The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-30
* THE EVENING STARS TWO PAGE MAGAZINE x
CAPSULE NO. a..

CAPSULE No. H.
x TEwARKs growth and prosperity vas never headed after the city re-
~ covered from the panic of 7s. That first year after the depression which
saw confidence n credit the good times brothers, again on the boards In their
cheerful act marked III beginning of a period here which fortunately is not yet
ended, % is the end in sight, although its possible Developments are freely pre-
,6ctsa II is interesting to note. as a proof of the manne in which history re-
paasi tsaf, even in a quarter of a century, that certain remarks which are &c.
caaOnany heardt today were sOemniy made about Newarks chances for metro
honors at this tins OF he beginning of its latest bid for those laurels II
was said in the late seventies and eary eighties that this city had about
reached its limit in the matter of growth. It'll too near New York
ever to become much larger" W al the gst of the criticisms Many felt
that the cty had become as large as it would eer be. The very latestv version
of this too near New York" remark has a significant and entirely different
meaning. 1t is now being made by spokesman for New Yorks business interests
Since III completion of the Hudson tunnel more thano ne prophet of the "views
alarm" variety have deplored Newarks proximity TO the big town with
much regularity 1t is New York, they declare which is n a position to
lose because the Jersey metropolis is near enough to draw manufacturers
away from the too crowded city.
At the time when these words of wisdom about Newarks chances we're
thu city had a population of about 100000 The first big gain came du-
ing III last year of TIL Civil War. when 1880 persons more than there had
been before were found to be living here During the panic the city just about
held its own in he matter of population, when prosperity a again. In
stalled It's figures began to go up by leaps and bounds The simple fact that
the population of Newark has been rined IN he last quarter o. a century
is proof that this last section of its history has eve felt IN influence which
seriously menaced its prospects In spite of its rapid growth those who per-
sisted in taking a gloomy view of Newarks future declared that it vas slow and
unprOsressive and had nom o. those elements which are necessary for a making
of a great centre of population! While admitting the mmves of its industrial
features they pointed to a dearth of improvements to chnch their claim. What
city of its size in the country had st small a percentage of unpaved streets. they
asked, or where might b. found a city which vas so poorly hghted-and oher
things along the sam lines AS a matter If act Newark vas actually growing
too fast an wa too prosperous to set its W house Elm order Sc far a S civic
improvements were concerned, just then. When there finally came "a general
awakening to the needs of the city tn authorities urned to and saw that what
was needed was supplied. The manner in which the city va equipped with
the essentials which it lacked after the panic is a natter of comparatively
modern history. And in sone instances-sreet lighting, for example-the story
is moi all told yet.
The history IF ur W times is a exceedingly tcknsh proposition from the
standpoint of the historian. There is a general feeling that until history ~
acquired the perspective of years it is o regular history. No matter how i'm
they are the vents are too close at hand to have secured for them.
selves their proper niche and relation to other events. An effort will be made
to sketch this latp period of Newarks growth fully enough to prov at least
that it is he most wonderful portion of a history which is replete with
wonders.