History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 57

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840

USA > New Jersey > Essex County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 57
USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The cars run from the southerly end of Broad Street through Broad and State Streets, Summer Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue to Bloomfield, returning through Eighth Avenne instead of State Street. A branch runs through Mount Prospect Avenne to the old Bloomfieldl road. The stables are located on the corner of Bloomfield Avenne and Aqueduct Street, about midway between the extreme ends of the line.

The Bloomfield line reported for the year ending December 31st, 1882, a capital stock paid in of $177,- 000; bonded debt, $88,500; floating debt, bond and mortgage, $4,000; cost of road and equipments, $276,- 500; receipts, $92,514.44; expenditures, $89,397.75.

The Newark, Harrison and Kearny Horse-Car Railroad, Company was opened for travel in July, 1884, the line running from near the Lodi Hotel, Ilar- rison, across the county bridge, through Bridge Street to Broad Street, and down Broad and Market Streets to Market Street Depot. The directors and officers of this line are as follows : 8. S. Battin, President ; F. T. Kirk, Treasurer and Secretary ; II. F. Totten, Superin- tendent. Directors-William Clark; Robert F. Bal- lantine, John 11. Ballantine, Sylvester S. Battin, A. Q. Keasby, George M. Keasby, Robert Cumming. In August, 1884, an arrangement was made with this company to run its cars over a new road from Market Street Depot through Union, Elm and Pacific Streets tu Pennington Street, owned by the Essex Passenger Railway t'ompany.

The Newark and Irvington Street Railway Company, was incorporated by the Legislature on the

205

LEGISLATION RELATIVE TO EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS IN NEW JERSEY

7th of March, IsGl. The stock originally subscribed was $20,000, which was afterwards increased to $50,- 000. The work of building the road was commenced in the fall of 1867, the company having to buy the franchise of the Springfield Turnpike Company to se- cure the right of way for their track.

The road was opened for public travel in June, 1868, at which time the following composed the Board of Directors: John Schweitzer, Paul Buchanan, Dan- iel Lanck, Theodore Runyon, Frederick Ahren, John McGregor, Francis Goccken, John Baier, Peter Neu- ninger.

Paul Buchanan was the first President, and later became Superintendent ; Daniel Lauck was Secretary, and John Baier, Treasurer. Through the effort: of Mr. Buchanan, this line inaugurated the running of horse-cars on Sunday in the city of Newark; the first Sunday trips being made in the year 1809. After ton years of fair success in the operation of the road, the company became financially embarrassed, and A. Bishop Baldwin was appointed Receiver. In April, 1880, the line was sold at Receiver's sale, and reor- ganized under the name of the Newark and Irvington Horse-C'ar Railway Company. The others and di- rectors of the company are as follows: S. S. Battin, President ; W. L. Mulford, Secretary. Directors -- S. S. Battin, J. H. Ballantine, Alexander Turnbull, Rich- ard Gumersell, Andrew Lemassena, Ji., S. S. Battin, Jr., George M. Keasbey, AA. t2. Koasbey, Robert F. Ballantine.

The last financial statement of the Newark and Ir- vington Line was as follows: Capital stock paid in, $100,000; bonded debt, $50,000; floating debt, $21,- 000; cost of road and equipments, $194,000; income, $74,263.48; expenditures, $72,628,29. The general offices of all these companies is at 175 Market Street, corner of Broad Street.

The Clinton Avenue Line of Horse-Cars, running from South Park to the village of Irvington was operated by Prospect P. Shaw earlier than the Spring- field Avenue Line, but it failed to pay expenses, and was abandoned about 1869.

The Newark and South Orange Horse-Car Rail- road Company, was incorporated March 7, 1861, with a capital stock of $25,000, and power to increase the same to $50,000. It was built at about the same time as the Springfield Avenue Line, and like it, its finan- cial affairs were not prosperous, and the road was soll to satisfy judgments. It was bought for $35,000 by Mr. John Radel, who is now the owner of the line, his son, Andrew Radel, being the superintendent. The cars run from Ferry Street through Market Street, and South Orange Avenue to the village of South Orange, a distance of about eight miles. The ant ual report for 1883, submitted to the State C'omp- troller by Mr. Radel, was as follows: Capital stock paid in, $75,000; bonded debt, $12,000; receipts, $79,198.17; expenditures, $90,276.38.

