1941: New Jersey

Area and Population.

New Jersey, though the fourth smallest state in the Union, with an area of 8,224 sq. mi., yet ranks sixth industrially. It has an extreme length, north and south, of 166 mi., and an extreme width of 52 mi. One of the original thirteen colonies, it is known by a number of nicknames, the one most prevalent being the Garden State. According to the 1940 census, New Jersey had 1,962,234 males; 1,967,412 females, all whites; and 111,097 non-white males and 119,422 females. Leading cities are Newark, with a population of 429,760; Jersey City, 301,173; Paterson, 139,565; Trenton, the capital, 124,697; Camden, 117,536; and Elizabeth, 109,912.

Education.

The total enrollment of pupils in the New Jersey schools, for the school year 1940-41, including evening schools, was 766,394. Teachers numbered 29,513. The total expenditure on public education in the state amounted to $113,511,145.67.

Agriculture.

One of New Jersey's most important resources is agriculture, the farm value of all the state crops being estimated by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to have been $121,355,000 for 1940, and the total investment more than $325,000,000. Milk produced the greatest revenue, $33,000,000, while vegetables netted $20,000,000. Other sources of farm incomes were: eggs, $14,500,000; nursery stock, $12,000,000; poultry, $8,500,000; grain, $7,000,000; hay, $5,580,000; potatoes, $5,075,000; tree fruits, $4,000,000; berries, $3,000,000; sweet potatoes, $2,000,000; baby chicks, $2,000,000; hogs, $1,700,000, and miscellaneous items, $3,000,000.

In 1941 there were 25,835 farms in the state, with a total area of 1,874,000 acres. New Jersey herds lead the nation for milk production per cow, and the state ranks high as a producer of tree fruits, small fruits, and cranberries. Recently, cultivated blueberries have come into great favor. About $19,000,000 was spent in 1940 on 19,500 New Jersey farms on feed for livestock and poultry, and $15,000,000 on 12,300 farms for labor.

Industry.

Ranking sixth in the nation in the value of production, New Jersey's position as an industrial state has been strengthened by the fact that billions of dollars in defense contracts have been awarded to Jersey firms by the Federal government. Industrial building during 1941 showed the greatest increase in the history of the Labor Department. Through its exceptionally favorable geographical location, with unsurpassed transportation systems, including highways, railways, interstate tunnels and bridges, airports and water-borne traffic facilities, New Jersey has a diversity of manufactures that is not equalled by any other state. The smelting and refining of copper leads in the industrial resources of the state, with airplane manufacture now ranking high. Other industrial assets are petroleum refining, manufacture of chemicals, electrical supplies, paints and varnishes, meat packing, the canning of fruits and vegetables, production of woolen and worsted goods, refining and alloying of gold, silver and platinum, dyeing and finishing of textiles, manufacture of radio apparatus and phonographs, foundry and machine-shop products, and pottery.

In 1939, according to the U. S. Bureau of Census, there were 2,753,570 workers employed in manufacturing plants in New Jersey, and the total value added by manufacture in these establishments was $1,524,113,554. Reports made by 1,525 manufacturing concerns to the Department of Labor in 1941 revealed an increase of 56,846 factory workers, with a corresponding increase of $12,607,724 in the monthly payrolls. The state continues to lead as the greatest producer of zinc in the East, with a production of 91,406 short tons in 1940 compared with 88,716 in 1939, with a value of $11,507,318.

Legislative Matters.

The Legislature passed the following important bills during the year: creating a commission of seven members to make recommendations for the revision of the State Constitution; creating a State Mediation Board for labor disputes; establishing a Defense Training Commission to study vocational requirements of defense plant workers in the state, particularly the employment and training of persons between 40 and 55 years of age. Other bills enacted set up a new Milk Control Board with a director; amended the State Racing Commission Act so as to include harness racing; and provided a new method of taxing railroads. Among the supplemental appropriation bills passed were those providing for the installation of a two-way radio for the State Police; for the organization of a rural dental program, and for aiding families who sustained losses through a forest fire in the vicinity of Lakewood. A $500,000 appropriation was set up for the State Defense Council, which was given authorization to organize municipal defense councils. A new office, Secretary for Defense, was also established. A law was passed providing free transportation for private-school pupils (including parochial) on the same conditions affecting the public-school pupils. The 400-acre tract owned by Colonel and Mrs. Charles Lindbergh was accepted as a gift to the state.

On December 15 the New Jersey Legislature passed a bill giving full defense powers during the emergency to the Governor, who immediately named Brigadier General Richard P. Williams as his 'Secretary of War.' General Williams is to coordinate all defense activities in the state.

Finance.

New Jersey at the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 1941, had a cash balance of $2,358,093.87, an increase of $382,290.96 over June, 1940. For the operation of the state government from July 1, 1941, to June 30, 1942, the Legislature voted an appropriation of $36,455,023. In addition, a highway appropriation of $50,629,000 for the calendar year ending December 31, 1941, was voted, and the Governor allowed it to become a law without his signature. Continued improvement in finances was shown by the Department of Public Accounts, with the assets of municipalities amounting to $381,656,827, as compared with $120,462,805 in 1940. Tax collections jumped from 55 per cent in 1934, to 80 per cent in 1940. Retirement of $121,000,000 bonds by the state on July 1, 1941, reduced the state debt to $116,055,000, a drop of $78,045,000 from an all-time peak reached in 1935. New Jersey's gross bonded indebtedness at the end of 1941 was $107,000,000. This was a reduction of $48,615,000 during the year. The net debt at the end of the year was $63,000,000. During 1940 the assets of state banks, trust companies and savings associations, numbering 160, increased by $29,358,884, to a total of $1,551,873,981. Deposits and liabilities amounted to $1,393,360,957.

State Officers.

Governor, Charles Edison; Secretary of State, Joseph A. Brophy; State Comptroller, Homer Zink; State Treasurer, William H. Albright; State Auditor, Frank Durand; Attorney General, David T. Wilentz; State Commissioner of Education, Charles H. Elliott.

United States Senators:

William H. Smathers, W. Warren Barbour.