The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-17

" THE PICTCRESQUE HACk-
ENSACk VALLEY

Are BootninG n conseWnence % the Opsn.
lng 90 the ssolA1oo Tnnnsls--A sowre
~ sSS5iSss % Jne New Jersey ana
NeW Tsrh n. "a. snare IN Prosperity.
CrmmuterS on ths Nov Jersey and New
Yrk RAilr"ad coming down 70 do their
shopping IN tho hig Manhattan depart
r,eut stores are abls 10 save from fifteen
g, svenIy MINUTES ON the trip since the
nrcning OF the McAdoo tunnels A saw
ING s'ich az this becomes an Important
matter when Il IN repeated twice a day
~ days m the gear on a number 0f rail-
ways. II accounts for the amazing
growth of travel on the MeAdOo aystam
and explains why that system. though
still Incomplete. IL In n position 10 collect
i.Jas,OO fares in a single month. u
accounts. too. for the real estate boom
IN the midtown business district. the most
remarkable movement In real property
this town has ever seen. Finally ie &C.
counts for an unparalleled increase of
population aud industry throughout thu
suburban territory beyond the Hudson,
which. notable as 10 h. 10 only a prom
ise VI what may be expected.
The territory narved by the New Jernsy
and New Yorh Railroad has aelt the stiunu-
lating effect Of the now transportation In q
special degree. II IN peFhapa tho least
developed OF the suburban areas about
New York and land values there are COM
pAratively l0w-much lower indeed than
m most other neiehbOrhoods no further
distant from Manhattan. The relative
cheapness Of land has attracted a rapidly
growing immigration Of city people In
search 81 homes. Thsrs is consequently
an unusual amount Of building under way
IN all the towns along ths road Most
of the bsiil<asng. especially north Of Hack
snsack. 10 OF a non-spsculattve character
conducted directly for tho owners ac-
count. Large tracts Of land have been
bought UP In q few instances by operating
companies and are being sold OF 70 home
builders IN plots OF anywhere from q
quarter Of an acre 60 several acres. The
operating company. however. b not 90
much oF a factor in the real estate move
ment throughout this territory n Il IN
IN most other suburban neighborhOods.
Prices consequently are advancing natu-
rally In respOnse to increase Of population
and without artificial stimulation. Newer
theless the recsnt advance has been very
great.
The region served by the New Jeruey and
New Yotk Railroad falls into two general
divisions. that below Hackensack and
that above. The region north OF Hacken-
sack h ESSENTIALLY q farming country
which has only begun. IL may he said. TO
develop into Q committing region. IL is
something Of an anomaly 20 find an attrac-
tive nearby region retaining its rural fea-
lures despite the establishnasnt Of ado
auats means OF transit and despite the
growth 0f pOpuloSls towns all around 10.
The explanation ia however. quite simple.
Most people Of wealth have heretofore ~
Q rule preferred tbe sea~hors and the
mountains a. places OF summer residence
o. the le~- imposing scenery of an inland
valley. Besides. the region along the
hsadwAteus Of the Hsckensaok has few
good automobile roads and practically
no trolleys. IL has not appealed 90
strongly a. have some other neighbOr-
hoods to people who depend upon the
motor car n a conveyance IN the railway
or % people dependent upon the trolley.
However. The waterfront about New York
and the accessible mountain sites have
now been pretty well taken up. Property
on the water and in the highlands u con-
reuueutly extremely expensive and there
- indesd very little Of II to be had ~ any
rrice. Tbs result h that suburban homs
seekers are in increasing numbers Obliged
Co look about elsewhere Tor sites. and Of
thoss within reach the most attractive are
unaus~tionably In the charming inland
region Of the upper HAcken=ank Valley.
NEW MEAKs or COMMUNICATION.
Immigration win hs furthsrsd by the
transit improvements which are being
provided for the region. The railway
Itself IL 90 be electrifisd In tho near future
4 beginning has been made toward .
system Of mA-adamizsd state roads
that will invite settlement by people Of
wealth, who are a. q rule motor car en-
th,isiasts The region will have one Of the
finest parks in tho Stats. the Hudson
county PARK. which h being laid out ON
the east bank OF the HAckensack River.
and in every direction extsnsi W public
reservations have bssn or are being
provided that viii furnish objective
points OF interest to automobiles.
Finally. the region will bs notably bone
flied by tho Hudson River bridge.
The site recommended for this great
structure by tIsa Interstate Bridge Com
mission v at I7seh street. opposite Fort
lea and in line with the Washington
Bridge over the Harlem River 20 Tbs
bronx The new bridge " 10 provide for
trolley traffic - well ~ for vshiculAr and
pedestrian travel. II will he . link in .
chain d improvements that will connect
all the important routes Of travel in New
Jersey With the principal routes In Man
haitian. The Bronx and Long Island. The
Bridge Commission has in mind q high
-peed belt line trolley which will transfer
passengers from ths through railways In
New Jersey 20 the transportation system
IN Washington Heights. TO the railroads.
-Ybv ave- and surface lines IN The Bronx
and 10 the various transportation routes
- Long Island.
McDougEll Hawkes., chairman % the
Bridge Commission. not long ago wrote
90 the Public Service Commission asking
hat body to insert in its plane for the
Jerome. avenue subway q provision for
station NJ West iseth street. where the