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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
Others eyed the rich monopoly with envy. The New Jersey Central Railroad, then a small line operating across the northern part of the State,
built a line southward as far as Bound Brook. Meanwhile a railway, later
to become the Philadelphia and Reading, was laid to a point opposite
Trenton. Completion of the link between Trenton and Bound Brook
would form the competing road from New York to Philadelphia.
For five years the question of a franchise was fought in the legislature
between the backers of the new line and the Camden and Amboy. When
public opinion crystallized against the domination of the corporation, the
Camden and Amboy skillfully shifted responsibility by leasing its lines
to the Pennsylvania. The struggle became more furious as the Pennsylvania
was attacked as an "alien" interest. Bribery, violence, and subsidized newspapers were common weapons on both sides. At length the public sickened
of the battle and demanded a general law opening the State to all railroads, with prudent restrictions. The act was passed promptly, and the
link between Trenton and Bound Brook was assured at last.
But when the construction crews began work, the Pennsylvania applied
for injunction after injunction against the New York and Bound Brook
Railroad, as the new road was called. The fight became so acute at Pennington, where the two roads crossed, that the Governor had to call out the
militia. By the time the troops restored order, the crossing had been
achieved and the grip of the railroads had been loosened, if not broken.
New Jersey has today more railroad track per square mile than any
other State. The system features concentration of terminals on the west
bank of the Hudson, feeders for ocean traffic, and eight great trunk lines
across the central and northern parts of the State. In all, 2,179 miles of
track within the State are being operated by 27 railroads, of which 15 are
first class.
Railroad construction has been concentrated in the central industrial
region of the State where travelers and shippers are offered a wide choice
of routes and schedules. In the northern and southern sections, however,
coverage and service are generally inadequate.
Across the mountains and into the valleys of the northern part of the
State run the Pennsylvania, the Erie, the Lackawanna, and the Jersey Central, hauling mine, forest, and farm products eastward to New York.
They also carry thousands of commuters and vacationers between the many
resorts and suburban communities in this area. The Pennsylvania, Lehigh
Valley, Reading, and Jersey Central bear the major burden of traffic in the
manufacturing belts, in which lies the New York-Philadelphia route, one
of the richest runs in the world. The large cities in this area are all linked
with their surrounding suburbs and each other by a network of minor
lines.
Agricultural south New Jersey depends chiefly upon the Pennsylvania
and the Reading for cross-State shipments of its produce to Philadelphia,
while it uses the Jersey Central for travel within the district. The State's
long seashore playground is served by the Pennsylvania, Jersey Central,
and Reading. Newark, with six trunk line stations, is the busiest railroad
center in the State. Camden, Hoboken, and Jersey City are also major
terminals.
Electrification of the Pennsylvania and the Lackawanna Lines has considerably increased the value of nearby real estate and has tempted thousands of new commuters into the State. The Hudson and Manhattan tunnels from Newark and Jersey City to New York, constructed in 1911,
daily carry thousands of commuters over one of the busiest short runs in
the country.
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