The Elizabeth and Newark Horse Railroad Com-

pany, is con rolled principally in Elizabeth, and its line runs com the Paterson and Newark depot at Fourth Avenue through Ogden, South Bridge, Front, Mulberry and Thomas Streets, Pennsylvania Avenue to Miller Street, the project being to extend the line through to Elizabeth.

The President and Treasurer is Jacob Davis; Serre- tary, E. J. Cleveland ; Superintendent. F. W. Munn.

CHAPTER XXII.

LEGISLATION RELATIVE TO EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS IN NEW JERSEY.1

LEGISLATION in New Jersey, in behalf of public schools, has a much carlier date than is generally supposed. February 9, 1816, the Legislature author- ized and directed the Treasurer of the State to invet in the public six per cent. stock of the United States, in the name of and for the use of this State, the sun of $15,000. This money had been realized in part payment of a debt due to the State from the United States, and from dividends on certain shares of stock owned by the State in the Trenton Banking Company.

The Treasurer was further authorized and directed to invest in the said six per cent. stor . of the United States, all further installments which may be paid on said debt by the United States, with all interest paid thereon, together with the dividends on the aforesaid stock, which would accrue from year to year, and all further dividends from the stock in the Trenton Bank- ing"Company. To what use this fund should be ap- plied, the act is wholly silent.

October 29th, of the same year, the Treasurer of the State is directed to transfer to the books of the Loan Office of the United States, in this State, all stock of the United States heretofore purchased or hereafter to be purchased, for the use of this State.

The first indication of the purpose to which this fund so specifically created should be applied, is given in the following year.

February 12, 1817, it was enacted that the above six per cent. stock, with all of such additional stock as may be purchased in pursuance of the act aforesaid of ISIG, all dividends which may hereafter he received on the shares of this State in the capital stock of the ('umberland Bank, and on the shares of the State in the Newark Turnpike tompany ; all moneys to be re- ceived on the sale of the house and lot belonging to this State in t'ity of Jersey ; and one-tenth part of all moneys hereafter to be raised by tax for the use of the State, shall be set apart and appropriated for the purpose of creating a fund for the support of freo schools in this State.

s (vrpiled by the late Alexander HI. Freeman, of Orange

206

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

State Trustees Appointed .- The Treasurer way directed to invest all this additional mon y as soon as received in the same six per cent. stock of the Gene- ral Government, with all proceeds arising from said stock, and he is directed to keep a separate account of this fund, and make annual reports thereof to the Legislature. In 1818 we have additional legislation. The Governor of this State, the Vice-President of Council (now the Senate), the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State, and their successors in office, were constitu- ted and appointed trustees of the fund for the support of free schools in this State, and were styled "The Trustees for the support of Free Schools."

State Public School Fund Declared .- The fund in said act is declared to be a fund created as above by Act of February 9, 1816, and February 12, 1817, and it is further specifically declared that it consists of the following description of stock, and other public property, viz:

The six per cent. stock of the United States pur- chased under the Act of February 9, 1816, estimated at $15,000.

The stock of the Newark Turnpike Company, esti- mated at $12,500.

The balance due on the old six per cent. stock of the United States February 12, 1817, estimated at ! $10,654.78.

The three jur ent. stock of the United States bo- longing to this State February 12, 1817, $10,143.80, estimated at $5,071.90.

Cash received by Treasurer for interest and reim- bursement of the old six per cent. stock of the I'nited States since February 9, 1816, estimated at $5,849.66.

Shares in the Trenton Banking Company, estimated at §36,000.

Shares in the Cumberland Bank, estimated at $2,000; making an aggregate of $87,076.34.

