The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-09


Grand Opening Ball.
From Our Oion Correspondent
CAPE ISLAND, N. j., July9.
Some time since one of the struggling Bohemians
whose lucubratons afllict the readers OF the New
York Herald strayed away from his central point
and found himself in this city by the sea- Whether
his presence here was by accident design, he
solved to make the most of it, and straightway went
TO work upon lugubrous epistle into which he in
corpOrated some very startling announcements.
Cape May he ascertained, had dragged out slow
and miserable existence for years, more dead than
alive, until at last some wanderers like himself from
the metropolis discovered the place, were deeply
impressed with its great advantages as summer
resort, and forthwith began its settlement in sober
earnestness. Through their energy and enterprise
couple Of years had witnessed the transformation OF
the island, the old humdrum way of doing things
was put an end to, and the town duly annexed to
New York as one Of its outlying suburbs.
have diligently sriven to ascertain the source Of
the Herald mans information, but have encountered
failure only in the prosecution of my inquiries Cape
Island ls still, it has always been, an oTshoot
from Philadelphia, and never In the course of its
history were the marks of Philadelphia enterprise
more deeply impressed upon 1t than at present.
During the past winter there have probably been
more new buildings erected than during any pre-
vious year. Altogether about fifteen new stores
have been put up several OF them Of fair proportions,
and one OF them especially, neat two-story double
building, with French roof, at the corner OF Jack
son and Washington streets, which cost $4,000 is
even more ornamental than useful.
OF cottages, about fifty have sprung from the
ground as if by magic, the greater number of them
having been erected or subsequently purchased by
Philadephians. In the immediate vicinity Of the
Stockton House is group OF large and elegant
structures resulting from the winters enterprise.
one of these situate on Ocean street. has been pur
chased for his own use by stephen Tasksr, Esq, of
the Philadelphia firm OF Norris Tasker Il Co., the
nrp ma bpi IN he
Riegel, of Philadelphia; Peter McCallum, of Cape
| Island; and Mr.. Beaver, Of Harrisburg, have also
contributed to the extension of the town by the
erection of elegant and costly buildings. On
Beach street, =. A. Warne, Of Philadelphia,
has built fine large double cottage; and Messrs.
Hand Ware Co., Of Cape Island,
other cottage. On Hughes street, spacious
summer residences have been erected by Edward
| Davis and j. Stratton Ware, of Cape Island, for
| renting purposes, while others on the same street
| have been purchased for their own use by Joseph
| E. Dewitt and William Lane, of Philadelphia On
| Washington street cottages for renting purposes
| have been erected by George w. Downs, Francis T.
Eldredge John Bennett, and James c. Bennett, of
Cape Island; and on Franklin street, another for
similar purposes has been built by Maurice Cresse,
also of Cape Island. On South stree, Charles
Duane, of Philadelphia, has erected double cot
tage; and Joseph Rosenbaum, of Philadelphia, has
also built one on the same street. Near the new
Railroad Excursion House two fine large cottages
have been erected under the superintendent of
General w. j. Sewel while about half-a-dozen have
been built just outside the corporation limits.
l have noticed only some OF the more important
improvements in detail, as the full list would make
too much Of an encroachment upon my ROOM But
nearly all of the new cottages elegant in design
and substantial in structure, the taste displayed in
their erection being fully equal to the enterprise of
their 1t s yet, too early in the to
note the Improvements which the coming winter is
likely to Witness but already several eligible lots
have been purchased by Phiadephians, the price
paid in some instances being $4,000 and over. From
the indications, it is safe to say that next winter
there will be more activity in the building line
than there was during the past one. The authori-
ties, it should be remarked here, are doing their
part towards inviting Investments and several .of
the narrow and inconvenent streets have been ma
teriay widened since the close OF the last season,
while these, and others as WELL have been graded
and otherwise improved.
All the old-established hotels have been over
hauled, according to the custom, to prepare for the
grand summer rush which is now upon them. In
several cases important additions and improvements
have been made The Columbia House, especially,
has been somewhat metamorphosed, the old porches
having been replaced by new ones, and the old
kitchen department, as well. To the Centre House.
large addition, just in front OF Congress Hall, has
been erected, at cost of about $4,000, afford
ing a large increase in the capacity OF the
hotel. The Ocean House, which assumes
this season its independent existence,
has also been materially improved, to render it as
attractive as it was in the days before 1t became
temporarily part OF Congress Hall. The Sea-
Breeze Excursion House, which proved such a
decided success during the first season OF its
existence, has also been made more commodious
and comfortable for the sojouTner OF a day by a
| spacious extension of its porticos, which will now
| accommodate hundreds at a time.
But the great hotel achievement OF the winter has,
| nj cOurse. been the COmDletinp and ODeninQ
| Stockton House, with its 1855 different apartments
and accommodations for 1900 people at one and
the same time. 1t has already been fully described
| in your columns, and / need not therefore enlarge
upon it at present Although it was regularly opened
for the reception of guests on the oath of June and
has been literally patronized meanwhile, the formal
| Inauguration Of the mammoth establishment
was reserved for LAST evening, when
| grand ball was given to mark the notable event. AS
stated in my letter of Monday, the Island was even
| then crow ded beyond all precedent for this early
period OF the season. But since then the capacities
OF the West Jersey Railroad have been taxed to their
utmost to transport hither the of people who
have struggled for seats in their cars at Camden
| Among the throngs who have arrived was fun car
| load OF Southern families the vanguard OF another
| invasion from that section OF the country, with
which Cape May was always, in the years before the
late unpleasantness a favorite resort These fresh
arrivals continued up to last evening" together
with those already on hand, furnished ample mate
rial for a successful affair in the way OF a ball At
| 10 O'Clock the magnificent dnng-room of the Stock
tom 200 feet in length and so feet in width, was
| cleared for the dancing, and from that hour until
in the morning it was literally, and not merely hgura-
| tively thronged with men and women who included
I'm their ranks the most prominent personages in the
| noltcal business, and social circles OF Philadel-
| nba and New Jersey. Upwards of four thousand
| ladies' and gentlemen were present during the con-
1 a l.,aV.s