The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-09
LETTER FROM CAPE ISLAND.

PHIA CAPITAIIsTs-Two HUNDRED THOUSAND
vIsIToRs-THE RECENT IMPROVEMENTS COST
OVER ONE MILLION OF DOLLARs-THE NEW
WING TO CONGRESS HALL-THE COLUMBIA,
THE STOCKTON, AND THE ATLANT1c-THE
OTHER HOTELS -- MAGNIFICENT LIVERY
TURN-oUT-THE FIFTH MARYLAND REGIMENT
THE SEVENTH NEW YORK REGIMENT-sUN-
DAY TRAINs-THE coTTAGEs-Mov1NG DOWN,
ETC. ETC.
CAPE MAY CRY, June s, 1870.
The rapid strides which this favorite
bathing resort has made, in the way of improve
ment, are wonderful 1t was but few years
since that the inhabitants lived in clap-boarded
and shingled houses, and subsisted almost en-
tirely upon clans and fish. In those days ''this
fair isle by the sea" was called the dumping off
place." and the only way to reach it was by
''shallop" or a rickety old stage, drawn by
Jersey matches through heavy sands dreary
swamps, and over jolting corduroy roads. In
those days it would sometimes require two
weeks to reach here by water and two days by
land. Still large number of Philadelphians
would contrive to get here and there is many
an old resident of that city now whose eyes will
kndle up at the bare mention of the happy
DAYS he spent here in cunning and fishing and
partaking of those old-fashioned dinners and
suppers made up from their own 'feather and
fin" sports.
If that old 'swag-bellied Hollander," Captain
Mey, who first landed here, and after whom the
island is named, could poke his head up from
the grave now, he would regret that he did not
take up his bed and board here, instead of steer
ing his good ship for Manhattan Isle.
What was a desolate sand bank then is
Juvenile Paradise now. The scream of the
wild sea-bird is now drowned by the shrill
whistle of the locomotive.
most wonderful change has been wrought
here since the completion of the railroad. The
island can boast of some Of the finest hotels in
the country which, for their capacity and ele-
gance of their appointments, certainly cannot
be surpassed. Cape Island is beyond question
the favorite, and, therefore, the most popular
seaside resort in the country. Its unexampled
growth is owing almost entirely to the liberality
and enterprise of Philadelphia capitalists, by
whom, it may be safely said, it is now settled.
1t is estimated that nearly two hundred thou
sand persons visited this place last season.
among whom we're some of your wealthiest cit-
zens and the cream of the leaders of fashion.
From the extraordinary Improvements which
have been made since the close of last season,
it is fair to presume that the number will be
largely increased this year.
What was once an Insignificant village is now
a flourishing and growing city. 1t is studded
with costly and magnificent summer residences
and adorned with handsome stores. The i'm
provements since last year have cost over one
million of dollars Cottage life and its COM
forts are growing more into favor every year.
and some seventy eighty have been erected
since the close of last season, at cost ranging
from five thousand to twenty thousand dollars
each, and lots have been secured for a large
number or Others which will be built at an
early day.
The new wing to Congress Hall presents a
formidable appearance, and is model of archi-
tectural beauty. This addition consists of four
hundred feet of new buildings, three stories
high. The whole building has been renovated,
improved, and refurnished in first-class style.
The main entrance is twenty feet in height
on the ground floor, supported in front by beau
tiful colonnades. This portion.of the building
will be brilliantly lighted with gas reelected
from chandeliers and hanging globes. The new
parlors will each have a 16-light chandelier,
and the dining-room will be radiant with mel
low light. Gas will be in every room in the
house, and to secure certain supply, new gas
works have been constructed with a suf-
ficient capacity to meet any emergency.
The interior arrangements of the house
are excellent, and the guests can enjoy
the most luxurious comfort The ocean view is
magnificent and unobstructed. On the side
facing the ocean the new wing is provided with
separate balconies from each room, which will
offer pleasant places for family gatherings and
tete-a-tetes. A fine open balcony exteads the full
length of the parlors affording a delightful
view of the ocean and bathing grounds. The
piazzas around the entire building are twenty
five feet in width, and directly front the lawn
and the ocean. The furniture in the main par
lor is of the rich Pompadour STYLE and alone
cost over five thousand dollars. The music
parlor is equally grand. There are also ten
etdgeres or hall pieces, made of French walnut,
adorned with different colors, with gold lines
and constructed in the Corinthian style, with
two columns on either side of an immense plate
of polished glass. A slab of Lisbon marble
constitutes the centre, and on the sides are two
raised pedestals of antique design. on which
bronze figures rest. The parlors are covered
with rich Administer carpets. In all these
improvements Mr.. j. f. Cake the proprietor
has displayed fine taste and great enterprise
and liberality. The cost of building the new
wing was t,oo hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. Hasser's band has been engaged.
The fashionable Columbia House, with its old
and popular proprietor, Mr.. George j. Bolton,
of Harrisburg, has undergone series of i'm
proyements which will cost between twenty and
thirty thousand dollars The Columbia has been
brushed up and Furnished up from top to bot
tom, and looks almost as good as new. This
house, under the careful management of Mr..
Bolton, has always commanded the largest share