The Morris County chronicle. [volume], March 10, 1908, Image 1

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Morris County Csonicle
VOLUME XXXII. NO. 49 MORRISTOWN, N. J., TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1908. PRICE FIVE CENTS
BOARDOF
ALDERMEN
The Sewer Question Again Be
fore the Board and Re
quisite Action Taken
TROLLEY CO. GETS EXTENSION
All the members of the board of al
dermen were present at the meeting
on Friday evening. Treasurer Owens
reported $6,455.42 expended during the
month of February, leaving a balance
on hand of $15,001.42. He also report
ed that sewer bonds to the amount of
$76,000 had been delivered to the banks
of February 33, taking up that amount
of notes. Interest paid amounted to
$1,364.64, of which $361.83 had accrued
on the bonds, leaving $1,002.87 paid on
the notes. There are left $2,002.87 of
notes plus $22,000 authorized at the
January meeting, making total sewer
notes outstanding of $24,002.87. Later
in the evening four notes of $1,500 due
July first were ordered discounted to
pay the bills presented to the board.
The chief engineer reported some
slight repairs being made to Washing
ton engine, also that the cable had
been ordered for putting the fire alarm
wires about the Park underground. He
also reported the failure of the whistle
to blow at the last fire and the arrange
ment to have it blown every night
hereafter, and also that the board of
education has three telephones in use
while the fire department is paying for
one and can use more, and recommend
ing that the three phones be taken
from the schools and given to the fire
department.
A supplemental report called atten
tion to the practice of storing baggage
" in the exits at the Lyceum, asking
what he should do as it is practically
impossible to accommodate travelling
troupes without the use of the halls.
Later, on motion, the chief engineer
was directed to see that the exits are
kept clear during performance. Action
was also taken notifying the board of
education that the free telephones
would be taken on April first.
The town collector reported the pay
ment of $6,600 to the treasurer, leav
ing $375.40 in his hands.
Justice E. C. Johnston presented a
check for eight dollars, being the
amount received from Elwood Miller,
who has been discharged from jail on
agreeing to support his family. This
amount was accepted and ordered
placed in the poor fund.
Mrs. Margaret Rodler, through W.
W. Cutler asked for tax title to several
pieces of property sold for the 1905
taxes. The property belonged to
Frank J. Rodler and deeds were or
dered executed on payment of the tax
due with interest and costs.
A letter from the Morris County
Traction Co., stated that they had
been greatly delayed in the work of
building a trolley line on Speedwell
avenue because of the sewer construc
tion preventing the construction of
the road within the time limit. They
asked for an extension of six months
in which to complete the line. Aider
man Day said he knew the work of the
company had been impeded by sewer
work as well as side and curb line dis
putes and on his motion the extension
was granted.
Mrs. Henrietta Eangdon askea per
mission to build two frame additions
to her building on Water street. The
matter went over under the rule.
Applications for billiard and bowl
ing licenses were received from E. L.
Hearne, at 8 South street and from
Spencer & Pugh, at 41 Speedwell ave
nue. On recommendation of the li
cense committee both were granted.
A number of letters were read from
G. H. Snow, the local board of sewer
age, the State board and Williams,
Proctor & Potts, relative to the Sara
toga litigation. It seems that Sara
togo and villages associated with it
are about through lighting the Cam
eron patents and a call has been is
sued by Mr. Snow, asking delegates to
attend a meeting at Harrisburg, Pa.,
on Monday, March 9, to discuss the
situation and also asking pledges of
money to continue the litigation. The
question was discussed at some length.
Commissioner Huruig addressing the
board, stating that the local matter is
jn the courts and may not be decided
until after the validity of the Cameron
patents is determined. Then the lo
cal board iias always used the word
sedimentation tank rather than sep
tic tank and by discharging a part of
the tank, septic action might not be
set up. Alderman Twining thought
it useless to send a representative atul
finally the sum of 8100 was voted to
ward the litigation and that amount
ordered sent to Harrisburg.
