USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > Paterson, New Jersey : its advantages for manufacturing and residence: its industries, prominent men, banks, schools, churches, etc. > Part 12
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The company has at present five boilers of one hundred and fifty horse-power each and three of eighty horse- power each, a total of about one thousand horse-power. It has a Corliss engine of two hundred horse-power and eight Ball engines of a hundred horse-power each. It has
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ten dynamos for incandescent lighting. each having a ca- pacity of five hundred sixteen candle power lamps; eight dynamos for fifty are lights by the Thompson-Houston system and one dynamo for incandescent street lightning having a capacity of sixteen hundred lamps of sixteen can- dle power each.
THE EDISON ELECTRIC ILLUMINATING COMPANY.
This company was organized in the late Summer of TSSS, and commenced operations in November of the same year. At the present date the station. which is located in Paterson street. in the handsome building formerly occu- pied by the Weidmann Silk Dyeing Company as offices and for other purposes, supplies the current to about 5,Soo incandescent lamps and about So arc lights, the latter being mainly for .commercial and manufacturing purposes. At the very outset the plant was laid for 15,000 incandescent lights, involving the laying of about 6 miles of underground tubing and the use of eighteen miles of heavy copper con- duetors. The present steam plant has a cipacity of 600 horse power. The station. together with its equipment throughout, is one of the finest in the State, and has few superiors anywhere. All the dynamo regulators, dynamo switches, equalizers, indicators, etc., are grouped in a spa- cious gallery at one end of the engine room. The system, which can be readily expanded to keep pace with all the requirements of the growing city and its numerous, rapidly developing suburbs, extends to the far east side, the choic- est portion for residence, where it has been introduced into many of the modern homes of prominent manufacturers and others, and also through all the principal business and manufacturing sections.
The immense advantage of electricity as a motive power, as compared to steam, is that it is "always there. " twenty- four hours of the day, while many of those, especially the smaller manufacturers, who lease space and power find their power cut off when they desire to work overtime. It is also very inexpensive, taking all things into considera- tion. Many isolated plants have been sold and installed by this company in outlying mills, including those of Jacob Walder, C. E. Meding, the New York Ribbon Company, Jacob Frisch, P. & I. Bannigan and others. The capital is $300,000. The direction is in the hands of representa- tive citizens and the management is entrusted to a practi- cal and experienced electrician, Mr. William M. Brock, who is destined. beyond a doubt, to leave his impress on the electrical history of the city of his adoption. The Board of Directors is composed of William T. Ryle, pres- ident ; William Strange, vice president ; Arthur Ryle, treasurer : William M. Brock, secretary and general man-
ager ; Boetius Murphy, Jacob Walder and Charles Dan- forth
The company has a boiler capacity of six hundred horse power with six engines aggregating eight hundred horse power. It has eight Edison dynamos with a total capacity of sixty-four hundred lamps of sixteen candle power each and two dynamos for arc lighting to supply fifty Sperry lights. This capacity will be increased during the present summer by the addition of one three hundred horse power boiler, one one hundred and eighty horse power engine and two large Edison dynamos. The company at present sup- plies power to the following establishments :- Machinists" Association, twenty horse power ; Cooke Locomotive Works, fifteen horse power ; Press Printing and Publishing Company. ten horse power ; Call Printing and Publishing Company, seven and a half horse power ; the Broomhead mill, one of ten horse power and one of five horse power ; Rettger & Allen silk mill, ten horse power ; Paterson Reed & Harness company. seven and a half horse power : D. Lindsay, five horse power : Hand & MeGuinness, three horse power. Halliwell & DeBaun, two horse power ; it also supplies a large number of smaller sizes running ice cream freezers, coffee grinders meat choppers, fans. church organs, &c.
THE UNITED GAS IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
Gas was first supplied to consumers by the Paterson Gas Light Company in (SAS In iSSo the People's Gas Light Company began operations. In 1882 the management of both of these concerns was assumed by the United Gas Im- provement Company, of Philadelphia, who now furnish the entire gas supply. The United Gas Improvement Company claim to control the newest and best methods of gas making. As they also operate other gas works in many cities and towns throughout the country, they have been able to bring to their business in Paterson the best re- sults in their line of modern theory and practice. The works are kept up to the best standards and careful atten- tion given to meeting the needs of consumers. The satis- factory service rendered has resulted in increased business, although the introduction of the electric light has caused a brisk competition in public and private lighting In addi- tion to its use for illumination, gas is largely consumed in Paterson for domestic cooking and heating. gas stoves be- irg sold by the company at cost or rented by the month. It is also used by many of the mills in their silk finishing processes, by the locomotive works for heating tires, by laundrymen and tailors for heating irons and, in various ways, for other purposes. The gas works management is a liberal one and aims to so serve old patrons and welcome new ones that its operations may tend to the growth and de- velopment of the city.