Ten per cent. of the State tax actually received by the Treasurer for the year 1817; all interest and divi- «lends realized on the above aggregate; the proceeds from the sale of banking house and lot in Jersey City; all future appropriations by the Legislature; all gifts, grants, bequests or devises hereafter made, all of which are to be vested by the Treasurer under the direction of the said Trustees in public stock, or on private -"curity ; the interest to be applied to the sup- port of public schools, in manner directed by law, and to no other use or purpose whatsoever. It was also enacted that neither the Trustees nor the Treas- performed in pursuance of this act.

A singular feature appears in this act. It might be urer should receive any compensation for any services | named the voluntary district system. The patrons,

In 1828 the school fund was further augmented by adding all the taxes thereafter received from banking, insurance, or other incorporated companies, whose capital now is or may hereafter he made taxable.

Distribution of the School Moneys .- February 24, 1829, it was enacted that the Trustees of the School Fund should appropriate annually from the

proceeds thereof, the sum of $20,000 for public schools. This was the first attempt at disbursement. Ilitherto, it had all been accumulation; now the State is to euter upou a new era; the money that had been gathering for thirteen years had reached a level from whence it would be safer to distribute, and the Trus- tees of the fund are to divide this $20,000 among our then fourteen counties, in the ratio of the State tax paid by the counties. The Chosen Frecholders of the several counties were dirceted to re-disburse to their several townships, in the ratio of the county tax paid by the townships. Townships were required to elect annually, school committees of three each, whose duty was to divide the township into convenient school districts, license teachers for the township, call dis- triet meetings of the taxable inhabitants only, and to divide the public money quarterly among the several distri cts according to the number of children between the ages of four years and sixteen years. The district meetings were to determine how many months in the year a school should be kept, and the Trustees were to provide a house or room for the school.

New Legislation .- In 1830 four sections of the Act of 1829 were repealed, and other sections substi- tuted, making several modifications. All obscure in- timation in the Act of 1829, relating to townships taxing themselves additional school money, is in the supplement mide clear, that at annual town meetings any amount of school tax could be levied to add to the State appropriation. School districts which may have been formed before the Act of 1829 and since, were not to be changed without the consent of a ma- jority of the people of the district. A provision was introduced for constituting districts from parts of two or more adjoining townships or counties.

February 16, 1831, the Act of 1829, and supplement of 1830, were repealed and a new act substituted. By this act the sum of $30,000 was annually approprinted from the proceeds of the school fund, to be drawn on or before the first Monday in April, and as in the former act, so in this, if the whole sum should not at that time be ready, the deficiency was to be advanced from the general treasury. The distribution of the money was to be continued on the former basis.

Authority to levy an annual school tax was con- tinued to the townships, and they were empowered to assign all the State money to educate the "indigent | poor," if they chose. Township committees were also continued.

supporters, or proprietors of common schools in the townships were directed to organize their several schools, if not already organized, by the appointment of any number of trustees. The trustees were to report to the Township School Committee their organ- ization, whereupon the Committee was directed to recognize all such schools as being entitled to their proportion of the publie money. The trustees of such

LEGISLATION RELATIVE TO EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS IN NEW JERSEY. 207

schools were to make annual reports of the average number of scholars for each quarter, to the School Committee, and perform other unenumerated duties. No limitation of the age of the children appears in the law.

The township school committees, upon the receipt of the annual reports of the several boards of trustees assigned the public money to each school in the ratie of the number of children taught, as reported t' them during the preceding year. If the township hal voted all the publie money to the use of the poor then the ratio of distribution was to be as to the number of "poor" children taught in each school.

This was the law for the next succeeding seven years. March 1, 1838, it was all superseded by a . ew enactment, authorizing this $30,000 to be dishersed from the school fund annually, on the usual basis. Authority to townships to levy the annual ta Was continued, but there was interposed this provise, viz. : that this tax should not be more than double the amount received from the State.

Township school committees were again empowered to divide townships into convenient schoo districts ; alter and change them as circumstances may require, and, if advisable, form them from par - of two or more adjoining townships or counties This latter operation, of course, required the joint consent of all committees interested. The Committee called the «listriet meetings of the "taxable inhabitants," which meetings elected three or more trustees. County boards of examiners for licensing teachers were pro- vided for, to be appointed by the Chosen Freeholders. When the Freeholders omitted to make such appoint- ments, the School Committee performed the duty for each township. The ratio of distribution of the public money in the districts was to be, as to the number of children between five and sixteen years of age.

