USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > Paterson, New Jersey : its advantages for manufacturing and residence: its industries, prominent men, banks, schools, churches, etc. > Part 1
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Gc 974.902 P27sh 1235148
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02236 7244
PATERSON,
NEW JERSEY.
Its Advantages for Manufacturing and Residence: its Industries, Prominent Men, Banks, Schools, Churches, etc.
BY CHARLES A. SHRINER.
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE BOARD OF TRADE.
THE PRESS PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, PATERSON, N. J.
1890.
Sketch of Passaic County.
1235148
SASSAIC COUNTY, N. J., was or- ganized in 1837, in pursuance of an act of the legislature, and was composed of Acquackanonk, which had been a township since 1693, and belonged to Essex county ; Manchester, which was taken from Saddle River, Bergen county ; Pompton, which had been a part of Bergen county since 1797, and West Milford, which had been set off' from Pompton in 1834. Wayne township was set off from Manchester in IS47. The township of Paterson was set off' from Acquackanonk in I831 : it was incor- porated in 1851 and enlarged in 1854 and 1855 by the addition of the territory now covered by the First and Second Wards; in 1869 a considerable portion of Little Falls and Acquack- anonk townships was added to Paterson. In 1868 Little Falls was set off from Acquackanonk township. In 1866 Acquackanonk was reduced by the creation of the town- ship of Passaic : the latter was incorporated as a village in 1871 and as a city in 1873. The county contains 105,734 acres, distributed among its civil divisions as follows :- Pat- erson, 5,357 ; Passaic, Soo; Acquackanonk, 6.420: Little Falls, 3,251 ; Manchester, 6,122 ; Pompton. 27,715; Wayne, 15,700 ; West Milford, 41,369.
THE CITY OF PATERSON
is situated about sixteen miles from New York City. Its peculiar advantages for manufacturing were rec- ognized in the latter part of the eighteenth century when Alexander Hamilton, Washington's first Secreta- ry of the Treasury, and a number of associates conceived the project of erecting large industrial establishments in America. The war of the revolution had established the independence of this nation politically and the aim of Hamilton and his associates was to also establish its inde- pendence from a commercial and manufacturing point of view. They intended to establish a manufacturing centre in this country and for this purpose they and their agents
traveled over a great deal of territory and finally deter- mined on Paterson as the best place for that purpose. The growth of Paterson and its vicinity and the rank Pas- saic county has assumed in the mercantile and manufactur- ing world have verified the. judgment of Hamilton and his associates.
For the purpose of obtaining control of the territory needed an application was made to the legislature of New Jersey for a charter and this was granted in 1791 creating the So- ciety for Establishing Useful Manufactures. William Pat- erson was Governor of New Jersey and the scene of the operations of the Society was named after him. Not only was the conformation of the ground in Paterson and its vicinity admirably adapted to manufacturing purposes but the Great Falls of the Passaic afforded a water power not equalled in any of the states in the eastern portion of the country. Several raceways were constructed from the falls, thus affording water power for manufacturing pur- poses. The Society built a cotton mill but shortly after- wards ceased operations as manufacturers and devoted itself to inducing private enterprise to locate on its prop- erty. Vast tracts of land had been acquired either by grant or purchase and this territory was divided into lots which were sold to manufacturers. Plots of ground were given to religious denominations for churches and ceme- teries and under the fostering care of the Society Paterson grew into a flourishing city. For some time the manu- facture of cotton was the most important industrial pursuit in the city, but this was soon followed by the location of iron works and in a short time iron had gained the upper hand of cotton. The next important industry established was that of silk. The originator of this industry was the late John Ryle, who had made Paterson his home and who found here peculiar facilities for the manufacture of textile fabrics. The excellent quality of the water of the Passaic river attracted a class of manufacturers to Paterson who could not be satisfied except in a place so bountifully supplied with natural advantages as they found this city to be. Thomas Rogers established the iron industry in Paterson and soon devoted himself to the manufacture of locomotives ; nearly every iron industry in this part of the
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PATERSON, ILLUSTRATED.
country is in some way traceable to Mr. Rogers, just as the various silk manufacturing establishments owe their origin to the silk mill of John Ryle. These were the seeds that were sown on a fertile soil : manufactures in- creased at a rate never surpassed in any place and to-day Paterson's diversified and large industries are a sure guar- antee of its stability and success.
