Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-09-16
LETTER FROM BooNTeN.
Correspondence of the Gazette.)


State of New Jersey and was espec-
Tally drawn to Boonton because it
was the home of a friend, with whom
Ihe had, had the pleasure Of visiting
many parts of London some years
Eago.. Until this summer the position
of Boonton onq the map of New ,Jer-
Esey was as much. of an uncertainty
to him as it is very possibly to a
large. majority Of Alexandrians. So
lin endeavoring to find out; from his
friend how to2get there, the reply
came that as in the centuries past
all roads led to Rome, so in this land
unknown to the Romans ofsthat day
I all roads leaG! to New York. Accord
|'ingly one bright morning train was
taken ut the Pennsylvania station.
Atlantic City, for that great metrop-
oils, into which we entered through
the wonderful Hudson tube. Now cv-
erybody does this when travelling on
thst we'll equipped railroad to that Gel.
lebrated city, and it seems most nat
ural thing to do So. But when one
thinks of the great conception fol-
lowed by that noble triumph Of mod
ern engineering, the short expert
encc Of passing beneath the bed o!
the Hudson river ninety feet below
it's surface upon which go the great
ships, is most remarkable one. Then
we enter the splendid. station with It's
wide spaces and fine accommodations
for the travelling public and begin
to feel the pulse and inspiration of
the metropolis of the American Con
Linent But we are not to lingcl
here now. Our objective point is
BoontOn. SO we cross the Twenty
third street ferry to Hobokcn, pass
ing tho White Star and the Cunard
piers with others on the New York
side and the North German Lloyd.
the Hamburg American, and the Rot
terdam, on the Hohokcn size. None
Of the mammoth liners happened IT,
be in che docks that evening. Arriv-
ing at Hobollcn we took the Lack
awanna train for our destination
thirty miles westward, with Il Sigh;
tendency TO the north from New
York. On our way we passed through
the cities Of Passaic and Paterson
which on account Of its numerous silk
mills, is called the Lyons Of Amer
lea.
On rcaching Bopnton We found il
beautifully situated among the
mountains of New Jersey upon tho
hills rising from the Rockaway river
1t contains. about ive THOUSAND inhab
iLants, and is one of the oldest towns
Of That portion of country, receiving
its name in honor Of the first colonia
governor. 1t has some manufactor
les, but otherwise no buildings Of
note. There arc beautiful views
however from the town itself anH
from cminenccs above town while
there arc romantic spots in the valley
of the Rockaway. Near Boonton i.
the large reservoir for Jersey City.
and it forms fine sheet of water in
the landscape.
Most of us consider New Jersey
fiat and uninteresting, and were ii
not for its fine ocean resorts would
probably as tourists pass it by. Blu
the northern portion where the APP.
palachian system extends through
the State there is picturesque noun
tain scenery with small lakes here
and there greatly adding to the beau
ty Of the country. One of these.
Lake Hopatcong, about an hour from
Boonton by trolley. is noted as sun
MGR resort and has number of Wis
IItors during the season.
In The early history of New Jersey
Boonton WIS celebrated for the pro
duction of iron which was mined il
the ncighboring country and sacri.
feed for the needs of those days.
Iron is still mined and the ore run
through the furnaces near Boonton
at two places known as Upper and
Lower Hihernia, which we visited on
Il delightful drive through the coun-
try duriag our stay there The pro
duction Of ore is small in comparison
with what i. once was and We .'Oubi
| whether the furnaces pay much more
than running expenses.
BounLon has ii large Slavonlc pop
uiation brought there Ivy it's manufac
turing interests. In religious mat.
tiers they do not asSiml!atc witG
their Roman Catholic brethren Of
irish and German nationality hu:
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