A letter from the board of sewerage
asked the aldermen to have the elec
tric light wires run to the ejector
chambers so that the machinery might
be tested out. Alderman Twining
said the matter of running the ducts,
etc., should be considered and he
would take the matter up. On his
motion the matter was left to the
lighting committee with power. m
Clerk Toms read an ordinance, which
had been handed him, requiring that (
on all public work only first-class union
workmen be employed. An affidavit
of the fact of such employment was
required of all contractors and a pen
alty of $5 per day per man for viola
tion of the ordinance prescribed. The
ordinance was referred to the ordi
dance committee and Alderman Mow
ery reported that it would be taken
under consideration. Alderman Twin
ing asked to be heard, saying that it
should be disposed of at once. He was
opposed to it and not did believe in
the closed shop and it is not necessary.
Alderman Day also opposed the or
dinance, stating that he believed it
unconstitutional and contracts should
be given out to the best man regard
less of who he employs. -
Alderman Meslar said everybody
knows where he stands on the matter.
Alderman Conkling said he was in
favor of it. He thought the citizens
of Morristown should have the first
chance and the ordinance has been
passed in Newark, Jersey City and
Paterson.
Alderman Mowery confessed a total
ignorance as to the legality of the or
dinance. He favored work going to
Morristown men and had told the
the architect of the town building to
allow only local men to figure on the
plans.
The finance committee presented a
bond of the U,. S. Fidelity & Guarantpe
Co., of Baltimore for Treasurer Owens.
The wording was informal and the
bond ordered approved when the word
ing is corrected. Meanwhile the per
sonal bond was continued.
The town collector was relieved of
$926.03 on the 1907 duplicate, $582 of
which was for poll taxes.
The clerk was authorized to certify
the tax ordinance to the county board
before August first.
Alderman Revere asked what had
become of Treasurer Quayle’s bond as
custodian of the school fund.
Alderman Mowery said Dr. Pierson
had told him that the bond had been
continued and he assumed that it had
been done.
Alderman Revere moved that the
clerk communicate with the former
treasurer, asking what he had done
and it was so ordered.
Alderman Arnold presented the re
port of the marshal showing twenty
arrests during the month, also the re
port of Justice Condon, showing $5
due the town from fines and costs.
Alderman Mowery stated that the
finance committee had decided to seg
regate the $3,000 raised for county
roads and the treasurer was ordered
to make a special deposit of it. The
alderman said it had not occured to
him at the last meeting that interest
could be secured on the deposit which
would offset in a measure the saving
of discount by using rhe money until
the taxes come in.
The street lighting committee had
several bills: one from the Public Ser
vice Corporation of $191.82; one from
the Morris & Somerset Co. for $747.62;
another from the Gas Co., for $366.32
for gas lamps and one from the same
of $12.31 for naptha lamps. A letter
from R. D. Foote accompanied the gas
bills. All were drdered paid but a gas
bill for mantles went over for investi
gation. A number of suggestions
were made as to the location of lamps
on Western avenue, Phoenix avenue
Budd street apd Water street at the
railroad crossing.
Alderman Revere expressed the view
that the plans for the Park improve
ment should be presented to the aider
men, not so much for approval as for
suggestion. Alderman Day opposed
such action, as the work is a gift; but
finally it was decided to ask to see the
plans, Alderman Revere stating that
the Park trutees favored such action.
Alderman Day for the street com
mittee brought up the contract with
the Western Union Telegraph (Jo., for
the use of one duct in the conduits
along Park Place, which the Mayor
and Clerk were directed to execute.
Permission was also granted Ijie com
pany to put up a pole on the curb line
of Water street as a cable ending so
that the pole at the Oliver-Drake cor
ner may come down with the other
poles.
Alderman Day said the committee
would take up the matter of poor side
walks on Morris street, of which com
plaint has been made. He said he
had instructed the street commission
er to clean the walks in front of va
cant propei tv and charge ttie same on
the tax bills. He moved that the po
lice serve notices on property owners
to clean their walks after storms and
in case they do not within two or
three hours, that they be taken before
a justice for line, under the ordinance
which prescribes a fine of $2. He
thought that after two or three had
been fined, walks would be in better
shape.
Alderman Conklin thought the
street commissioner the proper man
to serve the notices, but Alderman
Day said he was busy directing the
cleaning of the park walks and open
ing the gutters and had no time to
serve notices.
Alderman Revere thought the po
lice the proper ones to notify the resi
dents and the motion was adopted af
ter some discussion as to the proper
people to notify in houses occupied by
more than one family.
The board/of engineers recommend
ed the confirmation of the election of
Charles Marshall, Jr., to Humane En
gine Co., anc^ the acceptance of the
resigns' Ion of E. A. Carpenter, from
Resolute H. & L. Co.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETS
Scarlet Fever Cases Decreasing—Milk
and Dairy Inspection Discussed.
The regular meeting of the Board of
Health was held on Monday evening.
The report of Dr. Douglas, the health
physician showed that seventeen cases
of contagious diseases had been dis
charged from the hospital and from
quarantine. A number of other cases
had been examined but not discharged.
He had also visited children sent home
from school. Scarlet fever cases are
decreasing in number but it was the
opinion of the Board that no vigilance
should be spared to safeguard the pub
lic health as in the long and tedious
period of convalescence people grew
careless about exposure. A set of
rules for quaranteened houses were
ordered prepared which would be rig
orously enforced or patients would be
sent to the hospital. The matter of
persons going inside the lines to talk
with patients at the hospital was dis
cussed and it was decided that a few
arrests and tines would stop it.
The secretary was directed to- com
municate with negligent physicians
and ask them to explain why they neg
lected to report tuberculoses and other
contagious diseases with the warning
that a repetition of the offence will
bring legal proceedings.
The health inspector is a busy man
as his report for February showed six
complaints received, thirty-two in
spections made, thirty-five nuisances
abated, eleven houses and forty-eight
rooms fumigated. The contagious dis
ease cases reported were scarlet fever
nine, diphtheria three, tuberculoses
two, typhoid fever one.
The matter of milk inspection was
taken up with the understanding that
the board would make a tour of in
spection and also ask for reports of
tubercular tests.
SOCIETY HAPPENINGS.
Gen. and Mrs. H. H. Walker are in
Atlantic City, to which place they
went on Thursday of last week.
Mrs. George C. Fraser is recovering
from an attack of diphtheria.
Mrs. Charles H. Marsh has been at
her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Willard W.
Cutler’s, ifor over a week, suffering
from quinsy.
Mrs. Oscar Coles Ferris and Miss
Ferris were at Panama when last
heard from.
Miss Marion Townsend, of Orange,
was the guest of Miss Ethel Cutler for
the week’s end.
Mr. and Mrs. Bidley Watts left on
Thursday for athree weeks’ stay at
St. Augustine, Fla.
Edward Swift is in Atlantic City
with his mother.
Miss Creighton had Mrs. B. W. Can
dler, of Short Hills, staying with her
over the week’s end.
Mrs. C. Wickliffe Throckmorton has
been South for some days.
Miss Helen Humphreys had Miss
Nina Chisolm as her guest over the
week’s end.
Miss Constance Bigelow is expected
home from the South toward the lat
ter part of the week.
Miss J ulia H unter Woodward, daugh
ter of the late James L. Woodward,
who was a resident of Morristown at
the time of his death, was married on
Thursday, February 27th, atShanghai,
China, to Bev. John Hunter Nichols,
son of Bishop Nichols, of California.
Miss Dana and Miss Mary Dana have
gone to the Pine Tree Inn, Lakehurst,
for a two weeks’ stay.