One of the first railroads built in this country was from Jersey City to Paterson ; another line was built from Pat- erson to Ramapo and another from Jersey City to Pat- erson by way of Newark. These three lines are now operated by the New York, Lake Erie & Western rail- road company, under a perpetual lease, and the two former constitute a portion of the main line of the road. The New York, Susquehanna & Western railroad company, whose line passed through a suburban part of the city, recogniz- ing the growing importance of Paterson, a number of years ago constructed a spur into the heart of the city in order to be on a footing equal to that of the Erie. In 1889 the Delaware. Lackawanna & Western railroad company, whose rails skirted the foot of Garret Mountain to the west of the city. also constructed a spur into the more populous portion of Paterson, materially increasing its business.
There is no place in the country where the scenery is more magnificent than it is in the neighborhood of Pater- son. This fact, added to the accumulation of wealth by its residents who had been successful either in manufacturing or mercantile pursuits, attracted to Paterson a large num- ber of residences. For a number of years a conservative spirit in the county board neglected the roads of the county but of late years a great deal of money has been spent in macadamizing roads which wind through the beautiful country surrounding. According to the laws as they stood a number of years ago each township looked out for its own roads, which meant in effect that farmers worked out their road tax. Few concerted efforts were made to improve the roads until the Board of Freeholders obtained the legislation necessary by which the board could take charge of such roads as they might see fit. The new de- parture was welcomed with delight by all who were inter- ested in driving and every year's increased expenditure for road purposes added to the attractiveness of the county as a place of residence. The county has no bonded debt and a floating debt of only a few thousand dollars, so that the county taxes are little more than nominal.
Next in importance in Passaic County is the
CITY OF PASSAIC.
It is situated about eleven miles from New York city, at the present head of navigation of the Passaic, the project. undertaken by the United States government, of ex- tending navigation as far as Paterson not having been completed as yet. Passaic has utilized the water of the Passaic river as a motive power for its industrial establish- ments by the erection by the Dundee Water Power and Land Company of a large dam in the Passaic river a short distance below Paterson, thus forming a large and beauti-
ful lake from which the company takes its name. The water is conveyed from the dam to Passaic by means of a canal and the result has been the clustering about the banks of this canal and along the river of numerous and important industries. Textile fabrics of nearly every kind are here manufactured. The New York, Lake Erie & Western railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Wes- tern railroad lines pass through Passaic, and the New York, Susquehanna & Western railroad company has con- structed a spur into the manufacturing portion of the city. On the slope of the hill which rises from the banks of the Passaic river are situated the residences of many of the wealthy merchants of New York and the city is every year increasing in importance both as a manufacturing place and for residences.
ACQUACKANONK
is a name closely identified with the history of Northern New Jersey. The territory once embraced under this name was vast and the deeds to the property come di- rect from Sir George Carteret and the Lords Proprie- tors of the province of East New Jersey. The princi- pal settlements within the present borders of Acquack- anonk township are the villages of Athenia and Clifton, the latter on the main line of the Erie railroad and the former on the Newark branch of the same road. Athe- nia has several manufacturing establishments. Clifton contains a number of residences of the wealthier class, a great many of the residents being business men of New York city. In Clifton some of the deeds given to the more desirable property provide that the premises shall be used only for residences and the class of buildings is provided for, thus ensuring uniformity and giving a guar- antee of the class of residences. The rest of the township is devoted principally to agriculture and gardening, the soil being very rich and rendered more valuable on ac- count of its proximity to the markets of New York.
THE TOWNSHIP OF WAYNE
is traversed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and the New York & Greenwood Lake railroads. The principal settlement is the village of Pompton, which. on account of its beautiful location, is becoming a popular summer resort. There are in the township a number of brick yards, large powder mills, iron works, a silk mill and other industrial establishments. The rest of the township is devoted principally to agriculture.
MANCHESTER
Township adjoins the city of Paterson and has of late years been the scene of remarkable development and in- dustrial activity. Cedar Cliff Park, romantically situ- ated on the slope of the Preakness hill, was originally intended as sites for villas and elegant residences ; a num- her of these were erected, but some years ago a large por- tion of the tract was thrown open for manufacturing pur-
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PATERSON, ILLUSTRATED
poses, since which time several silk mills have been put up on the property.
LITTLE FALLS
Township contains a thriving village situated on the banks of the Passaic river. The village has clustered about the Little Falls of the Passaic, which furnish mo- tive power to large textile fabrics manufacturing estab- lishments. The Peckman river runs through a portion of the township and the water power furnished thereby has been utilized by other manufacturers. The township is also well known for the product of its brown stone quar- ries.
