USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > Paterson, New Jersey : its advantages for manufacturing and residence: its industries, prominent men, banks, schools, churches, etc. > Part 11
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Here may be found quiet woods, smooth lawns and shady avenues moulded together by the hand of nature and man into one lovely natural park, alike a fit resort of recreation for the living and holy resting place for the dead.
The beautiful and ornamental lake in the centre sur- rounded as it is by a grove and fragrant flowers make it one of the most attractive scenes in the whole place.
Another charming spot is the island in the centre of the river, which is to be connected with the main cemetery grounds by a bridge, and this with the other timbered parts being supplied with settees will afford a pleasant retreat to persons who desire to spend a few hours in the country air.
The cemetery is so far removed from the centre of the city as to render it free from all the dangers of encroach- ment to which most cemeteries lying in the immediate suburbs of large cities are liable ; while the fact that the Paterson horse cars will run continuously to and from the grounds will render it easy of access for our patrons. In the summer months steamboats will ply between the cem- etery and the Great Falls of Passaic.
Already over three miles of road have been constructed in the grounds and most of it macadamized. And the large number of daily visitors show how these drives are appreciated by the people. Large sewers have also been built to protect the grounds from destruction by surface water and heavy rains.
A commodious receiving vault with all the modern im- provements and a handsome brown stone entrance lodge containing reception rooms and offices have also been erected on the premises.
In furtherance of the "Lawn System" all lot enclosures are absolutely prohibited. Their absence makes it possi- ble to secure what their presence would not permit of, an absolute neatness and order in the appearance of the lots by a free and continuous use of the scythe and lawn- mower ; moreover where posts or copings exist, there must always abound around them. in a greater or less degree, a growth of weeds and briars. This evil thus is obvi- ated.
Again : The appearance of the cemetery as a whole is much more pleasing, where enclosures do not exist. The superiority of a clean shaven expanse of lawn broken only by paths, trees and monuments, over that of grounds cov-
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ered with railings and other enclosures in various stages of decay, requires no sophistry to make manifest.
Experience, too, has demonstrated that even where the greatest vigilance is exercised, lot enclosures speedily be- come dilapidated. Atmospheric influences invariably pro- duce this result. And as the expense incidental to the maintenance of these enclosures is very considerable, the result being worse than useless, the money so expended might better have been thrown away. The popular belief that lots are safer, if enclosed, while it may be well found- ed in the case of some isolated burial places, has no appli- cation in the case of this cemetery, which will be carefully guarded and whose interior arrangements will be super- vised and administered by the cemetery authorities them- selves.
It would be impossible, under the system the directors have adopted, for anything resembling what lot owners re- gard as intrusion on their lots to occur ; but even were this possible, it is very certain that neither copings nor fences would afford any real protection.
The entire cemetery will thus appear as one vast rolling sea of lawn, unmarred by any of the monstrous designs or gloomy walls or railings which make so many burial grounds objects of horror, when contemplated as our final resting place. Provisions have been made for the careful cutting of the grass on all lots with lawn mowers, to per- form which a force of workmen will be organized, and it will be unnecessary for lot owners to make any expend- iture of money for the care of the grass upon their lots.
The company provide and spread on the lot at all fun- erals heavy matting to protect the friends at the grave from the dampness of the ground ; a temporary tent is also erected to shelter persons from the storms or wind or the hot sun in summer, and the grounds are carefully guarded day and night.
The situation along the line of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western railroad is an important feature be- cause of the opportunity which it affords to residents of New York, Jersey City and Hoboken to secure a suitable burial place at a moderate price in such a beautiful spot, saving to them too great an expense and trouble to which they now have to go to reach Greenwood and other local ceme- teries.
A station has been erected on the grounds and funerals are met by the hearse provided by the company to convey the remains to the plot for interment.
