New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-15
PERMANENT SUMNER HOMES.

| PERMANENT SUMNER HOMES
RAPID GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT OF PIAINFIELD
N. IA TOWN PRINCIPALLY COMPOSED OF RESI-
DENCEs-NEw BUILDINGs-PROGREss OF WEST
| YIELD NJ
| PLAISFIELD, N. j., June I3.-After sojouning
along the seshore and along the pleasant nlets which
are found along the north and south shores of Long
Island sound Is not the least agreeable change that
could be made by any means to strike inland town
where there is no sound Of the waves and no views
upon the ocean. 1t lis pleasant change to meet with
town OF entirely different character from those which,
during the warm season, are flooded with pleasure
seekers and tred-out Of business, aud upon the
return OF cool October left deserted and barren as
| an exhausted mine q spring run dry.
Not few who have for many years endured the mis-
eres OF Summer boarding are beginning to see the su
periorty OF plain Summer cottages at convenient
distance from the city, or country homes accessible
| at all times of the year. where large yards gar
| den patches, and varied fruit and shade trees
| make 1t unnecessary annually to seek new pastures
Paineld is one OF the which Its progress TO
this tendency. Except for this might have remained
the plain field Of 80 ago and never have got be-
yond the simple Quaker Westinghouse and small set
Element OF 1900 inhabitants. This is what 1t was Is
years back and 10 years ago it could show little change
II was not it destined to be. business place.
| The railroad made it suburban to Sew-York but
| had not the merchants and lawyers and brokers
come TO that they could faithfully conduct their
business and that their families could live as content
edy II they should have their homes in the open air.
Painfef, instead of incorporated city would still be
the place where Washington, standing on rock upon
the hill, reviewed the Kings army and determined Ms
own movements, and it would have been nothing more
Now, however it liz handsomely laid out, is almost ex-
clusvey place OF residences and has population Of
between 5000 and 1000. On the line OF the NewJersey
Central Railroad it is an hour and ten minutes from
New-York and all the trains us daily each
way over the road stop here. It Is built
up largely by men doing business in New
York who reside here Summer and Winter. The
growth has very rapid and property has advanced
in value proportonately. Land which few years ago
was bought for 81 200 per at the present tme oy
division into houseots sells at the rate OF $4,000 one
piece OF property which 10 offered at 5000
per could hardly be purchased for $1,000 Such
as these exceptional but there are many OF
them. very low estimate would make the aver
age value OF desirable locations triple what
1t was five years ago. In the past two years. more Nigh
priced residences have been built than formerly In
1873 there much more building than In any previous
year; and although the financial complications IN
winch business men have been involved have greatly
deferred building there still many new houses just
completed or in process Of erection. The prevailing
style of building all parts OF the city is the two-sory
and mansard, with only such variation as can
readily be made in the curve OF the roof, the
shape Of the windows and the ornaments OF the mousse
Through all the streets one can count the Gothic ana
Swiss houses his fingers. TINS sameness about the
buildings is almost oppressive, ana Que 10 tne iac'
that most Of the house, usually the case In new
places, have been built for sale. More are now
built by those who pay for them, aud
little variety In architecture Is PROMISED as
consequence. Not however, that Plainneid Is cheap
looking place, the residences run up hastily 70
last only few years They are Substantially punt TOT
the most part and many of them imposing and OF
nd hava mi
Large wards are made into beautiful lawns, and the
great number OF shade trees indicate that the ouaKers
or Nature have planted them long before the to"n
experienced any growth. Money has been 1reeiy
layished 10 make individual homes attractive and the
town rich IN acquired beauty Along all the new streets
and the old ones where it was needed, naples nave
been thickly set upon both sides, the sdewaiAS are
curbed every direction and some or the Older streets
are widened along their whole length. new avenue
has been started which is to connect with Metuehen
depot on Pennsylvania Railroad 81 miles distant
This is co feet wide and Is 10 be macadamized from end
10 end charter has also been granted for building
xatervorks The water will be supplied from the
brook south of the town; this being 100 low
for the purpose, the water VIII Do forced
into a reservoir higher elevation aud thence
pass TO the city. Notwithstanding the constant
improvements there city debt and cannot be- and
it is proudly claimed that there are no Kings. Inc
city ordinance provides for 10000 taxes, aside from
what may be required for the poor, and no more than
this amount can levied without popular VOTE While
every Improvement must be paid for when made. Tde
community almost entirely composed or Americans,
the foreign clement having considerable strength;
and there are very few tenementhouses. There are
Is churches in town, which include all Of the
prominent denominations, and q few Of the church
edifces completed short time since are structures
OF considerable cost and pretensions The new Presoy
terrain and Baptist churches built of stone are specially
noticeable The Seventh Day Blptlsts count consider
able strength. The coored people have very popular
Baptist preacher II Is decidedly church going CON-
munity The public school, comprising the primary,
intermediate. and academic departments, has nne
and thoroughly capable corps of INSTRUCTORS
There Is also q ladies' seminary very emeieht nre
department is counted among the blessings OF the town.
IL consists OF two steamers, hand engine aud nook
and ladder company ant the membership Of the de-
Is made I'D from excellent class OF citizens,
well Offered and managed. There are thres news
papers In the place one OF which Is edited by the COL
ored preacher and as I was emphaticaIly informed
by white man. "s the best paper 10 the county, Ane
soil in the south aud west parts OF the Town IS wen
adapted TO horticulture and somewhat better than III
other localities Small fruits Of all kinds abound but
the quality Of pears spoken Of as particularly deli
cOus. Extensive improvements are being maze at thls
point by the Jersey Central Railroad In order to
shorten the distance 10 NewYork the track for sope
miles east has been stxsihend leaving Scotch Plains
half mile to the north. In connection with thus change
the track through PiainfeId has been raised
sufficiently to tue streets under the
railroad thus removing all danger Of acci-
dents. Pans have also been drawn for new depot TO
b4 l4e feet In length, of BRICK with 0Iio stone trim.
mugs. In the case Of other de,ots recently erected
along this ine not only Ia The style Of building pleasing,
but they are surrounded by choice flower beds, with
Hea, fences aad hardened roadways.
new iron bank building has only lately oeen com
peted and Is an ornament the place WEhe building
has Jagged little this season. some 80 or 20 houses
ranging in value from 200 TO 5so have been started