1938: New Jersey

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, New Jersey ranks 45th in size among the states, with a total land and water area of 8,224 square miles of which 710 square miles are under water. The extreme length is 166 miles, and there are about 125 miles of beautiful white beaches from Sandy Hook to Cape May. The maximum width is 57 miles.

In population, New Jersey ranks 9th, numbering 4,041,334 according to the census of 1930; 4,343,000 on July 1, 1937, according to a Federal estimate. In 1930 there were in the state 3,829,209 white persons, 208,828 Negroes and 3,297 belonging to other races. The largest cities are Newark, 442,337; Jersey City, 316,715; Paterson, 138,513; Trenton, the capital, 123,356; Camden, 118,700; Elizabeth, 114,589.

Agriculture.

Willard H. Allen, State Secretary of Agriculture, reports that abnormal weather conditions during the year were unfavorable to the farmer and that as a result the per acre production and total yields for most major products were below those of 1937.

Mineral Products.

The chief native mineral product of New Jersey is zinc, in which the state ranks second in the Union, or next to Oklahoma. Production for 1937 amounted to 101,408 tons, an appreciable increase over the 89,883 tons produced in 1936 (valued at $9,868,010). Ball and fireclay totaled about the same amount as in 1936, with 97,951 tons produced. Glass sand showed a slight advance over the preceding year, the amount being 243,301 tons, compared with 205,931 in 1936. Substantial amounts of stone, sand and gravel added to the total value of New Jersey's minerals.

Industry.

Industrial conditions, according to John J. Toohey, Jr., State Commissioner of Labor, are showing gradual improvement, which should continue during 1939. A decline in factory employment set in during August, 1937, and reached a low point in July, 1938. Then the upturn started and during October and November showed a decided advance. Weekly earnings also increased during the year. Commissioner Toohey reports that 1,263 new manufacturing industries settled in the state during the first eleven months of 1938.

Education.

Increased emphasis on a program of apprentice training for skilled laborers in industry was a feature of the activities of the State Department of Public Instruction during 1938, according to Dr. Charles H. Elliott, State Commissioner of Education, and will continue to be stressed during 1939. The total expense of education in the state during the fiscal year was $123,387,189 including state administration, teachers colleges and pensions. The number of teachers was increased by 123, the total being 26,769. Actual pupil registration, however, decreased by 11,948, the total for the school year being 811,564.

Finance.

The sum of $39,256,036 was appropriated for conducting the business of the state for the fiscal year starting on July 1, 1938, and ending June 30, 1939. This was $800,000 less than the recommendations of Governor Moore, and $1,800,000 below the last fiscal year appropriation.

Banking.

New Jersey's financial situation showed but little change during the year. In his annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938, Louis A. Reilly, State Banking and Insurance Commissioner, revealed that the resources of the banks in the state had decreased since December 31, 1937, the total in June being $1,422,715,697 while in December it had been $1,455,800,139. The number of banking institutions dwindled by one, there being a total of 178, while one institution, the Margate Trust Company, of Margate City, had been taken over by the Commissioner. A law passed by the legislature set aside Saturdays during July and August as bank holidays.

Political and Legislative Matters.

The year 1938 in New Jersey was marked by a change in the governmental administration. A. Harry Moore, of Jersey City, who twice before had sat in the Governor's chair, took office for the third time on January 18, succeeding Harold G. Hoffman, of South Amboy. Governor Moore resigned as United States Senator from New Jersey and named John Milton, a Democrat, of Jersey City, to fill the vacancy. The fall elections witnessed a change in the Washington representation when former U. S. Senator W. Warren Barbour, Republican, captured the seat temporarily occupied by Milton, who did not seek a new term.

Important legislation enacted included laws requiring applicants for marriage licenses to pass syphilis tests, and making mandatory similar examination for expectant mothers. Bills were passed appropriating first $25,000 and later $18,000 for free distribution of pneumonia serum to indigent patients. In all, more than 300 new laws were added to the Statute Books, including fair trade legislation, which, while it discounts price fixing by the state, allows oil companies to adjust minimum prices so as to curb price wars. Laws were also passed creating local boards to participate in slum clearance programs.

The legislative session was featured by the passage of a bill allowing a referendum by the voters of the state on a change in the State Constitution which will allow, if passed, the use of pari-mutuel betting machines at horse-racing meets. The referendum is to be held June 20, 1939. New York World's Fair Commission for New Jersey was named early in the year, and in the closing days of the session an appropriation of $75,000 was made for the erection of a replica of the Old Barracks of Trenton at the Fair.

Happenings of the Year.

New Jersey was fortunate during 1938 and escaped major catastrophes, though a September storm caused much damage along the coast.

During the year there were several echoes of the Bruno Hauptmann case. Just before leaving office in January, Governor Harold G. Hoffman distributed to eleven persons the $25,000 reward offered by the state. Decision was filed in May by Federal Judge Clark, ordering removal of Ellis H. Parker and his son, Ellis, Jr., to Brooklyn, to answer a Federal indictment charging them with kidnapping Paul H. Wendel. In July, Federal Judge Philip Forman at Trenton dismissed a $450,000 damage suit brought by Wendel against Governor Hoffman, the Parkers, and others. The plea of John Hughes Curtis, of Norfolk, Va., found guilty of obstructing justice in the Lindbergh kidnapping case, was refused by the Court of Pardons. Curtis had sought the wiping out of the suspended sentence of one year in prison and $1000 fine.

On Feb. 11 the Edison Tower at Menlo Park was dedicated, and the 14-foot bulb which crowns it was lighted for the first time in honor of the 91st anniversary of the inventor's birth. On April 27 Bishop Thomas J. Walsh of Newark became the first Archbishop of the See of Newark, in a colorful ceremony at the cathedral.

On June 30 Swedish and Finnish residents of New Jersey paid tribute at impressive ceremonies at Swedesboro to the Swedish and Finnish colonists who had carved an American domain from the wilderness three centuries ago. Prince Bertil, third son of Crown Prince Gustav Adolph of Sweden, was the guest of honor.

State Officers.

The chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, A. Harry Moore; Secretary of State, Thomas A. Mathis; State Comptroller, Frank J. Murray; State Treasurer, William H. Albright; Attorney General, David T. Wilentz; State Finance Commissioner, Bernard L. Lamb; Auditor, Frank Durand; Commissioner of Education, Charles H. Elliott.

United States Senators:

William H. Smathers, W. Warren Barbour.