The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-20
At THE SEASIDE.
OUR CAPE MAY LETTER.

The New wing Of Congress Hall and the New
Atlantic HoteI-A Chapter of Seaside HemI-
tnincences-summer Pastimes Half n Century
Ago he "Forkers" and their FrOIIcksomo
Franks,
From. Our ODn Correspondent
CAFE MAY CITY, N. j., April 10.
The disastrous eonnagratlon of the 31st of
August last gave Cape May an opportunity for
reconstruction of which advantage has been
fully taken. Scarcely a trace of the great fire
now remains; the only remaining signs of 1t
being here and there a charred stump, or an
open space in the very heart of the town which
another winter will doubtless close up. The
spirit of improvement, however, has not been
restricted to the burnt district, but has extended
in all directions, resulting in the erection during
the past winter of altogether about fifty diffe-
rent buildings, the greater number of which are
comfortable and attractive cottages.
The most noticeable improvement, however,
is the new wing of Congress Hall, which has
risen like magic on the site of the old Perry
street section of the establishment and almost
closed up the gap between the main building
and the "Bue Pig cottage just on the edge of
the beach. The original Congress Hall was
erected In the year 1912, by Thomas Hughes,
and not until 1858 was constructed that portion
of 1t which comprises the dining-room, and has
heretofore been the most imposing. A new wing
was long talked of but the heavy expense
attending the enterprise has postponed its erec
tion until the present time. The constantly
increasing demand for more room, however, at
last made the improvement necessity, and
when the season opens Congress Hall will pre-
sent an entire transformation, which has been
effected at an outlay of about $250000.
That portion of the original building which
fronted on Perry street. and contained on the
~ a. &c Nho fohl; tI,o
reception parlors, and the main passage-way to
the dining-room, has entirely disappeared, and
in its place has risen an edifce decidedly more
attractive. The entrance presents projecting
roof, supported, at an elevation of fifty feet by
graceful columns. On the first floor of this
portion is a rotunda lis by 60 feet in dimen-
sions, separated from alcove IS by % feet in
size merely by q range of pillars which support
the ceiling at an elevation of Is feet On the
side of the rotunda, in the same position as
formerly, and occupying space about 80 feet
in length, is the office, all the appoint
ments of which are in solid black wal
nut. Between the Office and the dining
room, just to the left of the entrance to the
latter, is grand stairway, likewise finished in
black walnut by which access is gained to the
upper stories. The whole spacious and elegant
apartment is to be lighted by forty-eight gas
jets, in three groups of twelve each, and two of
six-the latter in the alcove already mentioned,
and in which are to be located the telegraph
Office, writing and reading quarters and news
and cigar stands. Immediately to the left of the
rotunda, and accessible from Perry street as
formerly, is the reconstructed "funne," that
grand windy thoroughfare which has for
years past enjoyed the reputation of being the
coolest spot for an afternoon lounge to be found
II.
to the main building and fronting on Perry street,
is tie new wing, $50 feet in length, 40 feet
in width, and three stories in height, TO the end
of which has been removed the greater portion
of the old structure, 100 feet in length, 26 in
width, and two stories and half in height.
The larger portion OF this new wing is devoted
to guest chambers, the only space otherwise
employed being for the reception-room, which
is on the first floor and adjacent to the funnel"
and the parlor, on the second floor extending
over both ''funnel" and reception-room. The di-
mensions of the parlor are 55 by 40 feet, and the
height of the ceiling % feet. On the Perry
street side is an alcove separated merely by
tasteful arches and pillars in which
the piano will be placed. The entire
apartment will be furnished in gorgeous STYLE
at an expense of about $4,000, the Administer
carpets from Stewards New York establishment
alone costing $500, and the gas fixtures $500.
The most noticeable piece of furniture will be a
mirror at the rear end, Is feet in height and so
inches in width, costing $675. The sofas,
chairs and divans are to be of black walnut
material inlaid with gold, and upholstered with
variegated silk reps. On the ocean front of the
new wing is grand portco, over which the
roof, supported by attractive pillars, extends.
1t has a width of % feet, and runs from the
"funnel" to the end of the building, presenting,
building, a connected covered prone
made about seven hundred feet in
length. In front of each of the twenty-five
windows on the second floor is a neat little
balcony, overlooking the portico, and under
every third one of these balconies is three-iet
gaslight inclosed in glass globe twenty inches
in diameter. These lights are constructed on a
newly-invented plan by Cornelius 81 Baker, of
Philadelphia, and will throw an intense but
softened glare upon the scene below, which,
with the attraction OF the Hassler Brothers full
orchestra of twenty pieces, will render the spa
cious portico one of the most delightful places
for galop or waltz to be imagined. There
are also spacious balconies facing both the Perry
street and ocean fronts of the parlor, and q
smaller one in front of each of three windows
opening from the music alcoye, with a lighting
apparatus similar to that which will drive dark
ness from the grand portico. The whole edifce
is surmounted by two elegant cupolas, from
which q fine view of the ocean and the town
can be obtained, including that of the $4,000
square feet of unbroken roofing which gives thu
observer the best idea attainable of the presen
If oil