The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19

~ wv = 80
. Score OF Picturesque Committing
Towns Overlooking the Farms and
Orchards Of the H~ackensack Valley.
Along the western slope Of the Palisades
extends q chain Of suburban settlements
connected by the Northern Railroad Of New
Jersey, a branch line Of the Erie. The
towns are situated on the side OF the ridge
about half way between the valley and the
crest and are nearly all less than a mile
apart. The region possesses many rural
features and the settlements are mainly
country villages which nav ttaine their
present size and Importance through the
operations OF land companies.
The inhabitants are mostly people OF
moderate means, although in some of the
towns wealthy residence colonies have
grown up. Englewood and Nyack, es-
pecially. have many fine country homes,
Rents and land values are low and mex
pepsive homes prevail. The development
companies, which control a large part Of the
vacant land, and a number Of local build
ing and loan associations have attracted
many small investors who AVE secured
building plots and erected houses. paying
for them on the monthly installment plan.
Within ten or fifteen minutes after leav-
ing the station at Jersey City the houses
become smaller and more scattered and
country roads gradually succeed the paved
streets of the city. Soon the open country
appears. To the west OF the railroad, as
II runs in a general northerly direction,
are the broad meadows OF the Hackensack
Valley, with a ridge OF high hills beyond
them. To the east is a long steep SLOPE
rising to the crest Of the Palisades.
Fsirview. Ridgefeld, Morsemere. Pail
sades Park and Leonia are passed through
in rapid succession. They are very close
together, their outskirts often merging
together, so that the dividing lines between
them are indistinguishable This part OF
the western palisades region presents the
appearance Of q continuous settlement
with FREQUENT business districts centring
att the railroad stations. All of the
towns are Of recent origin with the excep-
ton OF Ridgefeld. which dates back to
Colonial days. II contains a church and
several houses established before the
Resolution. The other settlements owe
their growth to development companies.
Large tracts OF former woodland and
cultivated farms have been transformed
into modern suburban settlements. Streets
and sidewalks have been laid out. sewers.
gas and water mains installed and scores
OF small frame houses erected.
At Morsemere. one OF the most recent
developments, a great deal OF building is
going on. The houses are Of the suburban
type, frame dwellings predominating. The
town lie on the side OF the ridge, rising grad
uaIly from the railroad tracks to the sum-
NIT, over three hundred feet above sea
level. Its high elevation commands a
a. - 1AA A.
cool southwest winds in summer.
In addition 10 the railroad service to
Chambers street and Twenty-third street |
viz Jersey City. a trolley line onnects
Englewood, Leonia, Morsemere. Palisades
Park and the other settlements with New
York by way Of the i2bth street ferry. This
line at present stops at Englewood. but q |
franchise has been obtained to permit It's
eItention to Tenafy. two miles further
pporth, Al Lepnia another trolley line
the Englewood division and crosses a long
trestle over the Hackensack River, passing
through the towns OF Bogota and Hacken-
sack.
Englewood. fifteen miles out, is, next
10 Nyack. the largest town on the Northern
Railroad OF New Jersey. IL is. in som
sections. a rather exclusive town and con
ssins the homes Of many wealthy people. \
On the high land TO the east Of the railroad
are a number Of fine residences surrounded
by extensive grounds. A distinctive fea-
tire Of the town is it's fine shade trees.
Rows OF tall elms and NAPLES line the broad
streets, their spreading branches interiacing
above the roadway.
The city, which was incorporated in
1895, is Of considerable commercial inn
portance. II has police protection. a fire
department. n hospital with ambulance
service and an armory. Public schools.
churches, banks and trust companies arc
numerous. A high school and q public
library have also been established recently.
Eordhoh % the south n Highwood on
the north. both with stations on the Erie
hne, are suburbs Of Englewood.
Beyond. Englewood the ground rises
and broadens out into a wide valley. The
meadows and marshlands Of the Hackensack
River are gradually replaced by green fields
and patches OF woodland. which In turn
are succeeded by rolling hills. The railroad
follows the centre Of the valley. the dis
tsres from the western slope OF the Pail
gradually increasing.
The territory bordering the railroad
becurnos rnore Countrf6ed a. one travels
DorthwSrd. The distance between stations