The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-12-19
KecOllectiOns of Nineland.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. :, 1871.
Ma. EpIToR - Having resided in
Nineland the greater part Of the year
$50, | ought to be AS competent at that
standpoint to speak from the book, as
some that attempt to do so, that have
never trodden its soil. The town is stu.
ated thirty-four miles in. southeasterly
direction from Philadelphia and full
hundred miles south-westerly from New
York, and about on parallel line with
Wilmington, Dcleware.
The township of Lands in which the
village of Nineand is situated is about
nine miles in length, by six miles in
width. Ten years ago last August the
first bush or tree was ielled. The entire
tract was covered with second growth
mostly with pine and oak, with the ex-
ception of some four or five small farms,
which served as II nucleus for the coliers,
as the former growth Of timber had been
cut and coaled for the Use Of glass factor
les, mostly at Millvilc, manufacturing
town six mi rs south from incland. The
entire tract together with considerable ad-
joining territory was at that time owned
by Richard ID. Wood, millionaire, then
residing in this city. lie died in Phil
adel phla some three years since leaving a
great estate
Mr.. Charles k Lands made an ar
rangemcnt with Mr.. Wood, in the early
part Of settling the township to dispose Of
the land in small parcels, to actual set
tiers Mr. Lands now sells on his own
account, and is the ostcnsble, and sup.
pose the actual owner in fee Of the entire
tract that remains unsold. The land is
generally undulatng sufficiently for prop
er drainage the soil appears to contain n
mineral deposit, but lacks that essential
element, a vegetable mould that is found
so extensively in the west If the land
could be stocked with cattle, horses,
sheep etc, and a general system Of farm
ing pursued, have no doubt it would
prove quite productive, but instead of
general farming, the business of the tillers
of the soil is mostly fruit raising, for
which the soil appears to be quite well
adapted; it appears to be admirably
adapted to grape raising | notice they
have raised and shipped from Nincland the
past season coo tons Of grapes, and II Mr..
Wooding nctted sll75 90 from 81
acres in grapes, but this is au exceptional
case. Pears and peaches do quite well AS
do the smaller fruits, berries etc. The
natural soil has the same appearances OF
the land in Salem County. a few miles
west of it, where there are fine farms and
as hountiul crops raised AZ any one need
wish for, Ia the early settlement of the
township many with small means
came on aud invested nearly or all
they had in few,acres of uncleared land
and scarcely seem to have realized that it
would require two or three years to get
much return for the Investment aud some
became disappointed and di,hrarIened but
latterly people Of more mean, are settling
which imparts more thrift and pcrmanency
to the enterprise.
The village Of Ninrlani i laid ont one
mile square, as true and square as a
checker board, and angles as well defined.
The Philadelphia and Cape May Rail
Road passes directly through the center of
the village. An approaching or reced-
ing train can be distinctly discerned fully
three miles either way from the station,
as there is not the slightest inclination
toward a curve, on each side of the rail.
way track. Through the Townships car
riage roadway, called the boulevard" I"
occupying some 200 feet in width, including
the railroad track, making beautiful
driveway, The New York and Vineland
railway passes close along side the north
ern boundary of the village, and crosses
the Philadelphia aud Cape May road.
This road terminates at Deleware Bay,
about twelve miles beyond the hourishing
city Of Bridgcton Passing along Just out
side the western limits of the village, and
running on toward Philadelphia is an
old travelled road called Malaga Road"
which is said to have been cut through as
Ii military road by cnrnwlllis for a pas
sage for his army from Cape May on to-
ward Phiadel hia. ! cannot vouch for
the accuracy of the statement Through
the center OF the village running east and
west and AT right angle with the rail-
road is broad aud beautiful street call
ed Lands Avenue, sufficiently wide to ad-
nit OF from four to six teams, being drv-
en- abreast, and it is the principal bust
ness street. There are six churches in
the village, Presbyterian, Episcopal,