USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 38
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STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
In former years a printer's trade was incomplete unless the journeyman was not only a master of both type and presses, but had, in addition, a smattering of half a dozen other trades, and a superficial knowledge of the dead languages. To-day, however, when the productions of the press-room reach into the realms of high art, and the artistic work of the compositor is really marvelous in its execution, the apprentice term is insufficient to admit of his becoming skillful in more than one department, and the separating of the two branches is a necessity. The press- room and type-composing rooms of the GAZETTE are arranged according to this system, and the results are entirely satisfactory.
STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
A stereotype foundry is a necessary adjunet to the modern printing office, and in numerous ways adds much to its effectiveness and economy. The multiplication of plates considerably reduces the expense in working large orders-the advantage inuring alike to the producer and consumer. The process in use is simple, admits of great rapidity in making the matrix and casting the plates, and works up what is otherwise the waste material of an office.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
PRESS-ROOM.
The press-room is in keeping with the other well-arranged and convenient departments of the building, and possesses every advantage necessary for the quick, efficient and orderly advancement of the work in its particular sphere. Nine power presses, with the modern improvements in
BOOK AND JOB PRESS DEPARTMENT.
receiving, delivering, counting, cutting, folding and pasting the sheets, meet the constantly-varying demands of an extensive and intricate business. Dust and vermin-proof roller boxes and ink cabinets, racks for drying printed sheets, elevators running to the job and book composing-rooms, speaking-tubes connecting with the business and the various departments where necessary, and
NEWSPAPER PRESS-ROOM.
other conveniences, make the press-room one of the best in the State. In fact, the equipment of the press-room is as complete as time and money can make it.
In addition to the regular work of the press-room, the business of roller-making for the trade is a prominent feature, and receives the attention its importance demands. H*
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
THE BINDING DEPARTMENT.
The bindery occupies the third floor of the building and is divided into three departments, which are thoroughly equipped with the latest machinery necessary for economical and expeditious work. Among the improvements are three steam cutters, greatly surpassing the hand machine in
BOOK-SEWING AND STITCHING DEPARTMENT.
every particular for cutting, besides saving a great deal of laborious work. A valuable acquisition to this department is the folding machine, which enables a skillful operator to do the work of several hand folders ; and when the guides are nieely adjusted it will fold much more neatly and in
BOOK-FOLDING AND SEWING DEPARTMENT.
better style than can be accomplished manually. After the sheets are folded they are packed up in bundles, placed between boards, subjected to hard pressure in patent presses especially designed for the purpose, and labeled and stored away until needed. There is ample room in the department to store fifteen tons of folded sheets, as was recently proved. After the last sheet of a book that is in press is received from the press-room, the bundles are untied and arranged seriatim, the sheets
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gathered and collated, and then stitched on the machine, or sewed, according to the requirements of the work. In this part of the business the greatest care needs to be exercised, as frequently a dozen or more different books are under way at the same time. The stitching machine is essential if economy and rapidity are to be studied. It employs wire and does its work quickly and sub- stantially, the result being stronger and neater binding than if thread was used. The capacity of this stitcher is certainly wonderful. With an expert operator, a great deal of work can be done in a very short time. It is by far the best labor-saving machine in the bindery. Two standing presses are required to press the different kinds of work, and two paging machines are used, one of which numbers from 0 to one less than a million. They are needed for paging blank-books and for numbering check-books, certificates, or any class of work that requires numbering. There is, also, in this department a steam sawing machine, which does its work very neatly and rapidly. It is almost indispensable in a well-appointed bindery. To keep up with the ever-increasing work of the office, it was found necessary to introduce the machines referred to. With their help work can be done much cheaper than otherwise, and, as a natural consequence, there is much more of it to be done than before their introduction. The bindery is in good shape to turn out work at very short notice, and the low prices charged cannot fail to command the attention of the public.
RULING-ROOM.
