The sun., 1909-05-02
IN THE JERSEY FOOTHILLS
ALONG THE HEADWATERS OF
THE HACkENSACk
Extend a Chain OF Committing villages
and Small Farms Connected by the
line OF the New Jersey and New York
Railroad, One OF the Erie branches.


and Small Farms Connected by the
Line OF the New Jersey and New York
Railroad, One OF the Erie branches.
The New Jersey and New York Rail-
road, one Of the many branch lines OF the
Erie. finds a gateway TO the picturesque
highland region of lower Rock land county
through the wide sunny valley which lies
between the Palisades and the Watching
Mountains and through which 1ow the
headwaters Of the. Hackensack River.
The territory served by the railroad and
It's feeders has changed but little during
the last ten or fifteen years.
1t is essentially a farming country that
has gradually developed into a COM
muting region for New York business men
Of moderate income and quiet tastes.
Land values are still comparatively low
much lower in fact than In other parts
Of the suburban district equally distant
from Manhattan.
Small farms in lower Rockland county
within easy reach OF the stations on the
New Jersey and New York Railroad may
he bought for $3.50 to $500 an acre outside
the houl limit Within an hours ride OF
Chambers street the demand for real es-
tate has been sufficiently great to raise the
Price Of land 10 at least $500 or $500 an
acre; but even these figures are lower
than prevailing values in other parts OF
New Jersey.
There are no big manufacturing cities,
10 fashionable summer resorts and no
arse private estates or costly mansions
in the Hackensack valley. Instead there
s thriving copmercial town-Hacken-
sacha chain Of country villages that
have changed gradually into quiet resi-
Dental suburbs and a number Of out
lying farms inhabited by commuters OF
modest means and by small local popula-
ton that makes its living by tilling the
snu
The apparent anoma Of an attractive
commuting region retaining its rural
features despite the establishment OF
adequate means Of transit to the city
and despite the growth of populous tow ms
al around it may best be explained on
the ground that the general preference
# city people in search OF country homes
Is for the grander scenery OF the noun
t4ns or the seashore rather than for
the less varied though no less cha arming
aspect of an inland region like the
Hackensack Valley.
For those who prefer the quiet back
country, however, this stretch Of terri
tory has many charms. There are no
suburban trolleys, no important auto
mobile highways. The railroad fits into
the landscape quite unobtrusively. The
little river winds placidly along between
high shelving banks that are topped with
green grass, alder thickets and clumps
Il willows. with here and there thick
grove Of woodland. In places it flows
deep, smooth and tranquil beneath over
hanging trees. Further along it plunges
down the steep pitch Of a stretch OF rapids,
sTlrls over and under a fallen tree that
Partly blocks its channel, then spreads
ont fanwise above a series Of shelving
sandbars.. Still further below It backs
np behind low wooden dam that tanks
some village gristmill =
Below the town Of H ack kensack the
rNer is as unpreposseSsing as any river
could be, but above that point it's appear
tnce changes altogether. The border
- marshland soon disappears and the
anks rise higher and higher. Above
'he dam at New Milford the Hackensack
J. clear. swiftly flowing stream, ideal
f1r the canoeist or angler For much OF
.'N length it winds through thick wood
land and rich farming country.
he New Jersey and New York Rail-
road after leaving the terminal at Jersey
,.ty strikes northwest ward across the
hackensack meadows. turns to the north
~ steep ridge solidly built up with
frame houses Of a pronounced suburban
'ype. Rutherford, Carlstadt, Woodbridge
and HasbrOuck Heights form almost
continuous settlement extending north
ahi south along narrow plateau that
:'paratcs the Hsokensaek from the Pas
ta'c river, They are finished towns OF
l idlrly recent development and have a
>~'"h, !d"rable German population. Their
fapi' growth is due mainly 10 their ease
~ access from Manhattan the run across
me meadows from Jersey City taking
.nlv about twenty minutes.
Haokensack is the largest and most