The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1913-08-05
THE OLD ORDER
PASSETH AWAY
Comparison Between the Old
and the New Conditions.

An old-timer coming by the munich
pal building on Friday night and OBJ
serving a row of automobiles, asked
a policeman whence all these cars?"
and was told they belong to the al
dermen who are attending the meet
ing upstairs well, WE'LL" was the
comment, there is some difference
between this display and the times
when the fathers of the town: George
| T. Cobb, William C. Baker, ]. Boyd
Headley, and other prominent citi-
zens, serving as town officials, came
to the common council meetings
helped along by good hickory canes,
and at times carrying lanterns to
save themselves from falling on the
uneven sidewalks
This started chain of reflections
in regard to the early days of the
town. When first Incorporated in
1865, it was part of Morris town
ship and remained with 1t as tax
ing district for years. The first of
ficials of the town were elected on
union ticket by forty per cent.
majority over a democratic ticket
and was made up as follows Mayor,
George T. Cobb; recorder, J. Boyd
Headley; aldermen, William c. Baker,
Isaac Bird; councilmen, Edwin L.
Lounsbury, Samuel S. Halsey, Silas D
Cory, Victor Flury and Sherwood s.
Atno, with James V. Bentley as clerk
The council engaged "a room in the
old Washington hall building and
fitted it up with furniture, stationery,
ETC., at a cost of $81.75 and rental
of S45 per year. The proportion of
road money coming from the town
ship was $4,000, and at a meeting of
the taxpayers, called for the purpose,
it was resolved to raise $2,500 for
town purposes, but nothing was voted
for street lamps or for the fire de-
partment The department was then
in he hands of board appointed un-
der the law, and it was reported that
The property of the department ICON
slsting of three fire houses and three
pieces of apparatus) WAS valued at
1888, but practically of no value for
actual use. Ordinances were passed
and William Beers was. appointed
marshal, Uzal Condict, street commits
sloner, and "a man by the name of
Carter. from Newark, as town sur
veyor." 1t was designed to have all
The streets surveyed and graded be-
fore any work was done. what is
done, therefore, will be done on a
regular established grade, and only
repairing, which will require very in
considerable expense, will be there
after required" Mr.. Carter went
ahead, made his surveys and maps,
and for years after the common thing
when any street work was contem
plated was to compromise the Garter
grade-'
Strange as it may seem, looking al
the matter from the present stand
point, there was more criticism o.
public affairs and charges of extra
vagance than there is at the present
time
AS matter of comparison, the fig
ures of that day and the present are
of interest. Morristown and Morris
township were not separated as q
taxing district for years after this
so that they will be included in Civ
ing the figures. The population Of
the town and township combined in
1865. was 1886, while the same dis
trict now has 1858. The. valuation
for. taxing purposes then was 81,
100000, now is $16,435, ,404. The
schools that year cost $500, while
this year shows an expenditure fol
school purposes, without new build
ings, of from SS5,000 to 10000
There was expended for county pur
poses that year $87,01154, including
$40, ,450.S0 to families of soldiers. OF
$66,560.74, for county expenses. Thi,
year the appropriation for count,
purposes is $351, 500. AS against $5,
600 expended in that year for tow
purposes, this year the appropriation
amount to $130,090
Truly the order has changed ant
the constantly increasing demand fo
money for public purposes is causin,
much solicitude on the part of prop
erty owners and is question tha
must be taken up seriously in tn,
near future.
The question arises-Is the line-ul
of cars at the board of aldermen meet
ing sign of the, times, and if s,
Is it healthy sign?