In this room all the ruling for blank-books, bill heads, letter and note heads, &c., is done on an improved steam ruling machine. A patent striker is attached to it, by which certain kinds of work may be done very expeditiously ; also are stored here the different kinds of boards used in
BLANK-BOOK RULING DEPARTMENT.
binding, such as tar, cloth, fuller's, straw, trunk, bonnet, &c. Patent table shears are used to cut the boards to the various sizes required
The illustrations on these pages show the GAZETTE building in 1855, and subsequent years with the improvements made thereon at intervals up to the present time. When the last improvement was made, a few years ago, an addition of nearly forty per cent. in floor space was gained, which it was thought would accommodate the business for some time to come, but with the enlarged quarters and facilities for more rapidly exceuting orders, came increased demands, and now every foot of available space is in use.
At this time, too, the book and job printing department received especial attention, and many hundred fonts of worn-out and old-fashioned type were thrown away, and a new and much larger supply procured, which includes all the standard and new faces. An examination will convince the most skeptical of the truth of our claim, that a larger and finer collection does not exist in New Jersey, and is surpassed by few establishments in the Union.
CHAPTER XXXI.
PHASES OF CITY LIFE.
THE TRENTON MARKETS-THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND PRESENT STATUS-A HISTORY OF SOME OF THE OLDER CITY STREETS-RIVER IMPROVEMENTS-ATTEMPTS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE THE DELAWARE-FAILURE OF ALL THESE PROJECTS-THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PROBLEM-JOHN FITCH AND HIS STEAMBOAT.
RENTON, as a center for a large agricultural district and its patent advantages as a shipping point, via Durham boat and shallop, was early created a market town. Under and by virtue of the pre-Revolutionary incorporation of the "Borough Town of Trenton," we find fairs erected in the village. This is probably the origin of the Trenton markets. An investigation fails to locate any market-house before the Revolution, although one probably existed. In fact, the first allusion to the subject is in the Town-Book, under date of March, 1785, whereby James Chapman agrees to pay thirty shillings per year for one of the " Stalls in the Market House." This edifice was under the care of the town magistrates and Overseers of the Poor. When this market was built no one has yet ascertained. That the building became antiquated at this time is beyond doubt. One of the evidences of this is to be found in the proceedings of Common Council in 1792 (December 29th), when Charles Axford reported he had sold the old market for £5 1s. 10d. This market-house stood in the middle of Warren street, fronting the junction of that thoroughfare at State street and extending north sixty feet. Ilere were located the town pump, stocks or pillory and whipping-post. Tradition has it that the whipping-post was stolen on a dark night.
On July 19th, 1793, Council decided to build a new market-house. This was upon State street, between Broad and Warren, "leaving a square from King [now Broad] to the market-house of fifty-eight feet." The committee of construction was composed of Charles Axford, James B. Machette and Aaron Howell. A house for truck and one for meat were erected, with a flag pave- ment between them. These were removed in 1845, and the ones on Greene (now Broad) street, were erected, the latter being enlarged in 1848. In 1870 they too were removed.
On Market street, on Mill Hill, fronting Broad, stood a market. Its origin is of a most misty character, but it is known that its second story, supported by eight strong brick columns, was used as a school-room. This was the Mill Hill Academy, a primary institution as compared with the Trenton Academy. A steeple, with belfry, crowned this edifice. The market itself, with only five stalls, could in no sense compete with the Trenton markets, and in 1837, the lower story was devoted to the Eagle Fire Company as an engine-house.
The incorporation of Mill Hill and South Trenton saw the demolition of this structure. The old market gave way to another building.
The matter having for a long time been agitated of building a market-house for the benefit of the lower wards of the city, and Council having passed an ordinance to that effect, it was erceted in Market street, east of Broad street, in 1845, by private enterprise.
About the same time that the market was built on Mill Hill, one was erected in Bloomsbury, at the corner of Warren and Bridge streets, opposite the former store of Lewis Parker. This was a
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frame building, and oceupied the entire walk on the west side of the street. This market was longer than the one on Mill Hill, yet much narrower, and contained seven stalls. On the eastern side there was no footpath, as it covered the gutter and extended into the public road. On the west side there was sufficient room between the market-house and the fence for the passage of a single individual.
On the first of April, 1870, Taylor Market, built by the Hon. John Taylor, was thrown open to the publie. The building, as projeeted, was fifty-one by one hundred and twenty feet, and contains fruit, meat, fish and vegetable stalls. The cost of the building was $30,000. Shortly after the erection of Taylor Market, Samuel K. Wilson and Jacob R. Freese built a market on Chancery street, on the corner of an alley which was practically an eastern extension of Quarry alley.