The company commenced selling lots in April, 1SSS, and since that time two hundred and twenty-five lots have been sold. Several splendid monuments have already been erected. The cemetery was formally dedicated on Memor- ial Day, May 30, 1890-and the following gentlemen took part in the exercises :- Rev. Charles D. Shaw, D. D., Rev. David Magie, D. D. ; Rev. J. C. Jackson, Rev. N. Il. Van Arsdale, D. D. Mr. Francis C. Van Dyk read a historical sketch of the company and Col. Joseph W. Congdon delivered the dedicatory oration. The music was furnished by Cappa's Seventh regiment band of New York and the singing was by a chorus from the class of'91 of the Paterson High school-under the direction of Mr. Charles C. King and W. M. Dufford.
The officers of the company are as follows :- President, James W. Ensign ; vice president, Francis C. Van Dyk ; treasurer, George C. Mason ; secretary, Michael Dunn. Directors :- William T. Ryle, Hiram Gould, James A. Morrisse, George C. Mason, Francis C. Van Dyk, James W. Ensign, John Norwood, James O'Shea, John R. Beam, Michael Dunn : clerk, Charles C. King ; superin- tendent, M. M. Brunner-office 293 Main street, Pat -. ersoll.
4
Building and Loan Associations.
By Mr. SIDNEY FARRAR, Secretary of the Paterson and Union B. & L. Associations.
HEN Adam and Eve found themselves shut out of Eden, alone in the wide, wide world, houseless and homeless, they must have fully realized three conditions of existence from which not one of their countless descendants has ever since been free. That is to say: We must have food to eat. clothing to wear and a place of shelter in which to rest and sleep. In short. we must have a home. Man, the noblest of God's creatures on the earth in his maturity and strength, is also the most helpless in his in- fancy, but man's necessity has always proved his best op- portunity and has furnished him with the highest incen- tives to provide for those dependent on him not only suf_ ficiently but abundantly, and his faculties thus industriously developed have taught him to have faith in himself, to believe that there is nothing that is impossible, for what one man cannot accomplish alone a greater number can do and do easily. And how natural it is, to turn to our friends in time of need or danger. Indeed nothing could be more natural than the transition from self-reliance to mutual-helpfulness, or as we sometimes call it *co-opera- tion," nor more beneficial to society when rightly directed. And its possible applications are almost boundless. One of its familiar forms is the well known building and loan associations, which have found so much favor and gained so much in public esteem for the great amount of good they have done, and will undoubtedly continue to do.
These institutions have long been in successful opera- tion both in England and in this country, notably here in the city of Philadelphia, whence they have been copied and imitated far and wide. While the individual associa- tions differ so much in minor details that scarcely two are exactly alike ; yet they all agree in the fundamental princi- ples of mutual interest and mutual benefits to all the mem- bers ; this remark applies to all such societies as are or- ganized and operated strictly as local associations.
The Legislature of this State early took note of the use- ful character of mutual, loan, homestead, and building as-
sociations, and has always dealt with them in a most lib- eral manner.
The starting point then in the formation of a building and loan association is this knowledge of men's physical necessities already alluded to, and of his ability to provide for and overcome them by the co-operation or union of in- telligent people, united together by the strong ties of mutual interest and mutual help, drilled and trained to perform systematically, of their own good freewill. certain duties within a specified time, in order to secure for them- selves and each other the reward-a home, or its equiva- lent in money. The logical result with good careful man- agement is guaranteed success, for a genuine association has no buncombe about it ; it has no land to sell, no par- ticular style of house to build, and no pet contractor to back. It deals in money as its article of merchandise, making itself the banker and investor for its members, and has no other object than to obtain the best possible result for each and every one, to help each member in turn ac- cording to his particular need to the utmost of its ability, and not expecting to be too much thanked for doing it. A few common sense principles are observed and they are as true as they are useful.
