New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-04
Somers Method for Assess
ing Realty in Vogue at
Ridgeheld Park.
NEW JERSEY VILLAGE
OF MANY COMMUTERS
Retween 65 and 20 Per Cent of
the Workers Are Employed in
Manhattan Business Places.

Ridrcfeld Park is a charming New
Jersey village along the West Shore
and Susquchanna railroads. only six
niles from Manhattan. 1t is also
reached by two trolley lines. 1t is I'M
der a commission form Of government,
,.bieh has lately adopted the Somers
,vstenl Of taxation. This system of
,npra;sing land and buildings for as
.essment purposes is in vogue in some
% tbe cities and villages west Of the
Ohio River.
The method is used in Cleveland and
Columbus. Ohio; Springfield, ILL.,; Den
ver. pcs Moines and Dubuque, Iowa;
port'and. Ore. anC other places. Ridge
6e'd Park is the first community in the
middle Atlantic states 10 adopt the sys-
,em One of its chief supporters in
having the method put in practice was
Harry 7. Ayers. Commissioner OF Rev
crre and Finance. The Board Of Com
,1;ss;orers. besides Mr.. Ayers, who
vs-e instrumental in its adoption are
Navor Ernest w. Webbon and Adolph
DeXheimer, Commissioner of Streets
and Public improvements. The attor-
rev of the village is Clifford X. Read
ana the village clerk, NJ. d. Starker.
he latter is a capable and hard work
or. who takes keen interest in every
thirc relating TO the welfare of the
village.
Piicefeld Park is one Of the younger
IN. thriving home centres in New Jer-
Gov. which has Increased from 40 to 90
rer cent in population in the last ten
wears. It is located on one OF the most
r c.uresoue ridges in Bergen County,
commanding a fine view in various d.
rections The village proper is on the
crest Of a slope, about 900 yards from
the railroad station, at an elevation OF
100 feet Il is place noted for Its
natural scenery and wooded sections.
The curbed sidewalks are shaded with
stately maple and elm trees. Most OF
The houses are built on plots ranging
In size from 40 to 90 by 100 feet, with
attractive and well kept lawns.
The village has many OF the ad-
vartaCes Of q city. Gas and electricity
are installed and there is good water
system. There are seventeen miles OF
streets. six miles of which have 0een
improved. The village covers an area
three miles in length and one mile IN
wacadAm. Work Of improving Summit
street with macadam has been going
on for some weeks and vas nnlshed
RidrcAeld Park has a population OF
about e 500 persons. Between 90 and
70 per cent Of the workers are com
rsters with places OF business IN New
YORK Homes have been erected at an
average Of about $50 houses a year.
r. ali there are about 1890 buildings,
Including business STRUCTURES, IN the
village. There are thirty trains TO
and from New York daily which stop
d. Ridgefeld Park. II can be reached
from the Forty-second Street ferry,
Manhattan. by the West Shore Kali
ro-1 ir sixteen minutes; from the
Cc~farGt Street ferry, and from the
l90.h Street Fort Lee ferry, Manhat-
tan. by the Susquehanna Railroad:
Also from Chambers ST. and the Z3d
s.. ferries by the Susquehanna Kali
road. which railroad also makes con
nect.on at Jersey City with the Hud-
son River tube for New York.
Trolley cars also run to these ferries.
By trolley Ridgefeld Park is reached
By the Forty-sccond Street ferry IN
forty-fve minutes.
The village has a volunteer fire de-
partment of 40 members. 1t Is com,
posed Of six companies, each EQUIPPED
with an automobile. There are ten fra
ternal societies, q free public library
three building and loan associations! a
national bank. mail delivery service
and TWO newspapers. Inc women
Village Improvement Association mas
done much for the town in helping the
needy In distress, assisting the street
cleaning department and in other ways.
There are a number Of lawn tennis
courts in the town. Baseball is one OF
the chief recreations among the
Younger set at Ridgeheld Park, and
there are three well laid out diamonds;
Plots 40 By 100 feet in the central
part Of the town sell for about $4,000,
, the same size plot in the extreme
lower end for about $4OO, at the ex-
IRENE north end for about $500, in the
new easferlv section for about 81 ,OOV,
and In the westerly section for about
$500
Ridgefeld Park has four schools, one
q high school. One of these cost
$4,000 and another 100000. These
buildings are Of brick, with abundance
Of space about them for play grounds.
The municipal building occupied by
the CITY officials is located at Hacken-
sack Road and Park Street. 1t was
erected I'm 1911 on a plot IS by 100 feet;
j. is three story brick structure and
cost $4,000
on June s. 1892. the residents OF
Ridcefeld Park held an election and
voted 20 break away from Rdgeheld
Township Ind incorporate under us
own seal. Five years later, by an act
Of the legislature, Ridgefeld Park be
came Overpock Township, or rather
0verpeck Township embodied the IN
corporated village