Real Estate.
'S the object of this publication is the adver- tisement of Paterson as a place for manufactur- ing and residence it would be no more than proper that something be said indicating to persons desiring to locate to what sources ap- plication may be made for real estate in this i city.
THE SOCIETY'S LAND COMPANY.
The Society's Land Compumy was incorpo- rated in ISS7 for the purpose of holding, improving and selling the lands belonging to the estate of the late Roswell L. Colt. The Society for Establishing Useful Manufac- tures at one time owned nearly all the land lying in the cor- porate limits of the city of Paterson ; from this source Mr. Colt obtained large tracts of property and the Society's Land Company to-day owns real estate in every ward of Paterson, with one exception. It has property suitable for manufacturing as well as for residence and it offers this property at a moderate price and on easy terms. The title to all its property is perfect, dating back to the last cen- tury. The officers of the company are the following : Ex- Governor Joseph D. Bedle, president : William Penning- ton, treasurer ; Richard Rossiter, secretary : Morgan G. Colt and DeGrasse B. Fowler, directors.
THE COLT LAND COMPANY.
The Colt Land Company was organized for the purpose of developing Colt's Hill, a valuable tract of real estate ly- ing in the centre of the city, which on account of its bulk had not attracted investors before, the owners objecting to disposing of it in parcels. The existence of this unim- proved property has been a hinderance to the extension of business towards the upper part of Main street ; now that it has been thrown into the market and portions already sold for business purposes its value will continually en- hance. The Main street front of the property will be de- voted to business houses ; the easterly side of the property is most desirable for residences The company was incor- porated in May, 1890. The following are the officers :- President, John R Lee ; vice president, Peter Quacken- bush ; treasurer. James Jackson : counsel, John R. Beam ; manager, James Crooks ; secretary, Richard Rossiter ; board of directors :- John R. Lee. Peter Quackenbush, John R. Beam, James Jackson, James C. Hinchliffe, Sam
uel Nathan, C E. MacChesney, Alfred A. Van Hoven- berg, James Crooks, George W. Pollitt, Henry Cowan, Christian Mennel. Alfred Healy, Jacob Walder, Robert 1. Hopper.
THE CEDAR CLIFF LAND COMPANY.
The Cedar Cliff Land Company owns a large tract of real estate lying in Manchester township on the northern boundary of the city of Paterson For a distance of several thousand feet north of the boundary line the ground here is level ; this level plain at one time was used for cricket and other ball games but the march of improvement found bet- ter use for it. At the present day the plain is divided into blocks with regularly laid out and graded streets and ave- nues. Through the property runs the Oldham brook, fur- nishing a never failing supply of water. Several mills and a considerable number of residences have already been erected and the property is in constant and active de- mand. At the northern line of the plain the property rises into the Preakness hills and presents some of the most beautiful scenery in the State. A number of years ago it was laid out into villa sites and roads were constructed through every portion of the property. A fine view of the city of Paterson can be obtained from almost any point on this part of the property. The ground is wall shaded by stately trees and springs of the purest water abound. No lovelier site could be selected for a residence. The officers of the company are :- Robert Barbour. president ; F. C. Van Dyk, vice president ; Garret A. Hobart, treasurer ; James A. Morrisse, secretary and agent.
THE CHESTNUT HILL LAND COMPANY.