The Association deals in money, and the original law still holds good: "And God said. let everything bring forth after his own kind." Later it was said, "Whatso- ever ye sow that shall ve also reap," and we hear in our own times "money makes money," and "time is money." The Association understands that it takes time to make money, that it is necessary to sow money if we expect to reap money, and that we must sow liberally if we expect to reap abundantly ; but while the Association holds out no prospect of giving something for noth- ing it has been demonstrated even here that the sys- tem is eminently equitable, entirely practical and has been found to be thoroughly successful. It is considered as an every day fact that the proper rent of a house will buy it in ten years. Now if this is true any system that will en-
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able the tenant to become the owner in ten years to turn his rent into the purchase money for the house, and thus virtually enable him to make a present of the house to himself, and do this justly too to the former landlord, must be "a good thing" not only for the buyer, but also for the seller, for he gets his full price, and the community has gained another responsible citizen.
WIIAT IS A MUTUAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION?
As we have them in Paterson any convenient number of persons associated together for that purpose under the laws of the State of New Jersey, by such name as they may select, who after adopting a constitution and by-laws and executing a certificate to be filed with the County Clerk. setting forth their corporate name and the objects of the Association, proceed to elect their proper officers, usually a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, a board of directors, auditors, and solicitor, and then pro- ceed to business. Now suppose we illustrate the working of an Association by joining one. Let us suppose that we enter in January ; we find the secretary and inform him that we have elected ourselves to membership. We will take out one share and pay him the admission fee, also we pay him one dollar for monthly dues for January and pro- vide that on or before a certain day in February we will pay another dollar, and so continue to pay one dollar per month until the money we have thus paid to the Associa- tion and the profits made on all such payments by the Association shall amount to the sum of $200; then it is agreed that our membership so far as that one share is concerned shall cease, or in other words, that we shall be paid the two hundred dollars, unless we have previously withdrawn, which we can always do if needful. So it is plain that we have made up our minds to save two hun- dred dollars, and if we are trying to do that then it is our privilege to borrow two hundred dollars for every share we hold, provided we can give good security-that is a bond and mortgage on a house and lot or on a lot on which we will forthwith build a house ; of course we cannot build a house for two hundred dollars-but we can take out some more shares-for they are all alike, say nine more shares, and then we can borrow two thousand dollars and that will build us a good house ; the secretary tells us if we take ten shares and borrow two thousand dollars, we will have to pay ten dollars a month on our shares and another ten dollars per month as interest at six per cent. on the two thousand dollars we have borrowed ; that will be all right for the rent of the house will be sufficient to pay that ; the taxes, insurance, and the wear and tear we can look after ourselves, for we feel sure the property will more than offset that cost in the increased valuation ; besides the wear and tear will not amount to much for it is our own house and we shall not only take good care of it, but even improve it constantly from year to year. We learn also from the constitution that we have the privilege to pay off the principal of our' debt at any time. Even so small a sum as one dollar will be cheerfully received and the in-
terest at once cease on all such payments of the principal ; that certainly is a great privilege, but then the Association can always use its money to advantage, for about one member in every four becomes sooner or later a borrower, so there is always a good demand for money even in dull times, for if the members do not want to borrow money to buy land and build houses, they want it to live on or for other purposes. So the supply and the demand keep about even pace with cach other.
All that seems simple enough : we can take out shares and save up money if we do not wish to borrow-and when we wish to borrow we shall be qualified to do so, and when we want to take our money out all we have to do is to ask for it and we shall get it. The Association is established for our benefit, and all we have to do is to make use of it in the most serviceable manner.
We learn also to be punctual in our payments as well as thrifty and saving, for if we are late in paying our monthly dues and interest we are liable to a fine ; but we will not be fined because we will take good care to pay in good time. Sometimes a member who has been diligently sav- ing his money happens to get sick, or out of work or wants to buy a lot or something else, and so he needs or thinks he needs money. Such a member can either ex- change his shares for those of a later series or he can bor- row as much on his book as he has paid in as dues with- out any other security than his book, or he can withdraw his money altogether with interest to date and full profits up to the end of the preceeding year ; if he elects to exchange his shares the admission fees are saved to him. So his money is always at his command whenever he needs it, and thousands of dollars are paid out every month in this. manner. In short the building and loan association is a sort of wholesale dealer in bonds and mortgages, a firm of unlimited membership on equal terms and conditions, where the lending member can pay in his money from month to month, and know to a certainty that it is safely invested, and where he will be able to get it whenever he happens to need it.
These associations have now been established here nearly twelve years. The Paterson Mutual Building and Loan Association was instituted November 14th. 1878, and although its progress at first was slow, yet its business was so equitably conducted, and the business forms adop- ted so well suited to its special work that it has served as the model for at least a dozen others in Paterson and else- where. In the high character of its various boards of di- rectors, and other officers, it has been most fortunate, and their careful and discreet management of its affairs is amply attested by an exammation of its books of account. by which we learn that the gross amount received up to June 1, 1890, has amounted to $725,323.32 ; its present membership is 500 persons holding 3,525 shares of the various series ; more than three times as many shares have been paid off since its organization.
A direct offshoot of the Paterson Mutual Building and Loan Association was organized November 14, 1882,
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under the name of the Union Mutual Building and Loan Association, and aided by the experience gained by its projectors in the parent body, this Association has made notable progress. Its books show a present membership of 1,900 persons holding 13.296 shares of all series, and its gross receipts up to June 1, 1890, amount to $1. 141 .- $15.45 ; the gross receipts of these two associations com- bined amount to $1,867.138.77. Their combined efforts are represented by about eight hundred houses built and building, besides being of great assistance to thousands of members in money, loans, and many other ways. espec- ially in the correction of imperfeet titles, advice, &c. There are also established in the city many other sturdy and vigorous building and loan associations : The Mechan- ics, The Celtic. The Iron and Silk. The People's, The Riverside, The Provident, &c., &c., and from trustworthy information they are all doing a most prosperous and sat- isfactory business. Undoubtedly this notice would be quite incomplete if we omitted to speak of the kindness of the press of this city towards this movement at all times
and under all circumstances. The public press recogniz- ing that building and loan associations properly conducted materially increase the prosperity of a city, has been the stalwart friend of the building associations.
We think then this record needs no further comment ; the work these associations have done for our city is there to be seen and judged by all men who will take the pains to examine it ; that it has been sound needs no further proof than that we never hear of any foreclosures or law suits or matters of that character wherein any of the various asso- ciations appear either as plaintiff or defendant : on the contrary this principle. mutual co-operation, so simple. so efficient and so beneficial. has proved itself so excellent in actual practice that it is copied not only in our own city, more and more, but all the surrounding towns and villages are anxious to secure the same benefits for themselves. Passaie, Hackensack. Ridgewood, Little Falls, Haledon, and Suffern have flourishing associations ; some also even in New York city, being direct results of the original es- tablishment of the system here in IS78.
Telephone Facilities.
HE engraving on page 63 represents the switch board of The New York and New Jersey Tel- ephone Co. in their central office at 207 Main street, Paterson. N. J.
Nearly 600 subscribers are now connected with the Paterson central, and trunk lines connect it with other cities. The operators answer and connect about 3.500 local calls daily, and over 250 calls are made each day between Paterson and other places. This switch board is one of the best in use. The space required to work it is re- duced to a minimum, which enables the operators to connect subscribers quickly. Electric power is used for running a generator to call subscribers.
It will, undoubtedly. be of interest to give a brief his- tory of the telephone business in this city. Work was begun to establish a Telephone Exchange here and con- neet it with New York City on December 6, 1879, with offices in the Clark Building, corner Main and Ellison streets. The exchange opened for business on the after- noon of December 24. 1879, with the following list of sub- scribers : Paterson Daily Press, Paterson Daily Guardian,
R. & Il. Adams, Phoenix Manufacturing Co., Post Office, Morton Clark, Il. J. Garrison, Hamilton House, P. HI. & W. G. Shields. John Hopper & Son, Chris. Huber.
AA wire was run between Paterson and New York and telephonie communication was established with that city December 28. 1879.
In May. ISSO, the list numbered 145 subscribers.