POMPTON
Township is noted for its mines and the historical recol- lections called forth by a number of its landmarks. The revolutionary army several times traversed the town- ship on its way from West Point to Morristown and in the valley of Ringwood, where the iron mines of Cooper & Hewitt are located, still stands the building where Wash- ington had his horses shod. The property at present be-
longs to Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, ex-Mayor of New York, who has erected there for himself a fine country house. Near this residence are the graves of Robert Erskine and his clerk ; Erskine had the management of the iron mines for the London company but at the breaking out of the revolutionary war joined the American forces. He be- came intimate with General Washington and was made Geographer and Surveyor-General to the Army of the United States. The principal settlement in Pompton township is the village of Bloomingdale, on the New York, Susquehanna & Western railroad.
WEST MILFORD
Township comprises the upper part of Passaic County. It is principally devoted to agriculture. It has within its limits a number of pleasant lakes, of which the most prominent is Echo Lake. The lower half of Green- wood Lake, a popular summer resort, is also within the borders of this township. The principal settlements are Newfoundland. Charlotteburgh and the village of West Milford.
PASSAIC COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Judge of Circuit Court-Jonathan Dixon.
President Judge of Court of Quarter Sessions and other county courts-John Hopper.
Lay Judges of Quarter Sessions and other county courts- James Inglis, Jr., John J. Warren.
Sheriff-Cornelius A. Cadmus.
Deputy Sheriff-Grant Cadmus.
Surrogate-Charles M. King.
County Clerk-William M. Smith.
Deputy County Clerk-Ross Williams. Jail Warden-John F. Buckley.
County Physician-Walter B. Johnson.
County Counsel-Robert I. Hopper.
Superintendent of County Insane Asylum-Henry P. Ackerman.
Matron of County Insane Asylum-Mrs. Henry P. Ackerman.
BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS.
Paterson-
First Ward-Henry P. Ackerman.
Second Ward-Jacob H. Tintle.
Third Ward-John E. Foalks. Fourth Ward-George G. Halstead ( Director).
Fifth Ward-James Carroll.
Sixth Ward-John H. Morrow.
Seventh Ward-Thomas Howard. Eighth Ward-Bernard Feeney. Passaic- First Ward-Thomas Giblin.
Second Ward-J. S. Biddell.
Third Ward-Albert Totten. Fourth Ward-Sylvester J. Post.
Acquackanonk-George V. DeMott.
Little Falls-Francis J. Marley. Manchester-John C. Roe.
Pompton-Josiah Ricker. Wayne-
West Milford-William Patterson.
Clerk of the Board of Freeholders -- William Nelson.
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PATERSON, ILLUSTRATED.
PATERSON CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mayor-Nathan Barnert.
City Clerk-George Boyd. City Treasurer-Cyrus W. Baldwin.
Clerk of the Board of Aldermen-John T. Pollitt. Registrar of Licenses-Charles L. Henry.
Comptroller-Daniel Miller.
Receiver of Taxes-William Iligh.
Deputy Receiver of Taxes-Charles II. May.
City Counsel-Thomas C. Simonton, Jr.
City Surveyor-William Ferguson.
Assessors-James Parker, John Townley. Jacob Edel- man, William 11. Bradley.
Commissioners of Appeal in Cases of Taxation-Albert D. Winfield, Ilugo Ibach, James Blundell.
Superintendent of Streets-Thomas McLean.
Clerk to the Superintendent of Streets-John H. Hurd.
Board of Aldermen-First Ward-John Hartley, George Rear; Second Ward-George Addy, William R. Hard- ing: Third Ward-Samuel Bunting, John Macdonald (President) ; Fourth Ward-John Curtis, Jr., Thomas Rawson ; Fifth Ward-James II. Feeney, Sidney S. Lap- ham ; Sixth Ward-James Miller, Joseph Keppler; Sev- enth Ward-Samuel Crawford, Henry Kelly; Eighth Ward-James Brownlee, Edward Fanning.
Janitor of City Hall-John Mickle.
Board of Education-First Ward-John Hickman { Presi- dent). Daniel E. Patrick ; Second Ward-James A. Gil- fillan, DeWitt C. Edwards; Third Ward-William H. MacDonald, Sylvester Van Gieson ; Fourth Ward-Arthur B. Pearce, Harry C. Baines; Fifth Ward-Frederick C. Barnes, Robert B. Davidson; Sixth Ward-Louis Kir- singer, Jr .. Wilham Snyder; Seventh Ward-John J. Warren. John J. Canning; Eighth Ward-Henry C. Richards, John Raincy.
Secretary of the Board of Education-Henry D. Oler. Superintendent of Public Instruction-Orestes M. Brands. City Physician-Dr. Frank Agnew.
Assistant City Physician-Dr. Thomas L. Paton.
