The sun., 1909-05-02

important town in the region, and in fact
the only settlement Of commercial i'm
portance along the New Jersey and New
York Railroad. It has train service also
on the New York Susquehanna and
Western. now under the control Of the
ohangeably on both roads. The business
section Of Hackensack lies spread out
along two or three main streets that
parallel the river few blocks to the west.
ward. Ii has a bustling modern appear
ance strangely at variance with the quiet
public squares and tree lined streets OF
the older section Of the town The village
dates back to the early seventeenth century
and the old Dutch colony days.
The best residential district lies to the
north and west Of the town proper. on the
slope Of ridge that rises gradually from
the level ground along the waterfront.
The railroad runs midway between the
business section and the residence district
in the least prepossessing part Of the
the traveller obtains only slight impres-
sion Of the importance Of the one and the
attractiveness OF the other.
At Cherry Hill, now North Hackensack,
the tracks draw closer to the river. and
from that point onward for five or six
miles follow the side Of steep ,bluff only
few feet above the water level.
Riveredge, New Milford and Oradell
are quiet little villages that lie spread out
along the slope Of the ridge and along the
crest Of the hill overlooking the river. A
steep embankment hides the tracks from
view. 30 that from the houses one sees
merely the sloping green hillside, the
placid little river overhung by trees and
bushes and the distant western slope OF
the Palisades. The three closely related
villages form a rather struggling settle
ment, in which roomy, old fashioned
residences with spacious grounds and
rows Of fruit trees are the rule. Above Ora =
dell the river leaves the railroad tracks
and bears Oh to the northeast, disappear
ing in a tract Of woodland.
Westwood is rapidly growing mod
ern settlement that has sprung into prorni-
nence as high class residential COM
munity through the activity Of several
big development companies. Like other
towns OF that type it is symmetrically laid
out with macadamized streets and paved
sidewalks, lined with we'll built commo-
dious houses. All the important con-
veniences Of modern city have also been
installed.
Hillsdale, Woodciiff Park Ridge, Mont
vale and Pearl River are country villages
with a large percentage OF commuters.
Along the crest Of a steep ridge to the left
OF the railroad are scattered the homes OF
few New York business men, command
lev to the westward and the Hackensack
Valley TO the eastward.
At Manuel junction, a short distance
above the dividing line between Bergen
and Rockland counties, the New Jersey
and New York Railroad joins the Piermont
branch Of the Erie. which connects Pier
mont and Nyack on the east with Sufern
on the west Another branch line four
miles long runs north from Manuel to
New City, the county seat. Tho main
line follows the roadbed OF the Piermont
branch westward to Spring Valley, then
strikes northward to Haverstraw.
Manuel, New City. Spring Valley, Mon
eey and Tallman lie In vast amphithea-
tire hemrned In on three sides by noun
tains that extend in a great semicircle
from Pompton Lake and Suflern on the
west to Hook Mountain and the high
peaks along the west bank Of the Hudson
River to the rear Of Nyack and Rockland
Lake.
In this region are many small farms and
country places, all within easy driving
distance Of either the West Shore Railroad
or one OF the many branches Of the Erie:
Land 10 comparatively low In price and
It is possible to buy good sized plot or a
few acres for a moderate sum.