New Jersey

New Jersey, one of the United States of America, has New York as its northern, and Pennsylvania as its western boundary. On the south it is separated by Delagoa Bay from Delaware. The total area is 7,576 square miles, and the coast-line is nearly 500 miles in extent. The first settlement was made at Bergen by the Dutch in 1617. The struggle for the possession of the Delaware country went on between them and the Swedes and English during the succeeding years, but the last-named finally obtained possession of the country. In 1664 James, Duke of York, who had received a grant, regranted it to Lord J. Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, one condition of the grant being the assumption of the name New Jersey. The number of proprietors afterwards increased, and in 1702 the interests of good government necessitated a surrender of governing privileges to the Crown. Even after this quarrels were frequent between the Governor and the Assembly. The state is mountainous in the north, and is extremely well watered. The Delaware flows along the whole length of its western border. On it stand the towns of Trenton, the capital, and Camden. The largest towns in the state are Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson. The chief industries are the boot-and-shoe manufacture, the silk manufacture, and the leather and machinery trades. Agriculture also flourishes, as well as fishing and mining, and the sea-coast is lined with health-resorts. New Jersey sends now seven representatives to Congress.