Miss May Adrian Hall left her home
last Monday for Washington, D. C.,
where she will spend three weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Freeman have
returned to the house on Sherman
Hill tor the season, having spent the
winter in New York at their apart
ments, as usual.
Miss Louise Freeman has returned
from Los Angeles, Cal., where she has
been visiting her grandfather for the
winter. Harold and Miss Mabel Free
man are still in California, and not
expected home before April.
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Dwight and
daughter, Mrs. Busey, of New York
City were guests at the Boyken for
the Marsh Leggett wedding.
Mrs. M. E. Dwight and Miss Kath
erine Dwight were guests at the Boy
ken for the Marsh-Leggett wedding.
Dr. and Mrs. Carl Williams, of New
London, Ct., are at the Boyken.
Among those present at the Leggett
Marsh wedding was the Hon. John
Bigelow, former ambassador to France.
Mr. Bigelow is ninety years of age,
but only last week made a speech at
the opening of the Belmont tubes and
is planning a trip to Europe during
the coming season. He was accom
panied by Poultney Bigelow.
MORRIS COUNTY COURTS.
Court reopened on Monday with
Judje Black on the bench. A formal
verdict was rendered for the amount
of a note in the suit of Le&is Van
Duyne vs. Andrew Kapinos and George
M. Hocker.
In the cases of John Arendocky
against William W. Trimmer a non
suit was granted in the first case and
a verdict of $70 hi the second case.
The suits were over a horse.
J udge Mills on Saturday sentenced
Susie Burke, of Hibernia, to pay a Ute
of $100 for illegal selling.
James Flynn, indicted for illegal
selling, has changed his plea to one of
guilty and will be sentenced to-mor
raw. *The brewery agents decided not
to make the defence that he was only
acting as their agent.
A verdict of $773.25 was directed in
the case of Lewis DeJonge and Co.,
against the Woodport Hotel & Land
Co., the suit being over a boat.
The case of James H. Johnson
against the North Jersey Street Rail
way did not come to trial, a settlement
being made in court.
OBITUARY.
FRANK HOLLOWAY.
Word lias recently been had from
the Philippines, announcing the death
on January 12 last of Frank Holloway,
a former resident of Morristown, a
printer by trade and for some time an
employee of this office. He was thir
ty-four years of age and recently had
been employed as a foreman, first
class, in the navy and dock yard at
Ollogapo, P. 1. The deceased was a
native of Morristown and up to the
time of the Spanish-Americann War
ressded here most of the time. He
enlisted in that war and on his dis
charge he enlisted in the Fourth In
fantry and was-soon sent to the Philip
pines, where he saw considerable ac
tive service. On his discharge he re
mained in Manilla, working at his
trade and later was employed as fore
man of the composing room of the
Shanghai, (China), Times.
He was a nephew of Marshal J.
Frank Holloway “and leaves a sister,
Mrs. Fred. Horsefield.
• • ■
MBS. ELIZABETH F. MARTIN.
Mrs. Elizabeth Field Martin, the
widow of the late Thomas Martin,
died very suddenly at her home on
Elm street on Friday night. She was
about the house apparently in her
usual health and returned as usual.
About eleven o’clock she called her
daughter and complained of severe
pain. The doctor was called soon af
ter, but by the time he arrived she
had lapsed into unconsciousness from
which she was revived for a moment.
Miss Martin was sent down stairs for
hot water, but before she returned her
mother passed passed away. Acute
indigestion and heart failure were the
cause of death. Mrs. Martin was born
at Lamington, seventy years ago. She
leaves a son, Edgar Martin and a
daughter. Miss Etta Martin. Funeral
services are held this afternoon.
• • %
nENRY P. DRAKE.