During the summer of ISSo work was begun on addi- tional trunk lines between Paterson and New York over the highway and through Passaic City, where an office was established. This line was finished in time to begin business in November. ISSO, with New York, Newark. Jersey City and Passaic.
The telephone business in Paterson then began to grow rapidly. In the spring of ISS2 a line was built to Boon- ton connecting the intermediate villages of Little Falls and Mountain View. A line was also extended to Butler. Later Wortendyke, Ridgewood and Haledon were con- nected and now there is no suburb of Paterson that cannot be reached by telephone. The excellent telephone service rendered between Paterson and Passaic is doing much to bring these two cities together. Subseribers in Paterson,
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Passaic and Hackensack have the privilege of talking with each other without extra charge.
In March, 1885, the New York and New Jersey Tele- phone Co. moved into their present commodious quarters at 207 Main street and no expense is spared to make the service as efficient as possible.
During the last two years the long distance service has been developed. Manufacturers and others can now get the benefit of this service at a slight advance in price. Each subscriber to the long distance telephone has two copper wires or a metallic circuit which prevents induc-
tion or other noises from interfering with conversation. Metallic circuit copper wire trunk lines are in use now between Paterson and New York, and it is no uncommon thing to have a Paterson subscriber call for one in Phila- phia. Trenton. Boston, Albany and other distant points.
The officers of the New York and New Jersey Tele- phone Co. are : Chas. F. Cutler, president; W. D. Sar- gent, vice president and general manager: Alexander Cameron, treasurer: U. N. Bethell, secretary ; John C. Reilly, general superintendent ; H. G. McCully, Superin- tendent N. J. Division ; J. F. Noonan, Manager Paterson District.
Electric Light and Gas.
HAT Paterson is one of the best illuminated cities in the country is apparent to any person who either takes a walk through the city or passes by it on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, whose tracks are laid on the heights skirting the western portion of the city. The city authorities and private enterprise have been liberal in the supply of illumination, and in many portions of the city it is as bright at midnight as it is at midday. A glance at the establishments which provide the illumination cannot but impress the reader with the fact that Paterson need never suffer for want of light.
THE PATERSON ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY.
This company was organized in May, ISSS, but was in existence some time previous to that time. Upon the re- organization nearly all the members of the old company remained and associated themselves with a number of practical electricians in the enterprise ; among the most prominent of whom were : A. M. Young, of Waterbury. Conn. ; W. H. Fuller, of Springfield, Mass., and W. B. Hosmer, of Boston. A portion of the stock, however, was and is still held in Paterson. The new company at once threw out the old plant, the station being equipped with the Arnold-Hochhausen system, and adopted the Thompson-Houston system of arc and incandescent light- ing and transmission of power. The power of the old plant was furnished by a 250 horse-power Corliss engine. which was supplied by two boilers of So horse-power each. This company furnishes the illumination to both of
the Paterson theatres; it supplies 220 street lights, 130 commercial are lights, 4,000 incandescent lights. and will shortly add to these Soo incandescent lights which are to displace the present street lamps, now burning oil throughout the city. It is now the intention of the com- pany to add to its plant one 200 horse-power boiler to meet the demands for power that will be required by the addition of the city's new lights. It also supplies power to a large number of Perret Motors running ventilating apparatus, coffee and spice mills, ice cream freezers, etc. The first incandescent lights were furnished July 4. 1888, when the city was wired for about 1,600 lights. The old company were supplying 101 arc lights, 68 city street lights and no incandescent lights at the date of the reor- ganization. The company occupies a substantial brick building on Railroad avenue of two stories, and this is fitted up in the most approved manner with all the latest improved means and appliances known to electrical sci- ence as applied to illumination and the transmission of power. The switch-board, especially, is a marvel in its way, and is said to be one of the very finest in the country. The capital of this company is $300,000. The officers are : Eugene Stevenson, president : John Norwood, vice president ; T. Y. Kinne, treasurer ; John F. Noonan, sec- retary ; James A. Hleagan, manager ; E. S. Breed, super- intendent.
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