The New York herald., 1870-05-06
A FLOATING PALACE.
ON THE WAY TO LONG BRANCH.
James Flax, Jr's. Last Enterprise-His New
Steamer Plymouth Rock-Her Equipments
and Rrilroad Connections French Cuisine.
for 5000 People on the Water
Music, Dance and Hilarity.

laBulng ACCOMMODATIONS II has been the FASHION OF
railroad and steamboat monopolists TO serve up for
the last few years. Mr. Fisk has been the pioneer OF
many improvements looking to the comfort and
luxurious ease OF those who patronze his lines OF
travel, and no one can forget his public spirit in
establishing the Twentythlrd street line OF stages,
the splendid ferryboats plying between the opposite
shores Of the North river ana his floating palaces
the Bristol ana Providence. 1t may, therefore, be
said that to him more than to any other capitalist
belongs the honor OF introducing elegance, superior
accommodations and the finest quarters and treat.
ment for the smallest equivalent Now Mr.. Fisk.
with keen insight into the future growth and I'm
pOrtance Of
LONG BRANCH
is turning his attention to that watering place, ana
Is about 10 put his shoulder to the wheel and en-
deavor to make 1t the first summer resort Of the
Union. To those who watched the tendency Of
tourists last there is every evidence that Long
Branch will exceed Saratoga In quantity and New
port In quality. The reasons are, first, that Long
Branch has a splendid beach. Its attractions for
bathers and salt water followers transcend those OF
any by the seaside, and, happily II has never
been rendered common by the deposit OF those hor-
rid manure heaps-Sunday excursions; nor has It
yet suffered from the ridiculous exclustveness that
Is pretended to reside under the shadow Of Knlcker
bockers who rely for their social prestige upon de
Cayeu coaches, anu lOr tuclr 6treHktH uuu uuoI III
bels upon modern progress. Then the hotels at the
Branch have been such Gs to invite the presence OF
those weary Of the rookeries Of the mountains or the
extorton palaces along the Northern frontier.
Society has been go )d-it has been society. There
have leen no august leaders. who, but few months
prior to their sOca influence, acquainted with
redaced spheres among the vulgar herd, nor any
rlagcable daughters anl eligible sons. But to the
credit OF The Branch It's patrons heetofOre have gene
rally been OF that broad American type founded upon
decoroUs behavior and the common stock OF good
sense, culture and decency. Hence there has been
little snobbishness ana VULGAR pretensoa, ana,
therefore little to bring disgust TO those who leave
the city for the country to get tnc bathing, talmy
breezes, sonorous music, fast driving, hunting fish
Among the features that viii draw many who
never went to the Branch before will be the new race
course Of Mr.. John CHAMBERLAIN, particulars OF
which, together with the entries, have been fully
publishe In the HERALD.
But nothing, VIII prove stronger magnet than
throughout the season at his charming little catage.
watering place TO spend an entire summer is
something new In the history OF the country. apd
can hardly fail to have an important influence N
status Of society; and General Grants love for the
turf will be the nucleus Of high AMI continued
excitement throughout the summer.
The cOse proximity of Long Branch to this city
win enable many business men 10 live with their
families at the hotels, and they need take more
trouble In gong and from their offices than II they
resided on Fifth avenue nor as much. In view
OF al these considerations the rush for Long Branch,
"a It now be measured by the intentions OF the
wealth. fashion and quality OF the city, Is some
thing UNPARALLELED. It is no LONGER "AIe
.sYou are going to Long Branchfo So every one has
been looking for crush. and the demands for cot
tages NJ the Branch have been without precedent.
| To meet just such movement Of New Workers Mr..
James Fisk, Jr., has laid out line oil travel which
will be open to public patronage on June l. by which
LONG BRANCH IN TWO HOURS
| after leaving this city. The New Jersey Southern
| Railroad is building Q branch out to the spur on
| Sandy Hook which Will run frequent trains (aOw un-
determineD every day connecting directly with the
Branch. The sea shore terminus of this spur
railroad Is known as the Horse Shoe Sandy Hook.
Connecting with this new railroad Will be the
| splendid steamer Plymouth Rock and the smaller
steamer Jesse Hoyt, both owned by Mr. James FISK,
TIE PLYMOUTH ROCK
now lies ut the foot OF Eighth street. East river and
Is undergoing such alterations that when completed
she win undoubtedly be the finest steamboat in the
condition. not as mere PASSENGER 81 Gamer, but as
| an immense floating hotel 1t is his intention to
make the Plymouth Rock summer residence upon
the water-0ne where the patron can embark, live,
eat sleep, dance and have "all the comforts Of a
homer This enterprise is the greatest and assu-
| redly the most important, ever projected by Mr..
Fisk This versatile capitalst-a theatre proprietor,
speculatOr on Erie manager, colonel, stage line
dry land, but on damp water; and what is
THE FULL DESIGNp
| thrOnge1 by thousands even who never went To q
rst class watering place for length Of time before,
But Mr.. Fisk in establishing this connection has de.
sired to dO II In first class manner, and has there
fore determined to launch this marine hotel. A
man. or even ladies, can go on board the Plymouth
| Rock at four o'clock p M, take parlor-of which
In the restaurants and eat vands as cooked by a
French steward and served by French walters, and
drink the choicest wines and dance to the best
The Plymouth Rock win leave Pier 90 North river
every afternoon. This pier has accommodations for
500 carriages Is at the foot OF Warren street. clear
and open thoroughare, and Is 500 feet long by ninety
wide. There Is fne pavement all along this route.
There will be no other steamers at this dock but the
Plymouth Rock and Jesse Hoyt Coal is to be passed
board The steamboats, through shoots thus getting
| lid Of dsagreeable coal dust.
BOARDING TIE PLYMOUTH ROCK.
Let look at her features She Is $40 feet long forty
four feet wide, and has capacity for 5000 people.
Crossing the gangway ait on the main deck Is til o
restaurant. loo feet long by thirty wide with double
rows OF futed, gilded Corinthan columns, support.
ing richly carved capitals, while the ceiling ana pan
| eng Is wrought with exquisite moudings and
elaborate tracery. Here LOCO people can be dined
at q time. ana Delmonco himself never had richer
| by the caterer OF Mr.. Fisk. The table furniture
erockery silver cutlery and GLASS are all TO be Sc
restaurant to port, is the wine room, and to star
board is capacious pantry.
| Descending by the after ladder, the space below M
vessel AIT Is large pantry for crockery and wares
and just forward an Immense refrigerator for the
creams ices, salads and sweitmeats
/ THE KITCHEN,
forty feet long and twenty wide, Is paved with brick
| and Will have range running It's entire length
Then there Is the meat room, backed with Ice filing
and fitted, the kitchen Is with ventilators, lat
ticel, but communicating with tha external air for
light and draught. Forward OF the Kitchen are two
$4,000 gallon tanks holding fresh water, with ppt
connections throughout the vessel, thus making tht
/ supply OF CrotOn available al all points.
The barroom Is forty feet long, ten feet high and
twenty feet wide, and Is OIL the starboard side for
ward, and reached by broad staircase from the
main deck 1t is to be finished IN the finest and
purest Vermont MARBLE In Gothic architecture, with
| French mirrors and carved ornaments. Tie enbe
lisment Of the ceiling Will be done In colors, and
the other decorations to correspond The glass Will
be sumptuous, and 1t is declared that this apartment
will exceed even royal splendor. The deck wiz be
tiled with colored marble.
Reaching the main deck, all forward OF the shaf
| Is cut or by bulkhead and all abait IL used for