The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-10-01
PATERSON ROAD
Big Improvement Being
Made By the Board
of Freeholders.
new SECTION OPENED UP
The Completion of This
Thoroughfare Will Mean
a Boom for the Ad-
joining Property.

1t is generally conceded that one of the
best acts of the present Board of Free
holders was the carrying out OF the
scheme to widen the roadbed OF the Fat
erson Plank Road from the point OF It's
intersection with the Boulevard to the
Hackensack River bridge over that tnor-
oughfare. Through the intervention ol
Freeholders interested in the section tnat
affected Jersey City the Improvement was
extended on this side to Summit avenue
1t will remain with the incoming poaro
to complete the improvement from Engle-
brecht's to the bridge.
Years ago this roadway was considered
the boulevard" 1t was all right tnen,
but when the Jersey City, Hoboken ana
Rutherford Railroad Company got per-
mission to lay its double line OF tracks
on the thoroughfare, and did so hoWl
was raised by those who for years had
occupied the roadway with vehicles drawn
by horses, from the owners of trotters.
who looked upon it as a speedway, TO
the humble Secaucus farmer and truck
match owner. who considered it as high
way to the nearest markets for his agri-
cultural products.
A big hub-bub was raised. This was
five or six years ago. But the agitation
did not cease until it eliminated IN a
determination to widen the road bed.
The roadbed skirts the western slope OF
the hill. A collision on that portion OF
the road leading across the meadows
from Homestead 90 Secaucus would land
the occupants and vehicle into a marshy
meadow or creek. On the hillside above
Homestead it would tumble them down
steep incline at the risk of life and limb
and the contents of the Secaucus's s
farmers wagon load of products. On the
map the road is sixty-fve feet width. 1t
was by no means so wide.
The Board of Freeholders in June last
decided to make the road conform to the
original map To do this it will cost the
county over SIS 900. The job is now more
than half completed. Skillful engineers
were employed on the job. To widen the
roadway it was found necessary to cut
away the western slope of the hill around
which the road skirts, build retaining
walls on the off side of the road and fill
in the sloping. space to the retaining walls
with the debris cut away from the upper
side
ms Improvement mas euHdnceu lue
value of all properties facing upon it.
even that of the humber settler further
down" 1t was a welcome improvement
all around. In carrying out the improve
ment it was found necessary in some
cases to raise the road bed between two
and three feet. Space has been allowed
on each side of the road for decent side
walks.
The roadway is lined on both sides with
curbstones. On the upper side is a tch
sewer to carry off surface water from the
top of the precipice. Through a portion
of the improvement a gas main has been
laid in anticipation of houses being built
on the side of the hill. This in itself is a
prophecy of improvements in the line of
house building along that thoroughfare.
1t does not require vivid stretch of
imagination to picture, within the next
decade at least, the hillside" of this
thoroughfare built up with handsome
dwellings. 1t overlooks a marsh, but be-
yond is pleasing vista, including Snake
HILL which from such location exempli-
fies Campbelrs poetical assertion that
s'Tfs distance lends enchantment to the
view
Beyond the marsh rises a sloping hill
side, dotted with splendid residences. The
Orange Mountains are seen in the dis
tance
The trolley has opened up a hitherto
neglected section of country, and the
building population of the city and county
is spreading out in that direction. Jersey
City, West Hoboken, North Bergen, with
Homestead and Secaucus, will greatly
profit by the Improvement.
The work is being pushed ahead as
rapidly as possible. The lSecaucus farm
ers are patiently awaiting its compile
ton. as they are obliged at present to go
miles out of the way, taking the Man
haitian avenue and Paterson avenue
routes in order to get their products to
the nearest markets. The widening of
the road from Homestead to the Boule-
ward will obviate the necessity of climb
Ing the steep hills of the Hackensack
Plank Road, and Lewis and Gardner
streets to reach Union Hill. Hitherto
they have been obliged to pay for the
services of an extra horse to help draw
their loads UP these steep inclines,
The road is closed during the job It
was hoped to have the Improvement com
pIeted by December, but it is doubtful If
this can be done. The driveway will have
dressing of crushed stone, and the Rail-
way Company will pave between its
tracks