The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-19
WwESHCHESTER COUNTY HOMES
IN THE Picturesque HIGH.
LANDS BEYOND NEW YORK.
The RaliwASt Entering the city From,
die RSFth Have Some Forty stations
Within the Committing ZOne-The
COpptry Noted for ItN Fue Estates.

NMHAANAH
Cepptry NO,'d for ItN Fue Estates.
westchester county extends northward
from the boundary line Of New York city
for about thirty miles, embracing all the
territory lying between Long Island Sound
as far out as Port Chester nnI the HUDSON
River a. far ps PeekskM IL is a highland
region, Nhh many swift strea ma and deep
narrow bkea
-Four railroad lines intersect the county,
penetrating to all ports OF its picturesque
northern section and bringing some two
score towns and villages within the com
mutinE zone. The Now York Central
maintains three lines north u the Harlem
River: the Hudson River division, the Put
nam division and the Harlem roai.
The Putnam division has it's New lork
terminal at l55th stree; pni Eighth avenue,
where connection is made with the Man
haitian elevated system. The r. llroci trains
are operated over an extension Of the Gle
vdted structure connecting with a bridge
spanning the Harlem River, Here they
descend and are run at graie. following the
edit bank OF the stream "a far as Kings
bridge, where they strike northwCr through
Van Cortlandt Park. along the course Of
Tibbit's Brook and start to climb upward
through the hills. On either hand is a long
high ridge that rises steeply from the tracks.
To the left, on the blum an overlooking
the Hudson, are the slDlr55 o, Yonkers,
comprising Lincoln, Dlnwoo liz B.yn Mawr,
Neperhan and Nepera Park. These are
l,,M ra.tAanna m rio NTH o mn prp Gn-
iahed appearance. The streets ere SYM
metncal and have pavel 81 !owslks, cleo
thc lights, gas and wcter me ina, AMI other
improvements usually foun only In large
towns. The hovses are mainly OF the yilla
type and the settlements are much rlike
In appearance Throughout this section
realty companies built dwellings, for sale
Cd the instalnent plan at from $500 to
$1,000.
At Bryn Mavr the railroad makes a loop
around the shoulder 81 q high hill, crosses
the divide and desrends TO the valley Of
the Sawmill River, which from here on
nsrrows rapidly. Artsiey, Woodland, ElTs-
ford and Eastview are quiet resi- iential
settlements spread out Over the high ground
TO the easea and west q the raj toad They
have no ,lasinebs interests except Ger a
few stores near the ni,koad station and
consist mostly OF the homes OF ~coRTnuters,
At Eastview the railroad leaves the Saw
mill River valley rTps weetwsrd thTouga
narrow cleft. traces out a devious loop
touching the eastern edge Of T%arrytown and
enters the Pocantico Hills through the valley
Of the Pocantico River.
Between the Putnam division and the
Harlem road To the north and east Of larry
town lie some Of the mcst beautiful parts
Of Wesstchester county The Sawmill River
valley especially is noted fer its char Giag
scenery. The region is extremely rugged
and picturesque and has retaired more Of
It's natural beauty than has either the Sound
shore or the populOus ridge along the Hud-
sons east shore.
High hills rise stenply from the narrow
valleys, the thick groves Of timber on their
sides only partly conccaling the Outcropping
granite lodges. BROOKS and streams wind
In and out. their banks fringed with beech
and oak trees. white hirches and chestnuts,
with here and there a dark clump of pine
and balsam or a tall henllock. Occasionally
In places where the valley of the Sawmill
River widens out the hilsiics descend more
gently and are covered with pasture lands
and meadows. crisscrossad by low stone
walls and dotted with fields OF grain. Here
and there on the hilltops ar, mansions q
granite or Of white sandstone with balconies
and turrets and high encircling walls, or
rambling Colonial dwellings with gable1
-ooH. Aaoa hoe ufnloxwa nN1 ill 49,.
ticoes hanked by tail white pillars.
The Harlem road runs almost due north
from the q and Central Station 10 the sum
mer resort region of the Berkshire Hills.
passing through the great dairy district
that lies cast Of the upper Hudson Valley.
Along the railroad within the limits of
WestOhester county are two towns Of i'm
portance, Mount Vernon and White Plains.
Mount Vernon is just beyond the boundary
Of New York CITY at the intersection Of
the New York Central and the New York,
New Haven and Hartford. II IS a thriving
town, seemingly more a continuation Of
New York than ar independent community.
The business district is Of considerable
eItent n importance and has expanded
rapidly in the last few years, The estab-
lishment OF several big manufactures there
has attracted a large permanent population
and has caused q considerable expansion
of.the residence Districts, Mount Vernon
IL frat OF all II community OF inexpensive
dwellings that provide homes for people
Of modest means who wish to get away
from the fats and tenements Of Manhattan.
The houses, though small, are more roomy
than a city apartment. Furthermore they
have plenty Of sun and fresh air and in
most cases are surrounded by pl Is Of grass
and a few shade trees. The Communication
rate IL low and the journey to the city
a very brief one. Mount Vernon il also
the centre Of a.great system o ftrolley lines
that lead southwark through The Bronx,
eastward TO New Rochelle. RYE and Port
chester, westward TO Yonkers and north
ward TO White Plains and Tarrytown.
White Plains. at the terminus Of the
present electric service on the Harlem
branch OF the New York Central, haa Just
passed through n real estate boom. A
great many stores and office buildings
we're built and rows Of frame dwellings
we're put I'D 10 house the expected increase
In population. Farms on the outskirts
Of. the town were bought up by develop
mSnt companies. divided into lots and
soid on the instalment plan. since last
year, however, the town has been settling
SoWH'to u readjusVment Of values.
A short distance above White Plains
the, Harlem road stri kes to the northeast
and follows the valley. through which flow
the, beadgaters Of the Sawmill River.
Vnhalla, Pleasantville, C~happaqua and
Mount kisoo are quiet, rural settlements
that are noted more as summer resorts
than as committing towns. To the east Of
the railroad lies an open stretch Of farming
and dairy country very similar in appear
Ance To rural New England. The hills
grow l0nReT and mora rolling green Aelds