The Chestnut Hill Land Company owns most of the real estate bounded by the Passaic river, East Thirty-third street and Broadway, a section of the city which is not sur- passed by any in beauty of scenery and advantage of loca- tion. So attractive is the property that a committee of cit- izens appointed at a public meeting held a number of years ago unanimously recommended the purchase of the prop- erty for a public park. Other counsels, however, prevailed and the city purchased the property lying on the opposite side of Broadway, thus materially enhancing the value of the Chestnut Hill property for residences. Broadway is the finest residence street in the city and that part of the Chestnut Hill Land Company's property fronting on
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Broadway will in the near future be occupied by stately residences. To the north of Broadway the land slopes gently to the river, presenting a succession of beautiful lawns and groves. Fine river and woodland scenery and views reaching many miles may be enjoyed from almost any point on this property. Of late years the more costly residences have been attracted to this section of the city ; the property of the company accordingly offers every ad- vantage for an investment, as the river forms the natural boundary of the city. The officers of the company are :- W. R. Brown, president ; Garret A. Hobart and John W. Griggs, counsel ; R. M. Ekings, agent.
GLENWOOD.
The magnificent scenery surrounding Paterson has at- tracted thither a large number of residents, most of whom remain all the year, only a few seeking a metropolitan home during the cold weather. The demand for houses in the suburbs has always exceeded the supply and not a year passes but a large number of country homes are erected Taking advantage of this fact Mr. Thomas M. Ryle with admirable and characteristic judgment some time ago purchased forty-two acres lying along the banks of the Passaic river, a short distance below the magnifi- cent Little Falls of the Passaic The location of the ground-portions of which are shown in illustrations on another page-was admirably adapted for summer resid- ences Mr. Ryle at once laid out a number of drives and soon had the grounds in a condition that left nothing to be desired. A music hall was erected and grounds laid out for tennis courts, quoiting and other outdoor sports ; the half mile frontage on the Passaic provided ample oppor- tunity for boating and angling. Mr. Ryle has erected a number of cottages and these were rented long before they were completed. Mr. Ryle's intention was to provide a certain number of cottages. feeling confident that their at- tractiveness would ensure tenants ; he did not have to wait until the cottages were completed and he was compelled to change his plans and erect cottages for those who were ready to move into them. Cottages are consequently erec- ted to order. All modern conveniences, gas and water included. are to be found at Glenwood or Ryle Park, a prettier place than which cannot be found in Passaic County.
THE DOREMUS FARM.
The old Doremus farm, lying on Totowa, in the Second Ward of Paterson, a few minutes' walk from the Passaic Falls, and within six or eight minutes' walk of the West street bridge across the river, comprises a traet of between sixteen and seventeen acres, lying on a gentle slope afford- ing the best drainage into the Oldham brook, while it is so near to the main sewer in Union avenue that the prop- erty can be readily drained in that direction also, as soon as it is sufficiently built up to require sewers. The tract extends from Red Woods avenue on the west to Marion street on the east, and from near Crosby avenue on the south to the Oldham brook on the north It is intersected
by Crosby avenue and Doremus street, running east and west, and by Jasper and Kearny streets running north and south. The highest ground is not more than three or four feet above the established grades of the streets, while the lowest is but a foot or two below grade. Consequently, purchasers of lots on the tract have the assurance that they will not be injured by the grading of the streets. In fact, the lots fronting on Jasper, Kearny and Doremus streets, as well as those on Red Woods avenue and Marion street, with a few exceptions are substantially at grade now. One fact of great importance regards the title of this prop- erty. Workingmen do not care to expend large sums in the making of searches into the title of the lots they buy. In the case of this land there is the satisfaction of knowing that it has been in the possession of the Doremus family for nearly sixty years. being one of the oldest farms in the county. The members and representatives of the Doremus family organized The Doremus Land Improvement Com- pany on January 15, 1890, and conveyed the property to the new corporation, which immediately took steps to put the land on the market. The success that followed this move has been one of the most remarkable phenomena in Paterson real estate enterprises. Within six months upwards of one hundred lots had been sold, or about one- half of the entire tract. In the place of an old thirty-foot lane the company laid out Doremus street, fifty feet wide, 325 feet north of Crosby avenue, which they intend to grade during the summer of ISgo. Nearly every lot south of Doremus street has been sold. Some of the most desir- able lots are still unsold, lying north of Doremus street. The land is so desirable for residences that the company early adopted the policy of insisting upon three restrictions with all purchasers of lots : First, to prevent the obstruc- tion of sidewalks by front stoops. and to give the streets a broader appearance, which would also allow of the growth of shade trees, it was decided to require all buildings to be set back six feet from the street line. Second, it is requir- ed that no nuisances of any kind shall be erected or main- tained on the property sold. Third, it is provided that the land sold shall not be used for the sale or manufacture of intoxicating liquors. All three of these restrictions have proved exceedingly popular with buyers, who thereby are assured that their property will not be impaired in value by objectionable trades or business, and that they virtually secure a street sixty-two feet wide instead of fifty. In view of the difficulty and expense often attending the mak- ing of searches of titles, the company has caused a most exhaustive search to be made. tracing the title to this tract from King Charles IT., of England. in 166; down to the date of the conveyance to The Doremus Land Improve- ment Company in IS90. This search was prepared by William Nelson, whose familiarity with ancient land titles is beyond dispute, and it has been verified by Jacob H. Blauvelt, the most experienced searcher of titles in Pater- son, and by the County Clerk. The company has had this search printed, and furnishes a copy to every purchaser of a lot on the tract. This is the first instance in Paterson
PATERSON, ILLUSTRATED.