A main building fronting on Chancery street is fifty by one hundred feet, and was provided with a large number of stalls. A large hall was at first used as a meeting-place for various societies, but the venture was never profitable. At present, Freese Market is the Central Police Station, the hall being the police gymnasium and the ante-rooms devoted to the purposes of the Police Commissioners.
The company comprising the Washington Market was formed December 15th, 1869, and the association was incorporated by an aet of the Legislature, February 8th, 1870. The incorporators were George Fitzgeorge, Adam Exton, Joseph B. Yard, John Taylor, Henry N. Barton, Casper Martino, Imlah and Charles Moore, Joseph G. Brear- ley, David Naar, Henry B. Howell, David Manko and John F. Klein.
The original projectors of this market were Henry N. Barton, Joseph B. Yard and George Fitzgeorge. Their first organization was as above described, and the amount subscribed $60,000. The real estate pur- chased eost $69,000, and the building $36,000, making in all $105,000.
The market has large halls, and is well adapted for armory purposes.
On the Broad street front, about the middle of this market, is a handsome brownstone statue of Washington, by Thom, the great Scotch sculptor, made of stone taken from New Jersey quarries, and is an admirable likeness of the Father of his Country. This monument was unveiled on Monday, the 26th of December, 1870, the ninety-fifth anniversary of the THE OLD GREENE STREET MARKET. ever-memorable capture of the Hessians. The address was delivered by C. C. Haven, Esquire, and the presentation of the building was made by Viee Chancellor Alfred Reed, and the acceptance by the late Hon. David Naar, President of the association.
Another venture, ealled the Central Market, situated upon Stockton street, on the corner of Front, was unprofitable. The building was one story high, and cost $42,000.
The markets of Trenton are well supplied. Fish and shell-fish from the sea ; carly fruits and vegetables from southern New Jersey, with peaches and apples from the upper Delaware hills, together with staples from the near-by farms, represent, in part, the State productions. The special freights, bringing to Philadelphia the varied luxuries of the South, give to Trenton in midwinter all the advantages of a metropolis. New York, the importing eenter of European and West Indian products, lands them in our eity almost as soon as she has them in her own markets. With reason- able prices, Trenton has a market system of which she is rightfully proud.
A HISTORY OF SOME OF THE OLDER CITY STREETS.
Before and during the Revolution the main streets of the city of Trenton seem to have been Queen street (now Broad), King (now Warren), Front, Second (now State), Third (now Hanover) and Fourth (now Academy). Smaller connecting alleys were also named. Pennington pike, Princeton pike, the River road, Bloomsbury road ( Warren street ) are not yet forgotten.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
IK BOOK MANUFACTURE
From Chapter IN. (City Ordinances, 1799) we learn that the various streets of Trenton were known as follows : Front street extended from Greene ( Broad ) to the State Honse yard ; State street, called Second, ran from Hanlon's mills to Beatty's ferry ; the street leading from the "Freemasons' Lodge," which was on the corner of Front and Willow, the old building still standing, to the Potts tanyard, was Willow. This was so called from the fact that this tree formerly shaded Petty's run. The street lead- ing from the tanyard end of Willow street to the road run- ning from Beatty's ferry to Pen- nington avenue, which road is now Calhoun street, was Quarry street. Warren street was called both King street and Market street, and was later named in honor of Gen- WALLIS eral Warren, of Revolutionary fame. Broad, earlier called Queen and later Greene, com- memorating the patriot, Gen- eral Greene, was mentioned in this list. Montgomery street extended from John Rickey's, BROAD STREET, LOOKING NORTH FROM STATE STREET. by the Friends' meeting-house, where it joined Hanover street.
The House of Hanover, associated with the English throne, was also thus recognized before the Revolution, The street leading from the Methodist meeting-house, which stood on the corner of Broad and Academy, to Montgomery, had by this time been called Academy. This was due
to the building of the Trenton Academy on the north side of the thoroughfare in the year 1781.
