Weehawken Ferry Company

“ The western shore of the North River is rapidly peopling with the overflowings of New York, and is advancing briskly in importance. When made more accessible to denizens of the city, its progress will be accelerated. The winter season finds this shore less encumbered with ice than the eastern shore. The summer season sees it surrounded by many advantages. Elevated, fresh and pleasant, the grounds of Weehawken present an invaluable outlet to the thronging thousands of the metropolis. Seekers after salubrious air and recreation, resort hither in warm weather. ”

“ Observing the past and present, it may be safely said that in much less than 20 years New York City will have doubled its present population and trebled its wealth. Many reasons conspire to favor the impression that the proportional increase will be greater in future than during the past. The present prosperous condition of our country, the dissatisfaction among the masses of the old world, the uncertain condition of European affairs, all urge to this conclusion. Upwards of 300,000 immigrants arrived at the port of New York last year. ”

“ Here is concentrated the capital that puts in motion the power of steam and the strength of muscle in the remotest districts—that stretches the iron track and impels the rapid engine to the extreme verge of civilization. ”

“ Agricultural and manufacturing products in great quantities, will be annually conveyed over this ferry, as well as many thousands of cattle destined to the city market. The westerly portions of New York City have of late increased with marked rapidity; they show great thrift and growth in opulence. The Hudson flows to its doors with the main exports of the rich regions through which it flows. From these wharves embark the major portion of our steamers. ”

“ The streets and ways of the city are crowded; and multitudes of vehicles bear to and fro its commodities and denizens. Communication is increasingly demanded with contiguous regions; and active enterprises are needed to keep pace with an expanding population. Inter-communications with the environs must improve and be constant. The growth of the whole country being promoted by the network of rail-ways and canals spread over it, is evidence that a similar principle applies to the city and its suburbs. ”

“ Easy and speedy ingress and egress are especially important. Means for these purposes must be multiplied without stint in the ratio of an increasing population. The practical results of the elementary principle, "time is money," must be continually borne in mind; and our inhabitants must have the opportunity to reach every direction with speed and facility.
"New York is the London of the western world, where all great operations of exchange concentrate, receiving constant tribute from the industry of the world. ”

“ Bearing in mind, the natural advantages of Weehawken, and the facts that the business of New-York is centering on the Hudson, and that the city can only extend in a northerly direction, we hazard nothing in predicting the speedy growth of a large city upon the beautiful and extensive country which lies in the neighborhood of the Weehawken ferry. ”

“ They will take up their abodes as close as practicable to the localities of traffic, and as accessible as can be to the streets of trade. To enable this to be done, and to facilitate ingress and egress, resort will be had to every expedient that will afford communication with all points of the surrounding region; our citizens must proceed from business to their homes with facility; and ferry boats will ply to and fro, to an extent not now thought of. ”

“ The route of the plank road is through some of the richest country near New York, suitable for the cultivation of garden truck in an eminent degree, and affording very many beautiful seats for country residences. ”

“ The region affords many inducements as a desirable and healthful locality for residence. The state of New Jersey is not only free from debt, but receives a large annual revenue from its canals and railroads. ”

“ And be it enacted, That a majority of the board of directors shall at all times be a quorum for the transaction of business, and may have power to call in the remainder of the capital stock of said corporation, by instalments not exceeding fifteen dollars on each share, by giving thirty days' notice of such required instalment in one or more of the newspapers printed in the county of Hudson ”

“ But a few months ago, Union Square was the extreme limit of civilizaion will now find that your acquaintances are rapidly moving above Fourteenth street. Elegant and substantial houses are going up in Fifty-first street ”

“ Many of these, it is true, take up their abodes in rural regions and distant parts of the country, yet many also locate themselves at this focus of trade. The accession of population from the country is also very great. Numbers of young men from the surroundmg rural districts come here to seek their fortune. ”

“ And it shall be lawful for any toll gatherer to stop any horse, mule, calves, sheep, hogs, carriage of burthen or pleasure, from passing through any of the said gates or turnpikes, until the toll, as above specified, has been paid for them respectively. ”

“ And be it enacted, That the roadway for travel, hereby authorized to be constructed, shall be formed of good substantial plank or boards, not less than eight feet in width, laid down in a firm and workmanlike manner, to present a smooth surface ”

“ The number and magnificence of the hundreds of new buildings which are annually erected, show animated progress. (G) The harbor is well defended, and commercial relations are rapidly extending. (H) Immigration is continually increasing ”