A provision was introduced to satisfy the friends of that which has herein been called the voluntary dis- triet system. By the act this system was to a great extent exploded, but it was provided that, where the patrons or proprietors of any parochial school already organized should be unwilling to relinquish such school, they might by their trustees, furnish a list of their children capable of attending school between the ages of five and sixteen years, to the Township School Committee, with a certificate of their organiza- tion, and thereby become entitled to receive a ratable proportion of the public money. By this act school committees were authorized to receive one dollar per day For their services, to be paid to them out of the township contingent.

By school committees, is probably meant each school committee-man.

State and Town Superintendents .- This art, the most elaborate thus far, was enlarged and improved by the general revision of the law in 1846. By the revised art, the annual sum of $30,000 was continued

to appropriated ; but townships were required to raje a sum at least equal to the proportion of the Sote appropriation, but not to exceed double that s' 1. Township school committees therein disappear,

I a " town superintendent of public schools," was provided for in their stead, to be elected at the annual town meetings. llis remuneration was fixed at one dollar per day of aetnal service, to be paid out of the township fund. The special provision in the law of 1838, in relation to parochial schools, was continued intact, and the age limit of children unchanged.

The State Superintendent is first mentioned in this act. He was to be appointed biennially by the trustees of the School Fund, and his duties were de- fined.

In 1848, a supplement was passed by the State Legislature, authorizing townships at their annual town meeting to appropriate, for the support of the public schools of the townships, as much of their pro- portion of the interest of the surplus revenue as they may think proper.

This supplement was never available in Essex County, for the reason, that some ten years previous to its passage, the Chosen Frecholders applie ] the Esex County share of the revenue to the building of the Court-house.

Such appropriation of the surplus revenue in Essex County, has so completely buried it out of sight and mind, that a brief reminder of what that revenue is, or was, is almost indispensable just here.

In 1836, the General Government found itself in possession of more money than it wanted, or would ever be likely to want. By Act of Congress, passed June 23d of that year, it distributed to the several States, as a loan without interest, more than $30,000,- 000 of this "surplus revenue," as it was called. The sum apportioned to the State of New Jersey was $764,670.44. The Legislature, by Act of March 10, 1837, subdivided this latter sum among the several counties, in the ratio of the State tax paid by the counties, and authorized the Chosen Freeholders of each county to loan the money and keep it loaned, and make yearly dividends of the proceeds thereof to the townships in the ratio of the county tax paid by each township.

New Plan of Distribution of the Fund .- A sup- plement to the Act of 1846, one which gave a power- ful impetus to the course of education, was approved March 14, 1851. It provided for an annual disburse- ment of $40,000 of the proceeds of the school fund, and $40,000 from the general treasury, making a sum almost equal to the entire school fund of a third of a century before. This money was to be distributed throughout the State on an entirely new basis. Tu the counties in the ratio of their population, as ascer- tained by their last preceding census ; to the town- ships in the ratio of the number of children between the ages of five and eighteen years, as ascertained by the last annual returns; and to the districts in the

2018

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

same last ratio. Townships were authorized to levy a township tax, which must not exceed an amount equal to that of three dollars for each child, enun r- ated also in the annual returns of the Town Superyı- tendent.

Trustees of districts were limited to three in num- ber, and the election was to be so arranged that one trustee retired from office every year, resulting in a system which gave the office a three-year tenure. With this act, the parochial school provision disap- pared.

Incorporation of School Districts .- Two of the most important features remain to be noticed. The first is a short and easy method for the incorporation of school districts, giving them thereby a standing in the courts, and the other is a method by which any board of district trustees, desirous of more money than State and township had provided them, could supplement such money for the purpose of maintain- ing free schools, paying teachers' wages, paying debts. purchasing land, building or enlarging school-houses, &e., &c., by levying a tax on the district ; provided, that at a meeting of the "taxable inhabitants" of such district duly called, two-thirds thereof voted in favor of such sum, to be taxed as the meeting deter- mined upon, and by the same majority the trustees were authorized to sell or mortgage their school- house, and spend in any one year for repairs not more than ' venty dollars.