The streets of the city were at this time under the direction of three Street Commissioners, who were directed to " procure small boards, with the names of the streets painted thereon, to be put up and fastened on the houses at or near the corners of cach street." These commis- sioners were to regulate the matter of obstructing the high- ways, and of grading and pay- ing the sidewalks, of "finding the level" of the streets and of directing the building of houses "on grade."
WARREN STREET, LOOKING NORTH FROM STATE STREET.
By 1842 this list of streets had been considerably increased. "The street from Warren to Greene street by William Potts' to the road leading to Langstroth's mills by George Sherman's shall be called Perry street." This thoroughfare was laid out after the battle on Lake Erie and was named in honor of Commodore Perry. The street leading from Warren to Willow, by McNeely's tanyard, was called Union street. The street leading from
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
Willow street toward Samuel Diekinson's, through the old Higbee estate, was to be ealled Spring. The street between Front and the Assanpink, extending from old Grecne street to the southeast corner of the State House yard was known as Washington. Peace street led from the front of William Hancock's house on Front street toward the Assanpink creek. Delaware street had been dedieated by ex-Senator Wall, and Chauncey street, named in honor of the family of that 4 name, extended from Warren to Willow.
In 1847, after the removal of the markets, Second street was changed to State street. All that portion east of Warren, formerly called East Second, became East State. The same rule applied to the western por- tion of the thoroughfare.
In August, 1847, the system of house-numbering was insti- tuted. At this time began the scheme of continuous number- ing, like that employed at the present time in New York City. The Philadelphia system, of even hundreds to each block, is a much later innovation.
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GROCERIES AND PP
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BROAD STREET, LOOKING SOUTH FROM PERRY STREET.
In 1849-50, the main part of West Canal street was abandoned. The projectors of this thorough- fare had in mind the construction of a broad plaza on either side the canal, where large stores and mercantile establishments could be erected. It is needless to say that the plan proved abortive.
It was not until 1850 that the west side of Broad, between State and Front, was uniformly paved. In this year Henry McCall and Charlotte, his wife, dedicated land to widen Front street, between Montgomery and Stockton streets. In 1851, through land dedications made from May to October, 1850, Carroll, Ewing, Elizabeth, Ogden, Southard, Cross, Mon- mouth, Tucker, Ringgold, Barnes and Commerce streets became part of the thorough- fares of Trenton. In 1854, the Millham road, now ealled Clinton avenue, was extended to the Assanpink ercek.
By 1851, the sidewalks SOUTH SIDE OF STATE STREET, WEST FROM CLINTON AVENUE. leading through the center of the city were graded and curbed, paved or graveled. In this year, in South Trenton, the main streets laid out for public use were Ferry, Bloomsbury, Union, Market, Bridge, Fall, Lamberton, Decatur and Centre, which was then ealled Second street. At this time there were two Union streets in the city, one in the Second ward and one in the Fourth ward.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
In 1854, the town required sidewalks on Jackson, Mercer, Rose, Mill and Livingston streets. At this time the name of Bloomsbury road in the old borough of South Trenton merges into that of Warren street. The system of street extension continued with great rapidity. About this time the town development of Chambersburg led to the laying out of many new thoroughfares, whilst in
BROAD STREET, LOOKING NORTH FROM FACTORY STREET.
Millham the by-roads and alleys soon grew into the dignity of streets.
In 1869, Chancery court, upon which was located the old Chancery building, was ex- tended to Bank street. The Chancery building was a large structure which faced State street and occupied the site of the Trust Company's building. The State Street House, which, during the early part of the present century, was the Execu- tive residence, stood by its castern side. Bank street was called after the old State Bank, which stood on Warren street, and is now used as a hardware and tin store.
In the early seventies, at- tempts were made to improve
the region known as the "Swamp," which is undoubtedly the true location of the original " Little- worth." Its main thoroughfare was Woodruff street, which had been dedicated by the heirs of James Johnson. It was located in 1847, the name being later changed to Allen street. Prospect street had been opened, Cal- houn's lane had become Cal- houn street. In 1863, East State street was extended through the Perdicaris property DAILY W. to the Assanpink creek, giving -- direct communication with all the territory lying east of the Assanpink. In 1873, West Hanover street beeame estab- THE GUY L. MIRPU lished as the name of Quarry street, and, in 1867, Princeton BLAN | BOO MANUFAC and Brunswick pikes became avenues.
