New-York tribune., 1867-08-06
TIE JERSEY FLATS.

A very few years ago that part Of Hudson
County Ncw-Jersoy, lying along the west bank Of the
Forth River between Jersey City and Hobokcn, was
known as the Jersey Flats" IL was most unnyitng
ron Offering no inducements either to tourists or to
coonists aboundng in salt hay and sand and afordng
safe retreat for better inhabitants than muskeoes,
saudnes and a tribe Of snakes which had evidently
beon Ostraciscd from the society of their
kind for inefable mcanness. In appearance these
n' were repulsye beyond everything mentioned IN any
OF the works on herpetoogy We have ever read When
AugOnes hair was transformed INTO selptts she uh-
dOubtedy wore living tesses OF Just such reptiles as were
banshed 20 the Jersey Flats for some crime ui-
recorded IN the history OF the hateth face Ihese were
poor scraggy looking snakes which erawled over the not
sand or the Shiny mud OF the river bank with the scky
yermcuntlons OF the most helpless ana hopeless hIhus
Of the snake family they could not bite' anu any
gait faster than that betting ta@X Gs9ssy tSr Sr
extreme dccroptude was Impossible TO them; 20 the
boys who went swimming from the rats on
the horrid things, and finally eXtermnated Them
The muskctOcs here were terribly raYenous ana
the mes as raNenous rs the nushetVVs mus mus nav pcen
the legitimate descendants W that historic Dtaleh ny
which tortured Titus 60 death, or 10 that other one 10
whom certain people, mentone1 Dy Aeman' usSd TO
sacrifice an OK every morning before prayers truly
Jersey Flats ten years seemed destined 10 remain
forever "A blot upon the fair face Of nature.
All at once adventurous man. looking upon the bar
rem tract with prophetic eye, saw much gold hidden
there He saw brave buildings rise and broad streets
stretch out far into the shady distance He heard the
busy hum of mon at work IN factory and ni the buzz
aud thump of machinery, The noonday whistle summon
ing Labor from toll TO dinner and the Whzz and whrl Of
rapid cars filled with tho wealth OF the great West
seeking outlet TO the great world toward the rising
lie saw pleaoant cottages spring up az II by magic
and cOmely therein defty plying the implements
OF housewfery and children by the score vending their
way 10 and from the many schools scattered throughout
the city which his imagination had buded All the wide
thOroughfares alive with men intent business
The rattle OF carts and drays and wagons ws unceasng
and the rhythmic beat OF unnumbered paddlewhees at
the piers was music 10 Ills ear.
Forthwith this dreamer set 10 work He filed pool OF
sagnant water with earth and stone and built him
house upon the land he had made Others followed his
example Then great railroad corporations opened their
eyeso the fact that the Jersey Flats might day be
Jersey Flats no longer; that little more earth, little
would make the barren region mne OF wealth 10 them
and their heirs forever 80 the railroad corporations
good earnest that the result OF their abOrs bid fair at
distant day TO bring about complete realization OF the
adventurous mans dream.
In 1856, the NewYork and Erie Railway Company, 20
obtain the right 10 run their trains TO convenient point
on the NewJersey side Of the river, organized new
was called the Long Dock Company. A tract of land
equal To about $500 city lots commencing at the river
and running back to Bergen Ill., distance Of two miles,
then bored great tunnel through Bergen lin,
erected machine shops depots, and other build
the foot of what is now known as Payonia
ave. Jersey City The tunnel IS about three quarters OF
a mile in length, and IL triumph Of engineering skill
The buildings erected by the Company are an immense
shop filled with all the machinery needed in making
pairs; large semcircular engnehouse, in which there
always five or SIX great locomotives arranged In
row. looking like many iron horses stabbed after days
work contemplating with quiet satisfaction the busy
scenes the road before them carshOp paintshop,
and f0undery; passenger depot and two freight
houses, one 100 feet long, covering the whole width Of
the pier which stands the other $50 feet long by 10
in Width aud house; 200 ieet long and so
give place to substantial structure OF brick In add-
ton to these Is the Milk station about SEQ feet
daily hundreds OF gallons OF milk When this train
arrives IL IA met by tho NewYOrk mkmen, who load
their wagons with tho precious aud and hurry across