The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-26

street and Westerly to Grove street. It had
separated from the township of Bergen one
year before that. The remaining part OF
old Jersey City, all east of the Mill Greek,
was included in the township of Van Worst.
Now, let us mix the past with the present,
and see if we cannot paint from these in
gradients Jersey City as it will be fifty years
hence
Fifty years ago the population of this city
was S,033. By the census of 1885. it's popu-
lation was Isl, ,51S an increase oyer the cen
about 100000. Ii we assume the rate OF IN
crease for the next fifty years to be the same
rate as it has in the last fifty years we shall
have reached a population in this city OF
13, 200, 000
'sLess than fifty years ago the votes in
Jersey City on the question of consolidation
with the Township of Van Worst numbered
495 At the last election its vote numbered
49, 92e. Fifty years hence, if the voters in
crease at the same rate as they have for the
past fifty years, we shall reach the vote OF
over 8, 100000.
Fifty years ago there were, in all Jersey
City, but $50 dwellings. By the census OF
1885, there were 16, la, showing an increase aa
of 2,000 dwellings over the census OF 1850.
Take the same increase for the next census
we will have in Jersey City at least $4,000
dwellings: and if the buildings shall increase
during the next fifty years at the same rate
as they have for the past fifty years. we shall
have at the end of that time 10000 dwell
ings in Jersey City.
BARELY POSSIBLE
Fifty years ago there were five drinking
places in all Jersey City, then called taverns,
because licensed under that name Now
there are S61. At the same rate OF increase
as has developed during the past fifty years,
we shall have at the end Of the next fifty
years no less than 14a, 900.
Fifty years ago the taxes levied upon II'o
property in Jersey City amounted to So, 1885,
"a Last year they amounted to 81, ,496, ,663.
At the same rate of increase at the end OF
the next fifty years, the poor taxpayer will
be called upon to surrender for the public
good per annum only the modest, sum OF
about seven hundred million.
Fifty years ago there was but one rail
road entering Jersey City, that was the
Company. The cars were drawn by horses
and ran from Newark to Jersey City in one
hour and one half Now the Pennsylvania,
the Erie the Delaware. Lackawanna and
Western, the Central, the Lehigh Valley
and the West Shore fast trunk lines, and
many other smaller roads are bringing
their thousands of passengers daily into the
city. What the railroad traffic will be on
this shore, and within the then bounds OF
Jersey City fifty years hence no imagination
can set forth.
THE DEVIL HERE YET.
FIFTY years ago the religious element Of
the community supported one Dutch Re
formed Church, one Methodist Church and
one Roman Catholic Church. Now | would
not attempt to specify either the number or
the variety Of churches within the bounds OF
the city The Lord knows there is room and
work for them all, for the devil has got the
best of them yet, and doubt not at the end
OF the next fifty years the religious senti-
nent will have grown sufficient for the sup
port of more churches in greater number
and variety to fight the good fight against
the wickedness of this world, which develops
with such astonishing rapidity within our
bounds
ssNow. if we consider that our county com
prises about twenty square miles or about
13, COO acres of upland, one can readily see
that with the number Of dwellings and popu-
lation heretofore estimated, this terri
tory, salt meadow and all, will be densely
settled, in fact beyond the possibility OF occu-
patton.
ssOf course these figures and estimates are
subject to varying conditions. only reach
them by estimation on the basis OF the past.
Ii they are wrong cannot correct them, be-
cause that correction is to be made in the
future.
THE CITY's DESTINY.
But under all circumstances and looking
at it in the most matter of fact way, the
destiny Of Jersey City is bright-it must be
come q centre of q great populatio ion: " lth
the commerce of the world coming the
port of New York, and all the commerce Of
the south and west of our country, and this
is including large share Of the commerce
of Asia which comes by the way of San
Francisco, pouring into jersey City, there is
hardly limit to the estimation which can
be placed upon its future greatness. OF course
we can only hope that the good part Of
human nature will develop in the future in q
greater ratio than it has In the past, and