8 The Story of The Bronx 



though united in educational and some other official matters 

 with the Borough of Manhattan. 



January i, 1902, the revised charter of the Greater New 

 York went into effect. It gives a certain amount of autonomy 

 to the different boroughs, especially in the matter of local 

 improvements, though many acts of the local boards are 

 subject to the Board of Aldermen or Board of Estimate and 

 Apportionment, or both, when the outlay authorized by the 

 local board exceeds two thousand dollars. The local boards 

 of The Bronx are composed of the Borough president and 

 the aldermen of the local improvement districts. There 

 are four such districts in the Borough; the Twenty- 

 second, or Morrisania; the Twenty-third, or Chester; the 

 Twenty-fourth, or Crotona; and the Twenty-fifth, or Van 

 Courtlandt. 



When the two annexations took place, the sections ceased 

 to be parts of Westchester County and became parts of New 

 York County. In the matter of congressional, senate, as- 

 sembly, and judicial representation, however, portions of the 

 Borough were at first attached to Westchester County; 

 though there is now separation. The Borough constitutes 

 the eighteenth congressional district; but on the basis of popu- 

 lation as shown by the last Federal Census, it is entitled to 

 two congressmen. There are eight aldermanic districts, 

 and four local school districts, each having its own board. 

 The Borough is allowed two municipal courts where civil 

 cases may be tried in which the value in controversy does not 

 exceed two hundred and fifty dollars. There are also two 

 police magistrate's courts for the settlement of minor cases of 

 crimes and misdemeanors and for preliminary hearings in 

 cases of felony. For police protection, the Borough is divided 

 into nine precincts with 756 men. For protection from fire, 



