, state forestry reservation should
go hand in hand with the conservation OF
our water sources and potable streams.
Already our large municipalities are fear
ing water ftn1ines. Too much care cam
not be exercised to avoid this calamity,
and if legislative action can aid it should
be taken promptly before the danger lie
upon us.
State Property In Potable Water.
ed throughout the state. covering 14.00O
acres. Where practicable these should be
set apart as public parks and carefully
preserved for the use of the people of the
state. They should become the property
of the state in connection with its for
estry reservation The state now owns
no potable waters, but it could acquire
these lakes and through the ownership OF
forestry reservations the sources of our
potable streams
/ suggest subject to the judgment OF
the Legislature that some commission,
preferably the riparian. be authorized to
Investigate this proposition Its practica-
bility and probable cost and If possible
make at least a partial report at this SEES
sion of the legislature if it be found that
some preliminary legislation is necessary.
Passaic. River Pollution.
The publication of the Passaic river il
still an unsolved problem.
Its settlement should no longer be de-
ferred The way to purify the Passaic
river is to agree upon some practical
method rather than talk about it for the
next ten years. There must be some
possible settlement. Constitutional legis-
lation and an agreement among the af.
fected communities are the essential fac
tors in this proposition LEGISLATION
difficult In q controversy. Between two
communities and heretofore has been sue
cessful only through a special session
which left "a worthless legacy to the
courts. Newark and Paterson have not
been altogether in harmony on the sub
ject, although as a matter Of fact. then
interests are not incompatible Two such
extensive municipalities should meet
through their representatives in a bust
nesslke conference for the purpose moi
of disagreeing but of agreeing Some
remedy should be provided. Let it be done
with fairness to all and hardship to none.