Henry P. Drake died at his home at
Washington, N. J., on March second,
aged fifty-five years. He was the son
of the late Jacob O. Drake, proprietor
and owner of the United States Hotel
for many years. After the death of
the father the property was left to
Henry P. Drake, who in turn sold it
to D. II. McAlpin. Mr. Drake spent
most of his life at Chester, removing
to Washington live years ago. A short
time before his removal from the
county, he was the candidate for
sheriff on the Democratic ticket and
was well-known in masonic circles.
He leaves three children.
• • •
LEON L. BELAND.
Leon L. Beland, a resident of New
ark for sixty-eight years, died Satur
day morning at the Mansion House in
that ity, where he had been a guest
all that time, occupying the same
suite of rooms. He was eighty-five
years old and had enjoyed perfect
health until the night after he at
tended the Washington Birthday ex
ercises of the Washington Association
at its headquarters at Morristown.
Mr. Beland was one of the oldest mem
bers of the Association and for years
participated in the yearly celebration.
• • •
MRS. ELIZA P. MILLS.
Mrs. Eliza Pierson Mills, widow of
the late Silas Mills, died at the Mills
homestead on Mills st., Monday, after
a loug illness. She was in the seventy
seventh year of her age, a daughter of
the late Lewis Pierson, of Horse Hill.
For thirty-seven years she resided in
Virginia, returning to Morristown
some time ago. A son, William P.
and daughter, Miss Minnie Mills sur
vive her, besides a brother, John Pier
son, who resides on the old Pierson
homestead at Horse Hill and a sister,
Mrs. Jane Wilson.
• • »
EZBA F. G A11A Bit A NT.
Ezra F. Garabrant, a life long resi
dent of Mendham died very suddenly
in that village on Monday.. He was
about sixty-seven years of age, a son of
Cornelius Garabrant. In earlier life
he was engaged in the live stock busi
ness, but on the building of the Rock
away Valley R. R. embarked in the
lumber and coal business in which he
was still engaged at the time of his
death. He is survived by a widow
and two children, Charles Garabrant
and Marietta, the wife of Dr. Harris
Day, of Chester.
• • •
y
MBS. SABAII AMMEBMAN.
Mrs. Sarah Ammerman, an old resi
dent of Hanover avenue, Morris
Plains, died at the home of her son
in-law, M. Mains, at the Plains on
Sunday. She was in the eighty-tifth
year of her age.
• • •
MBS. FBEDEUIKA IIAMMACHEB.
Mrs. Frederika Ilamraacher, a sis
ter «f Charles and Frederick Bauer, of
Horse Hill, died on Sunday. She was
sixty-three years of age.
Permit to Buru Brush.
The townships in Morris county to
which the permit law applies and the
fire wardens from whom permits can
be obtained to burn brush are as fol
lows. In other townships or boroughs
than those here mentioned no permits
are required.
Boonton, Andrew D. Kincaid, Boonton
Hanover, Harry M. Ball, Boonton
Montville, Chas. W. Gordon, Montville
Pequannock, Albert RjDeBow,
Himpton Plains
~ rr “■
THE COUNTY
TAX BOARD
A Summary of the Excellent
Results Secured in Its Two
Years of Work.
NEED OFTAXBOARDS APPARENT
Office of the
Morris County Board of Taxation.
Morristown, N. J., Feb. 1,1908.
To the Honorable John Franklin
Fort, Governor of the State
of New Jersey :
Our Board having practically com
pleted its second year of work, we
deem it proper that we should report
to your Honor, giving briefly an ac
count of our labors.
This Board has at all times had but
one object in view, viz : that all of the
tax payers of the County of Morris
should be taxed equitably and in pro
portion to each other and that the
County, as a whole, should bear its
proper proportion of the direct State
tax, recognizing the fact that this can
only be accomplished by a close appli
cation of the law as promulgated in
the constitution, that all property
shall be taxed according to its true
value. At first thought it might seem
that the State tax is so small an
amount of each tax payer’s burden
that it is not worth considering. Upon
the total assessed yaluation of each
County depends not only the amount
of State school tax, which it shall^pay,
but also the amount of State school
tax, which will come back to the same
County.