Health Inspector-Dr. John L. Leal. Plumbing Inspector-John Hickman.
Board of Health-Dr. T. Y. Kinne, Dr. P. A. Harris, Dr. B. C. Magennis, Dr. John L. Leal. Dr. Frank Agnew. John T. Pollitt, James Mills.
Secretary of the Board of Health-John J. Warren. Superintendent of Outdoor Relief-Jacob Ryerson. Superintendent of Indoor Relief-Henry P. Ackerman. Matron of Almshouse-Mrs. Henry P. Ackerman.
Inspector of Weights and Measures-William Shields.
Inspector of Buildings, Lamps, Wells and Pumps-John H. Van Houten.
City Veterinary Surgeon-Dr. William II. Lowe. City Weigher-William F. Crossman.
Poundmaster-Harden Parmley.
Chief Engineer of Fire Department-John F. Murphy. Assistant Engineers of Fire Department-John Gillmor, John Struck.
Superintendent of Fire Alarm-James F. Zeluff.
Board of Trustees of Free Public Library-Dr. E. J. Marsh, George Wurts, John II. Hopper, Charles Dan- forth, Robert A. Haley, the Mayor and Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-officio.
Librarian-George F. Winchester.
Park Commissioners-William Strange, John Mallon. Ilenry B. Crosby, John Agnew, Edward T. Bell, David Henry, John I. Ilolt.
Secretary of Park Commission .- Frank Amiraux.
Judge of District Court-Francis Scott.
Clerk of District Court-George N. Hoxsey.
Recorder-Joseph Greaves.
Clerk of Recorder-James II. Cocker.
Chief of Police-Frederick G. Graul.
Captain of Police-John Bimson.
Sergeants of Police-Adam Hargreaves, James Hewitt, John McBride, Michael Keefe, John Ricker, Matthew McGirr.
~| SCENERY |16
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY J. M. KEMP.
THE PASSAIC FALLS.
AFTER A PAINTING BY JULIAN RIX,
VVGL OCCU COOL C
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THE PASSAIC FALLS IN SUMMER.
PHOTO ENG. CO.N. Y.
IO
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THE PASSAIC FALLS IN WINTER.
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PHAT. ENG. CU, N.Y.
ICE EFFECTS AT THE FALLS.
13.
ABOVE THE FALLS.
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1
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BELOW THE FALLS.
14.
PHOTO ENG. C . N.Y.
VIEWS ABOVE THE FALLS.
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PHOTO'ENG. CO. N.Y.
THE BASIN BELOW THE FALLS.
ICE EFFECTS AT THE FALLS.
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PHOTO ENGEL. N.Y.
BIRD'S EYE VIEW TAKEN FROM SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
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PHOTO ENC. CO. N. Y.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY L. H. DDREMUS.
VIEWS OF PATERSON.
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PHOTO ENC. GO, N.Y.
VIEWS OF PATERSON.
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NORTHWESTERN EXTREMITY OF PATERSON.
PHOTO+
SOUTHERN EXTREMITY OF PATERSON.
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PERSONNEL
VIEWS IN PASSAIC VALLEY.
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1111
VIEW IN PASSAIC VALLEY.
COTTAGE ON THE CLIFF.
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HO KO- ENG. CO. N.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY N. LANE.
VIEWS IN WESTSIDE PARK.
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY N. LANE.
VIEWS IN WESTSIDE PARK.
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THE LITTLE FALLS OF THE PASSAIC.
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The Progress of Paterson.
By Mr. WILLIAM G. FENNER, Vice President of the Board of Trade.
N what I have to say of the advantages of Pat- erson as a manufacturing centre I do not ex- pect to add to the knowledge of our citizens upon the subject, but rather to aid in their se- lection the many who are seeking a location for their plant where at least a reasonable cer- tainty of success can be assured their enterprise.
Conclusions drawn from established facts constitute the best information in a matter of this kind and such conclu- sions I will now submit, leaving the task of application to the personally interested parties.
The query is can Paterson in perfect fairness be classed as a city especially well adapted to manufacturing purposes ?
The answer to this question can in no better way be made and emphasized than in a brief historical outline of Paterson's more important industries, touching upon the salient developments of each from their origin up through the lapse of years to the present time with its wealth of industrial achievements and clearly defined prospects.
