The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-26
ON THB ERIB HAIH LIMB
A PICTURESQUE REGION WIFE
MANY HOMELIKE SUBURBS.
Meet 81 the stations Between RIdEewooa
Overlooking tho Paramug Valley, ana
BuaTeFn, IN the Hsmap0 MOuntaluS
Are 9siH Typical. Country Villages

Are san Typacai Country Village
The main line Of the Erie Railroad brinu
the beautiful mountain region Of northern
New Jersey in close touch with New Yoyk
and also serves 10 connect Gorne Of the mos
| important manufacturing centres and com.
muting towns with the city.
After the long run through the meadows
and across the channel Of the Hackensaok
River the railroad reaches Rutherford
the first stop beyond Jersey City. Ruther.
ford IL q prosperous. rapidly growing town.
situated on the ridge which divides the
swsmpy lands bordering the Hackensack
from the valley OF the Passaic River.
Its most valuable asset lie its accessibility.
the time Of travel from Jersey City being
only fifteen minutes and from Chambers
street. New York, half an hour. This
convenience Of access has attracted many
commuters to the town and has been q
prominent factor in it's recent development.
Rutherford is a quiet, well laid out suburb.
with all the Indispensable features found
In settlements OF Importance within easy
reach Of New York. City c~onvenienoes,
such as public water supply. lighting facili-
ties, q good sewerage system and educa-
tional advantages. have been carefully
looked after. Owing to the liberal policy
Of local building and loan associations, a
large percentage Of the inhabitants own
their own homes.
A short distance beyond Rutherford;
across the Passaio River, is the city Of
Passaio. The railroad maintains four sta.
ions within the town limits, thus giving
ready access to every part Of the city. Al
though containing many large factories
grouped along the waterfront. Passaio
also has q very attractive residential section.
The town itself dates back to 1879. Its de.
velopment as q residence suburb Of New
York, however, has taken place only In the
last few years. 1t is now one Of the most
important citiea OF thes smaller class in east.
ern New Jersey. Trolley cars, well con.
Quoted stores and markets, police and fire
protection and free postal delivery have
been installed, and schools, churches and
public libraries are numerous. A fltering
plant for the town water supply, said to be
one OF the most perfect In the country, has
recently been constructed.
Shortly after Passaic Is left behind, tho
railroad draws nearer TO the Watching
Mountains and enters the outskirts OF Pater-
son, which Is bordered on three sides by
loop Of the Passaic River. Paterson IL the
largest city on the main line Of the Erie and
ranks third In Importance among the in.
dustrial centres OF the State. The manu.
featuring interests are along the riverfronii
particularly at the western end Of the city,
where the business district has expanded
across the river. At this point are the falls
Of the Passaic, the bed of the river making
an abrupt drop Of some fifty feet. The
power generated by the falling water ope-
rates a vast number Of industries clustered
flows for a considerable distance through
perpendicular walls of basalt.
Paterson is prominently a factory town
and its development has been along indus
trial lines. Its growth in recent years haa
been phenomenal. The city has a very
large local population employed in the fac
tories. Its suburbs, however, contain q
great many New York commuters.
The village Of Hawthorne q suburb Of
Newark, is located on the north bank Of tho
uresque little town, and has grown into
prominence o. q residential suburb only in
the last two or three years. The ground 10
high and rolling with q gentle slope toward
the river n toward two small brooks 10
the east and west OF the villa ge. A mile or
Of the Preakness Mountains. Hawthorne
has good railroad service on both the Erie
main line and the New York, Susquehanna
and Western.
From here on the character OF the region
traversed by the railroad changes mate
succeeded by small towns and country vii:
lagos. Brooks and streams are encountered
with increasing frequency, and old fashioned
surrounded by orchards and
shaded by tall trees, appear. The towns
are situated in a rich farming district and
developed into suburban residence colonies,
Glen Rock, a mile and a half TO the south
OF Ridgewood, is typical Of this transform
ton. Originally established as a small
town, IL has since developed into
q modern suburb, it's outskirts merging
growth Is due in large part to the operations
OF " big land companies which control
the available home sites near by. Prices
still very reasonable, however, and lib
eral terms are granted. Electric lights,
gas and water have been installed.
Ridgewood, the county seat OF Bergen
county, is b most important committing
town Oh the Erie main line. 1t is entirely
q residential town, with no factories Of any
It's present size n importance are due
to it's natural advantages, chief OF
which Is ite healthfulness, a feature which
has been known TO New York physicians
for over fifty years. Many throat and
troubles brought on by the salt
air OF New York have yielded TO treatment
here. The altitude OF R~idgewood varies
rom 100 to nearly 400 feet and the air Is
dry and invigorRting.
Thu town is situated on both sides OF the
The older section, which lies TO
the eastward, contains many fine country
surrounded by spacious grounds.
L. overlooks the Paramus Valley, through
which howe the picturesque Saddle River,
anda also commands a beautiful view Of tho
'olling country roundabout. The western
which Is entirely residential, con-
aims many new houses and is at present
he scene Of considerable building activity,
is development has been comparatively
'ecent. In the new district the minimum
tse OF a building plot is 50x2O0 feet, and
he architecture OF the houses is OF a high
Suburban homes there are large,
With we'll kept lawns and gardens and fine
trees: The restriction as 10 the size
the building lot prevents overcrowding
nd tends to preserve the natural beauty
the town. Tbe suppression Of specula-
i've building has preoluded m%onotonoul
!oWs OF houses, all exactly alike. Instead
here Ia variety OF design and every dwell