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where this has been done. Lots are sold on the easiest possible terms. Upon the payment of ten dollars per lot the company executes a contract of sale, permitting the purchaser to pay the balance in instalments of from five to ten dollars and upwards per month : when one-third is paid, the purchaser may take a deed and give a mortgage for the purchase money. No advantage is taken where a man gets out of work, or falls ill, or from other cause is unable to meet his payments promptly. So long as the interest is kept up the company is satisfied to allow a man the most ample time to pay the principal. In every way the company seeks to promote the kindliest feeling between itself and its purchasers and the result has been most happy. The prices of lots range from $125 to $300. so that everybody can be suited. Most of the lots are held at $200 cach Corner lots are $3co, and lots next to the corner $250 each The officers of the company are : President, Frank D. Vreeland, M. D., 91 Bridge street ; Secretary and Treasurer, William Nelson, 174 Market street, l'aterson.
JACOB V. ACKERMAN is one of the best known citizens of Paterson. He was born in the Fourth Ward of Paterson on February 5. 1839, and he not only liked Paterson so well that he has ever since lived in it, but he has remained true to the Fourth Ward, never having taken up his resi- dence outside of its limits. His education was obtained at private schools and early in his life he was employed in his father's shoe store on Main street, near Broadway. At twenty years of age he went into partnership with his brother under the firm name of Ackerman Brothers in the shoe business at No. 120 Market street ; the firm for a long time had the monopoly of the finest grades of gentlemen's footwear which, in order to ensure quality and durability, they manufactured themselves. The first English blockade runner, the "Peterhoof," captured by the Union forces, was laden with fine shoes and boots ; Mr. Ackerman sold one- third of its cargo having acquired it by purchase from a Jersey City firm. Mr. Ackerman subsequently establish- ed the shoe business for himself in Main street and there did a successful business until in 1875 when he went into the business of real estate and money broker and fire insur- ance agent. The success which attended him in mercan- tile life followed him in the new vocation and he soon rose to the first rank among the men engaged in the business he had selected for himself. He has in his hands a great deal of valuable real estate in all parts of the city ; his genial disposition makes him a pleasant man to deal with and his character for honesty and fair dealing attract to his office capitalists who desire to invest funds without having the time to closely scrutinize the character of the investment.
JAMES CROOKS was born in Bury, Lancashire, England, April 11th, 1836. He came to this country in June, 1851, and settled in Paterson in the following year. He served an apprenticeship in the Rogers' Locomotive Works, but in 1864 started in the real estate business to which he has
since devoted his attention. He located at Totowa, and was the first to develop that section of the city. He was always a firm believer in wide streets, and it was due to. his influence and work in 1866 that Market street, Broad- way and a number of other thoroughfares were changed from narrow country roads to pleasant, wide streets For five years at an expense of $10.000 he ran the first free library and reading room in Paterson. He purchased from Mr. Thomas D. Hoxsey the charter of the Cedar Cliff Cemetery Company, and after securing an amend- ment thereto by the Legislature founded the Cedar Lawn Cemetery Company. Ile secured the charter for the Pat- erson & Passaic Horse Railroad Company, and built and ran the same at a great loss for many years. Subsequently he devoted his attention to developing other portions of the city, and was especially instrumental in the development of the southern section of the city. In April, 1890, he formed the Colt Land Company, thereby throwing open to improvement a valuable plot in the centre of the city, and hopes to live long enough to see a Central Park for the coming great city of Paterson and Passaic united.