This act, especially that part compromising the two last features, was hailed by the friends of public schools as a long step in advance of former legisla- tion. It gave them new hopes, and there was a decisive movement along the whole line.

By an act of 1952, ,"e "Trustees of the School Fund " were authorized to dispose of all that re- mained of the lands belonging to the State at Pater- son, by private or public sale, and invest the proceeds thereof in the school fund.

March 21, 1867, the Legislature enacted an elabor- ate and very comprehensive system of public instruc- tion, which was probably the product of a commission appointed by joint resolution of the Legislature some- time before. The sum of $40,000, proceeds of the School Fund, and $60,000 from the revenue of the State, was annually appropriated for the support of public schools, and divided among the counties now for the first time, as well as among the townships and districts as heretofore, in the ratio of the number of children between the ages of five and eighteen years.

Townships were authorized and required by this act to raise by tax a suin which shall be equal to two dol- lars, and not more than four dollars for each eligible child.

Another important change made by the aet of 1867, was the formation and re-formation of school districts, which was taken from the people and placed in the hands of the County Superintendent, who thereby became solely responsible for the suitable and

proper division of their territory, except where the Legislature had organized Boards of Education for cities. The office of Town Superintendent was abolished by this act, and that of County Superintend- ent created instead.

Townships were further authorized and required to apply the interests of the surplus revenue to the pur- oses of public instruction.

Districts were required to meet annually for the urpose of levying such additional tax as two-thirds of such meeting might deem necessary.

At the June terin of the Supreme Court in 1855. the phrase "taxable inhabitants," so often quoted herein, was adjudged to mean "legal voters," and the ignation, "legal voters" was thereafter substituted. Her tofore, women who paid a tax were entitled to vote at any school meeting.

The districts, now in their meetings composed of "lega voters" (not female tax-payers), were further require l to maintain a public school, at least five months y each year, in default of which, they for- feited their share of the State money. The same for- feit was it flicted upon any township which failed to raise the additional money required of the township.

Teachers' nstitutes, first established by the act of 1854. the expenses of which were paid out of the School Fund were continued by this act, with this change, that the expenses were to be paid out of the revenne of the State.

The general direction of educational matters, as well as the management of the School Fund, had hitherto been confided to the trustees of the fund. The trustees were the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, to whom were added by this act, the Comptroller. The act of 1867 raised a State Board of Edneation, to be composed of the aforesaid trustees of the fund and the trustees of the State Normal School (this body being made up of two gentlemen from each Congressional distriet), and the State Superintendent. This Board is invested with the entire supervision and control of public instruction.

The same law makes it unlawful for any teacher or trustee to introduce into, or have performed in any school, receiving its proportion of the public money, any religious service, ceremony, or forms whatsoever, except reading the Bible and repeating the Lord's Prayer.

In April, 1871, an act was passed assigning the proceeds from the sales and rentals of "land under water " to the school fund. Our State claims owner- ship of all land under navigable tide waters to high water mark. From this source, a large sum is now realized annually.

In the same year (1871), a supplement to the law of 1867 was enacted, which, as a source of revenue, casts all former acts into the shade. It is familiarly known as the Two-mill Tax. This tax comes from an assess-

209

COUNTY SOCIETIES.

ment of two mills on every dollar of the assessed value of all taxable property in the State. From this source there was realized in 1875, from the entire State, the sum of $1,238,578.57, nearly twelve and a half times the amount of the joint appropriations of the school fund and the State treasury.

It supersedes the township taxes heretofore re- quired, provided the sum realized by this tax proves to be sufficient to maintain free schools in a given township nine months in the year. Districts and cities may continue to levy district and city tax. "Sectarian schools " are specially denied any part of the two-mill tax.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Essex and Hudson counties, New Jersey, Vol. I, Part 57

Author: Shaw, William H Publication date: 1884 Publisher: [United States :] Number of Pages: 840

Author: Shaw, William H
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: [United States :]
Number of Pages: 840