Under the present law and under
the proposed law, now before the leg
islature, the taxes received from main
stem, over and above five dollars on a
thousand will be paid to the several
counties in proportion to the taxable
real and personal estate therein.
This Board has two principal duties
to perform. Its work in the first part
of the year consists in travelling about
the County interviewing the several
assessors in their individual taxing
districts and viewing the property
with him for the purpose of assisting
in every way possible to get at the true
value and urging in all instances the
necessity of finding all property, ar.d
assessing the same, and particularly,
personal property.
Morris County is peculiarly situated
in that there is such a divergence be
tween the different classes of taxable
property. In nearly all cases each as
sessor has his Borough or Town prop
ty to assess, which is usually business
property, and the true value readily
determined ; then he has a residential
section, of which the true value is
practically impossible to obtain be
cause of the very great difference be
tween the cost value, the rental value
and the true value of the so-called
millionaire colonies; then he has his
public utilities property to assess, his
manufacturing and mining sections
and the farm property. There is prob
ably no County In the State more pe
culiarly situated than Morris, and it
is these peculiarities which has given
this Board and the assessors consider
able thought. We, in all instances,
endeavor to instruct the several asses
sors in such a manner that property of
the same classes should be proportion
ately assessed throughout the whole
County. In a number of instances we
have consulted the assessable valua
tion of similiar property in adjoining
counties. We have always encouraged
assessors to familiarize themselves
with the methods and valuations of
other assessors. It has seemed at
times almost impossible to break the
assessors of the habit of associating
their assessments with one-third or
one-fourth or one-half values.
During the existence of this Board
material changes have been made in
the total valuations of the different
taxing districts throughout the Coun
ty. We discovered ffrst that the coun
try districts were assessed in most in
stances double in proportion to the
towns and boroughsof the County, and
second that some of the towns and
boroughs were entirely out of porpor
tion to each other. The Board also
discovered that the smaller the prop
erty usually the higher the rate of as
sessment. Tables showing changes
and comparisons are in existence tiled
with the various State officials, but
they stand for very little until analyzed
or made plain by this Board or by
others famllar with the same.
We find by figuring and by compar
isons the following facts:
The increase in the total valuation
of Morris County for 1906 and 1907
was $12,283,729 ; this is 38 2-10 per
cent, for the two years and standing
by itself alone would seem to mean
considerable? As against this there
is to be deducted, or considered, the
following facts : During the same two
years Die property of the County has
been increased as follows: by the as
sessment of two dams at Boonton for
the Jersey City Water Supply Com
pany $666,000, new trolley lines, $58,
000, railroad property outside of main
stem now taxed locally, $476,000, mak
ing $1,200,000 increase. All telephone,
electric light and telegraph com; antes
have in the aggregate been more than
doubled by this Board. In addition
thereto, some of the municipalities
have been doubled and others have
been more then doubled. As in in
stance, Butler Borough was raised by
this Board from $415,121 to $1,094,475;
Kockaway Borough was raised from
$425,000 to $879,890; Wharton Borough
was raised from $449,226 to $903,325;
Morris Township was raised from
$2,431,700 to $3,985,600.
Thus while the total increase is 38
per cent, the amount was not made up
by raising the people in general so
much as ib-was by the natural increase
of ratables together with extraordin
ary conditions exisiting in the County.
A number of the municipalities have
in the two years made not even a nor
mal raise; we refer particularly to
Chester Township, with a raise of
only $31,000; Jefferson Township
[CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGE.]
LAUTERC9
^PIANOS,'3G
OUR WAREROOMS ARE OPEN EVENINGS
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THE LLEWELLYN
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LAUTER CO.
i
Warerooms: Record Building, Park Place, Morristown
Factory? 58,60,62,64,66 & 68 Lackawanna Ave.Newark