COL. R. M. EKINGS, the subject of this sketch, who is the senior member of R M. Ekings & Company, is of Scotch parentage. and was born near the City of Edin- burgh, Scotland, in the year 1839. About the year :849 the family came to the United States. At the breaking out of the war Mr. Ekings had just completed his education and at the nation's call for help he with two brothers en- listed in the service. Ile was enrolled as private in Com- pany I. Twenty-third N. J. Vol. Infantry, and remained in the service nearly four years ; part of the time he was at- tached to the First New Jersey Brigade and subsequently to the armies of the west and southwest, with which dur- ing that time he took an active part in many of the great engagements that have made those armies famous in his- tory. For valiant and faithful service in the field he was promoted from the ranks, through the grades of Lieutenant Captain, Major and Lieut. Colonel. During the winter of 1863 and the spring of 1864, Col. Ekings was in com- mand of the Post of Island No. 10, on the Mississippi river, and during most of the last year of his service he was on the staff of Major-General Kenner Gerrard, first as In- spector-General of the First Division, Sixteenth AArmy Corps, and afterward as the Provost Marshal of the south- ern district of Alabama. Of the three brothers who enter- ed the service of their country the subject of this sketch was the sole survivor. One of the brothers was an officer in the third New Jersey Infantry ; the other was attached to a Pennsylvania Regiment.
After the c'osc of the war Col. Ekings settled in Pater- son, engaging in mercantile pursuits until 1875, when he began operations in real estate and insurance, and since that time has been identified with many of the largest and most important transactions in real estate in this vicinity. The firm composed of Col. Ekings and Stephen A. Wall are engaged in the general real estate and insurance busi- ness and are known and recognized throughout this city-
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and vicinity as one of the most progressive and responsible firms in the business. They represent as agents the Aetna. Har ford and Phoenix of Hartford. the Sun of England. Fire Association of Philadelphia and Phoenix of Brooklyn, all old and reliable fire insurance companies ; their offices are at No. 202 Market street.
SIDNEY FARRAR was born on October 20. 1S32, in the parish of Elland, Yorkshire, England, and at ten years of age accompanied his parents to this country. The family at once settled in Paterson, which Mr. Farrar has since made his home After a common school education Mr. Farrar went to work in the locomotive shops where he be- came a skilled machinist and engineer. He worked at this for twenty-one years, frequently filling positions of trust and responsibility. During the war he was in the service of the Union nearly two years at Hilton Head, South Car- olina, under General Gillmor. being the chief engineer in the Quartermaster's department, a position similar to that of master mechanic. As engineer and machinist he had occasion to travel a great deal in this country and the bene- fits of travel were not thrown away on him. He was al- ways of a quiet and studious disposition and added to the education of his boyhood days a valuable fund of informa- tion by special studies and extensive reading which have proved of great service to him in his present business 1 S70 he went into the business of real estate and fire insur- anee agent ; he was subsequently appointed a notary pub- lic and commissioner of deeds and elected : justice of the peace. For ten years he was president of the Paterson Mutual Building and Loan Association and has since been secretary of both this company and the Union Mutual Mr. Farrar has always been a Republican in politics and has served his party as a member of the Board of Educa- tion and also of the Board of Aldermen, of which latter body he was president for one term.
REV. G. W. 1. LANDAU was born on December 27. IS.16, in Krakau, Galicia. His mother died when he was hardly a year old and he spent the early years of his child- hoodl with his grandparents. At ten years of age his father, who had remarried, took him to Hungary, and in Pesth, the capital of that country, he began his education. His ancestors had been prominent in the preservation of the Ilebrew faith : his father was a teacher of the Talmud. and it was but natural that the principles of the Jewish faith were early instilled into the young man. While he was pursuing his studies in Pesth his mind became im- pressed by the reformation of orthodox rites at that time in progress under the leadership of the renowned Rev. Dr. Meisel. Conviction succeeded doubt and when he subse- quently returned to Galicia to live with a wealthy aunt. he devoted himself to the acquirement of such knowledge as would give him a standing in any community irrespec- tive of his religious convictions. He entered a medical college where he remained two years, after which he re- moved to Vienna, where he completed his medical studies. Here he met a schoolmate. who had been converted from Judaism. and from him obtained an insight into the princi-
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