The city system of paved streets was based upon that adopted by Philadelphia. The dirt roads gradually became covered with the river cobbles. This was the method employed on Broad and State streets, and, STATE STREET, LOOKING WEST FROM BROAD STREET. in fact, until the present year (1895) the cobble pavement remained on West State street. In 1876 a Telford pavement was ordered laid on Clinton avenue, from State street to the Belvidere Delaware bridge, and Perry street was paved in like manner from Clinton avenue to Southard street. In 1881 the Clinton avenue pavement was continued to the city line, Belgian blocks being used. In 1876 Perry street was ordered paved with Belgian blocks from Southard street to Broad street.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
The Nicolson wooden pavement craze, which practically ruined Elizabeth, New Jersey, caused Broad street to be thus paved in 1871. That section of Broad street between Market and Taylor was paved with Belgian blocks in 1872, which pavement was continued to the Assanpink in 1877. In 1876 and 1877 the portion from the creek to Perry street was laid in like manner.
The asphaltum block pavement on East State street was laid by ordinance of 1885, the granite pavement on the remaining portions of the street being laid in small sections at various times.
Within the last five years the vitrified brick pavements on Jackson street, Chestnut and Green- wood avenues, North Clinton avenue and West State street have been laid. Brunswick avenue has also been paved with asphaltum blocks. At present all the great arteries of travel in the congested portion of the city are paved, with the exception of West Hanover street, Pennington avenue, East State street beyond Clinton avenue, and Stockton street. Though lacking in uniformity, owing to the fact that no general system was observed, the pavements are well laid and usually well cleaned. With the extension of the "good road " movement and the building of crushed stone roads to the near-by townships there is every indication that Trenton will feel the effect of such action. The spirit of the town is toward conservatism in the matter of street paving, particularly after a review of the bitter experiences of Elizabeth, Rahway and Jersey City and one or two other near-by towns.
RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
In colonial times little effort was made to improve the Delaware river. Certain it is, that a greater body of water passed by the town, and that the amount of silt and detritus was much less than at present. Furthermore, the shallops, sloops, yachts and Durham boats which came to the town were not of sufficient draught to necessitate the deepening of SCENE ON NORTH CLINTON AVENUE. the channel. The subject of inland navigation, which pre- ceded the agitation for the construction of railroads, led those having an interest in interstate commerce to advocate the improvement of the Delaware river. The flow of water was very slowly, but none the less surely, decreasing, and the vessels coming to Trenton were increasing in tonnage. Lamberton had been made a government port by act of Congress, and the "river trade" had thereby received an important stimulus.
One of the earliest movements looking toward the deepening of the Delaware is to be found in 1811, when inhabitants of Hunterdon and Burlington counties presented a petition relative to the removal of the sandbar on Perriwig island below Lamberton, which was referred to a committee of the House, who, on the seventh of February, reported that "from the information the connnittee had received, it was evident that the said sandbar is a considerable obstruction and injury to the navigation of the said river, and that its removal would be of great public advantage ; that towards the accomplishment of this object legislative interference is solicited-first, in furnishing pecuniary aid to the undertaking ; secondly, in affording liberty to enter upon and remove the obstructions, the river being considered a publie highway under legislative control ; that with respect to the first, the sum necessary to remove the obstructions is estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand dollars ; that the Legislature can only furnish this in one of two ways-either by a grant from the treasury, which, as the funds therein are raised by taxes equally from every part of the State, they do not believe the Legislature would be willing to make to a purpose in which much the greatest part of
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
the State can have no immediate interest ; or by a lottery, which, from the opposition already manifested to this mode of raising money for local objects, the committee presume the House is not prepared to allow : that with respect to the second point on which legislative interference is requested, the committee conceive it reasonable and right that the desire of the applicants should be granted, and therefore recommend that they have leave to present a bill giving the liberty of entering upon the said publie highway and removing the said obstruction." An act for improving the navigation of the river Delaware passed upon the eighteenth of February of that year. Among the early plans, it may be noticed that upon November 29th, 1809, a bill was passed authorizing Samuel Wright, Jr., and George Dill to build a wing dam in the river Delaware for the purpose of conveying the waters thereof into the Assanpink creek above their oil mill.
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