The present century was yet in swaddling clothes when the cotton industry was experimentally established in this city. Manufacturing was new to the country at that time and the impression created by this springing up of the cotton industry at Paterson was profound. The pioneer factories were individually small yet so numerous that the public mind was struck with the seemingly vast propor- tions of this comparatively new agency of profit to the community. The time speedily came when the cotton milling industry was no longer experimental but establish- ed with its work mapped out on an essentially larger scale with time, the inevitable unifying of fragmentary interests, the merging of many small plants into a few larger ones with perfected means for carrying the raw cotton through the various processes of manufacture resulting in the fin- ished cloth ready for use. The outside public then felt and in a measure still think that Paterson lost part of its cotton industries. The principle of merging was not un- derstood and with fewer individual factories in operation
the impression gained and maintained ground that the vi- tality of the industry itself was on the wane. The fact is however, that the seeming loss was an actual gain. Unques- tioned statistics show that in the year IS25 the number of spindles operating in the cotton mills of this city was 24,- 000, while in ISSo they showed a total of 40,000, repre- senting a substantial gain in spindles and a still more sub- stantial increase in the value of production. The Eastern and Middle States form the great center of the cotton manufacturing industry and a leaf taken from their history substantiates fully my position that the change from many small to a comparatively few larger plants has re- sulted in a striking increase rather than a decrease of the output. In the year 1831, 850 establishments were in operation while in 18So only 570 concerns were in the field. But from IS31 to ISSo the number of spindles de- veloped from 1,237.000 in the former to over 10.000,000 in the latter, while the number of hands employed in- creased from 60,000 to 150,000. In New Jersey alone the year 1831 saw 62,000 spindles in operation in fifty-one establishments, while ISSo with its seventeen estab- lishments displayed an active equipment of 232,000 spin- dles.
The locomotive manufacturing industry started in Pat- erson through the enterprise of Mr. Thomas Rogers in the year 1830. At that time railroading was in its infancy and about fifty miles of rail was all the country could boast of. It will be readily inferred that under these circumstances the locomotive business was in a decidedly embryo state. Looking back from the high plane of present achievement the crudities of the early time are astonishing. The first locomotives built were fitted out with wooden wheels and wooden frames and were guaranteed at high pressure and on a favorable grade to travel at the then lightning express speed of twelve miles per hour, a speed that was then re- garded as a menace to the lives of passengers and a mar- vel to the astonished beholders. This industry however advanced with giant strides along the pathway of me-
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PATERSON, ILLUSTRATED.
chanical progress and by sheer force of intrinsic merit won its full share of substantial recognition in the quick work of supplying the country's rapidly increasing mile- age with its rolling equipment. During four prosperous decades no industry it is perfectly safe to say ever made more headway than the one in point, but as it increased in vigor and size so did other industrial enterprises. Milling concerns of one kind and another extended their plants and rapidly hemmed in the locomotive works of our city ending the possibility of their all-essential enlargements. Additional and adjacent lands could not be acquired and additional room could only be gained by establishing an- nex departments either across the street or around the corner or by using the upper stories of their buildings thereby adding materially to the expense of handling and consequently to the cost of production. The unbearable extravagance of this method of doing business was not realized until competition commenced to assert itself. The margin of profit was sharply narrowed down and the Patersonian manufacturers began in earnest to feel the burden imposed upon them by that extra handling ex- pense, the result of inadequate and imperfectly arranged premises. The few of our manufacturers with plenty of room continued to manufacture and market their locomo- tives with equal profits to those received by the best of their competitors, but those who did not enjoy the advan- tage of elbow room found themselves in the unfortunate position of doing a business devoid of compensation. This condition of things created considerable uneasiness in rep- resentative quarters of the industry and finally culminated in the resolve of a prominent manufacturer to move his en- tire plant. After a careful consideration of the advantages afforded by other localities and with the knowledge gained by long years of experience the manufacturer in question concluded and did relocate in our city on a site that amply meets all prospective as well as present requirements. There the enterprise flourished and to-day constitutes one of the finest locomotive plants to be found in the country. replete with every mechanical improvement and under a management that cheerfully welcomes competition and feels safe in the positive knowledge that better work and cheaper prices than their own rank among the impossibilities.
Paterson has the advantage of unusual railroad facilities and furthermore occupies a commanding position in the very outskirts of the great business centre of the country. This enables our locomotive manufacturers to stand ready as they do to supply the world with their machines.
A few years ago the Paterson Iron Works were destroyed by fire : the catastrophe was complete and nothing but ruined walls and worthless machinery was left to emphasize rather than palliate the misfortune. These works were then as now known to the entire country for their heavy forgings. Rival concerns of this class are few in the United States and none among them can shape and forge a heavier shaft, crank, or beam or aught else in which calibre, strength and finish contribute to the essential elements of production. These representative works are amongst the oldest and most
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