New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-25

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Province of New.Jefsey was almost IN state Of
nature. 1t is true that settlements had been made
at various place., but they were few and far be-
tweea. Land was so cheap that it was given IN
considerable farms to al respectable families who
would come and settle on il. Much of the Province
was sn une,plored wilderness trsyersed only by
| tae hunter of the Wild game that then abounded,
or the no less hardy seeker after tracts of land A
single rcad-a mere bride path-aforded the only
mesns Of conn VI cation between the settlements
| nsag Nev-York and those in West jersey This
solitary brice path crossed the Raritan at lnian's
| Ferry, now New-Brunswick and thence wound its
tortuous way through the dense wilderness which
stretched southwark to the rising settlements around
| Philadelphia. In other directions there were No
roads whatever, but intercourse was carried on by
\ mears Of creeks and rivers. In 1877 William Ed
| mundsOn, travelling from New-YUk to Philadei
| phia, says that in going from Middletown to ths
Delaware River, though piloted by an Indian guide,
| he was unable for whole day 10 discover the
proper course, and was obliged to 90 back until his
guide could strike the Raritan aud make fresh
start. They followed the liver until they came to
| q small lanlng, supposed TO be the present New
Brunswick, whence they wended their solitary way
through swamp and forest to the Delaware Falls,
now TreLtOn. Fifteen years later in 1851, William
Penn, with eleven associates, purchased the great
bulk of the Province at public auction for the in
significant sum of f3,4O0. Such was the condition
and market value Of New.Jersey one hundred and
eighty years ago. The traveller who now flies BY
railroad from city TO city in four hours takes no
heed of the mighty changes that have been wrought
within her now popuous boundaries. If the Revo-
luton emancipsted the Colony simultaneously with
twelve ether bonded sisters she has been physically
enancipated by her extensive domesticaton of the
steam. engine and the railroad. These distinctive
insignia of the hghest civilization have been AZ
largely introduced by New.Jersey as by any other
State in the Union. Some connected facts in relA-
ton 20 her railroads and canals will doubtless be
interesting to the reader, such as they appear 10
the recently printed reports presented to the Legs
lature.
TIE State contains fifteen railroads and two
canals, costing S31 ,0O0, 600 From these works
the State derived last year an Income of S24,.
Col %, the whole receipts Of the Treasury from
other sources being only $5,578 81. This income
found sufficient to pay all the expense of Gov
eminent without resort to taxation. Heretofore
there has been surplus applicable to works of
public utility, but eince the advent Of Democratic
rule in the Legislature the State has been plunged
in debt to nearly 100000, being double the con.
sttutiopsl limit. Only seven companies return the
number of passengers carried during the past year,
which amounts to 3, 22l $50. The number of per-
sons killed and wounded during the same period is
as follows:
Killed by their own negligence. ..........2
Total wounded. ..-.....-.-...-- "a
Wounded by their own negligence. ....H
None were killed in the cars, and on eight roads
no accident of any kind occurred. Many of the
killed employees of the roads, who, from long
habit, had ceased to exercise proper watchfulness.
Many deaths were the consequence of intoxicaton,
ard several others were uDdoubted cases Of suicide
the unfortunate victims being seen by the engineers
and others TO step upon the track, Immediately in
front of the engine when it would be impossible to
arrest the train. Three deaths occurred by col
lsion of two trains on the Camden and Atlantic
Road Various deaths and accidents resulted from
attempts to jump on or of train while in notion
so that careful analysis of these statistics will
show that by far the largest proportion of accidents
which happen either to employees or passengers,
result from total disregard of the numerous warn
ngs and cautions which for years have been given
forth both verbally aud through the press. Per.
haps the most remarkable example of freedom from
accident ever presented in railroad history is that
of the New. Jersey Railroad, which extends from
Jersey City to New Brunswick. This company,
during its existence of twenty-si1 years, has car.
ried nearly 81, 900 900 passengers without injury TO
| life or limb while in the cars.
There are other pecuiiarities connected with this
road which cannot fail to be Of interest 1t carries
more passengers, relatively than any other road on
our continent. minute and elaborate report of
the railroad statistics Of the United States was
made to Congress BY the Secretary of the Treasury
in December, 1856, showing the whole amount of
mileage Of passengers carried over the railroads of
this country, compiled from the annual statements
furnished by each company. By this report it APP
pears that the passenger business of the New-Jer.
sey Railroad was much greater in proportion to its
length than on any other road in the United States,
tie equivalent of passengers carried ole mile being
40 $50 co.. or nearly million for every mile of the
road. Next to this comes the New-York Central,
which show. the largest number of any one work,
leO O52 s41 passengers carried one mile averaging
lsss than 800. 900 for each mile. But the trains
constantly running on the New-Jersey Railroad are
very numerous making numberless trips during the
5s, snd then very liberal policy is adopted in the
e .a,ortntinn Tickets for The nnarter sir