THE State of New Jersey was one of the original colonies which formed the American Union. It is situated between 38° 56′ and 41° 21' N. latitude, and between 74° and 75° 33′ W. longitude. It is bounded on the north by New York, on the east by New York (from which the Hudson River separates it) and the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Delaware Bay, and on the west by the States of Pennsylvania and Delaware, from which it is separated by the Delaware River.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The southern and middle parts of the State are generally low, flat, and sandy, especially along the coast and for some distance inland. The northern part is rugged and mountainous. Schooley's, Trowbridge, Ramapo, and Second mountains in the northeast part are ridges of the Alleghany range, making their way across the State from Pennsylvania into New York. The Blue Mountains cross the extreme northwestern part of the State, running parallel with the Delaware River at this point. Southeast of Raritan Bay, there is a range of high hills, extending for a short distance along the coast, called the Nevesink Highlands. They are crowned with a lighthouse and signal station, and are the first land seen by vessels entering the port of New York, and the last on leaving it.

Along the Atlantic coast, the shores are cut up with numerous inlets, into some of which flow the principal rivers of the State. Some of these furnish excellent harbors. Raritan Bay, in the northeast part, lies opposite the harbor of New York, and possesses many ad

vantages for commerce over the waters of the Great Metropolis. Newark Bay is connected with it by Staten Island Sound, and is really little more than a broad estuary by which the Passaic River finds its way to the sea. It also receives the waters of the Hackensack River.

The Delaware River and Bay wash the entire western side of the State. The river rises on the western slope of the Catskill Mountains, in New York. It at first consists of two branches, which unite near Hancock, in Delaware county, on the southwest border of the State. Flowing southeast, it forms the boundary between New York and Pennsylvania as far as the northwest corner of New Jersey, where its course is inflected to the southwest by the Kittatinny (or Shawangunk) Mountain. It pursues this course to near the 41st parallel of N. latitude, when it breaks through the Blue Mountains by the famous Delaware Water Gap, and flows southward. The "Gap" is one of the most celebrated places in the country. It lies in the State of Pennsylvania, but for convenience is mentioned here. The cliffs rise up perpendicularly from 1000 to 1200 feet high, and the river rushes through it in grand style. It is much visited by tourists. The river flows southward until it passes Easton, Pa., when it turns again to the southeast, which course it pursues to its mouth. Its current is broken by a succession of Rapids at Trenton, but below this city it is smooth and deep. The river is 300 miles long, and is navigable for ships of the line to Philadelphia, about 40 miles from its entrance into Delaware Bay. Steamboats ascend to Trenton. A canal has been constructed from Bristol, below Trenton, to Easton, Pa., along the west side of the river. A heavy trade is carried on by means of it. The Delaware is bridged in several places along its upper course, commencing at Trenton. A canal, extending from Trenton to New Brunswick, connects it with the waters of the Raritan River and New York Bay.

Philadelphia and Easton, on the right bank, and Trenton, Burlington, and Camden, on the left bank, are the principal towns on the river.

The Hudson River washes part of the eastern shore of the State. The other streams are the Raritan, rising in Morris county, and flowing into Raritan Bay, navigable to New Brunswick; the Passaic, rising in Morris county, and flowing into Newark Bay, navigable to Newark; and the Hackensack, which rises in Bergen county, and flows into Newark Bay. The Passaic has a perpendicular fall of 50 feet, at Paterson. A number of small streams flow into the inlets on the east coast.

Cape May, on the extreme southeastern side of Delaware Bay, is one of the most fashionable watering places in America. Long Branch, on the Atlantic coast, near New York, is another fashionable resort, and ranks next to Newport in the list of sea-shore resorts. There are several others on the Atlantic coast.

The scenery of the State is very beautiful in many places, and very dreary in others. The Falls of the Passaic are noted for their beauty when the stream is full; and the mountainous region of the north, especially the country along the upper Delaware, is wild and picturesque. The Nevesink Highlands command a fine view of the ocean, and of Raritan and New York bays. The country northwest of New York is finely cultivated, and is well built up with numerous pretty towns and villages.

MINERALS.

Central and southern New Jersey contain immense beds of marl, which is now growing in favor as a fertilizer. The changes in the agriculture of the State, caused by the introduction and general use of this cheap manure, are almost marvellous. These deposits seem to be inexhaustible, and for the most part lie very near the surface of the ground. Bog ore is found in the southern counties, and hematite and magnetic ores in the hilly regions of the north. Marble, limestone, slate, beds of peat, copperas, and a fine sand used in making glass are found. In Sussex county are situated the most valuable zinc mines in the Union.

CLIMATE.

The climate of the northern and northwestern parts of the State is severe. In the eastern and southern the winters are milder. The summers are hot and dry, but the spring comes early, and is pleasant. The southern and eastern parts are, to a great extent, marshy, and covered with rank, coarse vegetation. Agues and fever prevail along almost the entire water line of the State, and in many of the interior districts. The northern and northwestern portions are

healthy.

SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.

Along the sea coast, and in some of the interior regions, the soil consists of a fine white sand, and is worthless for agriculture. The hilly region of the north is devoted to dairy farming and grazing. The soil of the greater portion of the State is light and sandy, and was for

a long time esteemed too poor to justify cultivation, but the liberal and judicious use of fertilizers has brought it to a high, and even remarkable state of fertility. Lying so near the great cities of New York and Philadelphia, unusual advantages are offered the farmers of this State for the rapid sale of their crops, and as a consequence they are largely engaged in market-gardening.

In 1869, there were 1,944,441 acres of improved, and 1,039,086 acres of unimproved land in the State. The remainder of the agricultural wealth of New Jersey, for the same year, is given as follows:

Though admirably situated for commerce, it is the misfortune of New Jersey to lie just between the great ports of New York and Philadelphia, which of course manage her commerce for her. This situation, however, throws an enormous internal transit trade into her hands, and has given to her railroads and steamboat communications an importance they would not otherwise have attained. Some idea of this may be gained from the following statistics. In 1867, the Camden and Amboy Railroad and Transportation Company carried over their road, 539,688 tons of freight, and 40,667 tons of coal. The Delaware and Raritan Canal in the same year transported 1,838,968 tons of coal, 2,636,738 cubic feet of timber, 20,348,288 feet of lumber, 2,605,012 bushels of grain and feed, 55,630 tons of iron, and 365,751 tons of merchandise. In 1861, the total value of the exports of this State was $46,067, and of the imports $5510. In 1863, the imports were valued at $3616, and the exports at $56,192. In 1863, the tonnage owned in the State was 138,046 tons.

MANUFACTURES.

The water-power of the State is excellent, and the manufactures are extensive. In 1860 there were 4060 establishments in New Jersey, devoted to manufactures, mining, and the mechanic arts, employing 127,720 hands, and a capital of $40,000,000, consuming raw material worth $42,600,000, and yielding an annual product of $81,000,000. The following is a list of the principal manufactures of the State in 1860: