New-York tribune., 1900-01-01
BERGEN'S DEVELOPMENT.
GROWTH OF THE COUNTY IN PoPULA-
TION AND RATABLES.

and other counties grow. great and strong,
awoke from her lethargy about two decades ago
and began to make rapid strides. So conspicu-
has been this advancement in population
and material prosperity that 1t has attracted the
notice and comment Of other parts of the State.
In territory Bergen is of the largest
counties in New-Jersey. containing about two
hundred and thirty square miles and offering,
with it's rivers and railroads and highlands and
dells, peculiar attractions 70 both permanent
and suburban residents The growth of the
county since 1t fairly began has been neither
spasmodic nor transitory. but has shown both in
private investment and public improvement
that the prosperity is permanent and secure.
Confrmatory evidence Of these statements is
found in the facts which are presented here
with.
INCREASE IN POPULATION
Beginning with the increase in inhabitants the
census shows that in 1880 the population of
Bergen County was 36,7S6; in 1890 it had in
creased to 1925; in 1898 it reached 65 251 and
when the census of 1900 is completed the popu-
lation will be fully 10000 and probably more.
Inc increase in the five years from 1890 to 1895
showed IN round numbers gain of 81 per cent,
which is greater ratio in growth than any
other county in the State has shown The
nearest approach to Bergen County in this re-
spect is Passaic County which during the same
time achieved a growth of about 81 per cent.
In some parts of Bergen County the growth in
the townships of Lodi and Bergen which origi-
naliy constituted the town of Lodi, showed a gain
IN II population between the years 1890 and 1885 of
z9lS, or 81 per cent; the increase in Ridgewood
was 6O per cent in Rutherford 73 per cent and in
SADDLE River 66 per cent. Rutherford and Ridge
wood are important stations on the main line of
the Erie Railroad. and no small portion IT their
growth is attributable to the facilities which
that road affords for commuter traffic to New
York City.
DEVELOPMENT OF HACKENsACK
Not only have the towns and villages named
above contributed to the remarkable progress of
Bergen County. but Hackensack the county
seat-which is. by the way, one of the oldest and
most attractive of the homelike towns of the
State-has shared in the general prosperity, both
in the matter of population and material well
fare The growth there has been steady and
sturdy. The old buildings erected by the Dutch
forefathers of the town vie with the new ones
in giving a picturesque we'll as a solid ap-
pearance to the place. Quite recently long neg
lected tracts of land have been opened up to
home makers, with all the modern improvements
that demanded by the luxurious tastes
of the period. The business interests of the bor
ough have kept pace with its development a
place of homes, and the public improvements
have been many. The Commission, which was
known as the Combine" and which gave to
Hackensack for year a municipal government
which clogged the wheels of progress bringing
them almost to a standstill was overthrown, and
since then the municipal government has moved
along with smoothness and harmony, and has
accomplished good results in public works to
BERGEN'S FIFTY-THREE MUNICIPALITIES
The same progressive spirit which has domi-
mated Hackensack and has caused it to forge
ahead has been manifested throughout the
county. and has resulted in a remarkable de-
velopment of the whole section which is included
in the boundaries Of Bergen. One factor in this
progress has been the multiplication Of boroughs.
| There thirty-five boroughs seventeen
| townships and one city (Englewood) in Bergen
| County. The erection of boroughS with munich
|
| suited in local improvements in the way of
| lights, pavements, macadamized streets and
police and fire protection. and thus villages that
| were stagnatfng have been made attractive as
| places OF residence, and have grown rapidly in
| population and ratabes This policy, which has
| made Bergen the butt of many joke as to the
| number of it's municipalities, has had much to
! do with its growth, and has incidentally made
| the county Republican.
| While Hackensack, Rutherford and Ridgewood
| and others of the larger towns have continued
| the forward stride the progress of Englewood,
| the only city In the county, has not been SO
| marked This is in part accounted for, however,
| by the fact that Teaneck Township and Engle-
| wood Cliffs Borough were taken out of Engie-
wood thereby taking away from that place
| 81, ,460, oee in taxable valuation and an area OF
| more than 4 300 acres.
In 1894 the total valuations were $21.77s,Too.
| the increase was nearly 100 per cent In hVe
years.
| ATTAINING POLITICAL PROMINENCE.
| Bergen is now really entitled to rank as sec
ond class county, and after the next census will
| have three members of Assembly instead of
two Under the State Constitution the num-
! Der of Assemblymen is fixed at sixty and
| is regulated in accordance with the population
| of the several counties, each county being en-
| titled to at least member. In the last ap-
| portionment Burlington County lost one mem
| her hut which county will contribute an addl-
| tional member to Bergen County cannot be de-
termined until after the next census has oeen
| completed
A prominent feature in the advancement of
| Bergen County is that before the Repupncan
| party came fully into power it did not show
| ANYTHING like the growth that 1t mas SHOWN
| since and had only sentimental power or po-
sition in the politics of the State. Away back In
| 1859 Bergen had a Democratic President or the
| Senate (Thomas r. Herring). the only honor OF
the kind that it has had either oetore or sfnCe
| the adoption of the new Constitution In 1ofo.
| In 1856 however, Thomas Demarest, Democrat,
| and in 1858 Daniel Holsman, also Democrat
| were Speakers of the House From that time
| down to the present the only other legislative
| recognition of prominence that Bergen County
| has had was when Henry D. Winton was clerk OF
| the House At the coming session Bergen VIII
| have the presidency OF the senate IN the perSoh
| NJ Senator William NJ. johnson, and 1t has also
| the assurance that Assemblyman Edmund w:
| wakeLee will be the leader of the House and
chairman of the Judiciary Comnlttee: iness n, q
| men are Republicans of the stanchest klnd, ana
| NAV he depended upon to do honor TO the places
| which they will hold and to the county whlch
! they represent in the Legislature
| CREDIT DUE TO THE ERIE RAILROAD.
To no single influence is Bergen County so
| largely indebted for its growth and prosperity
| as 1t is to the Erie Railroad. This road has
practically the full control of the passenger and
| freight traffic of that county. The Erie main
line and the New Jersey and New York, the
| Northern Railroad of New Jersey, the Bergen
| County Railroad, and the New-York. Susque-
| hanna and Western Railroad, which are parts
of the Erie system. touch daily every village and
in afford excellent IL