New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-28
CAPE MA Z.
GROWTH OF COTTAGE LIFE-HorEL IMPROVEMENTS
RAILROAD ENTERPRISE - RISE OF OCEAN

this famous waterngpa yesterday after of
years. surprised at first 10 notice 30 little
change seemed the homeke town Of old.
stretching farther along the smooth shining beach,
and encrOaching only little more upon the breezy,
green meadows The Stockton House. the largest and finest
OF seaside hotels had been built since my last visit ard
two three smaller houses but missed the United
States with it's many balconies, and the old Atlantic.
Both persisted in fire five six years CUngiess
Hall stretched hospitabe around It's delightful
lawn just OF old the Columbia unchanged and
O dozen other houses the names and appearance
Of which / readily recalled Seen from the aI-
preaching train or from the beach, the out
lines Of the place had undergone pcreeptible
alteration This morning after walking through the
pleasant shady streets TO for strkng features
than hotels foInd that the place had been at
such a stand-still appeared at first There
many more cottages, and the new ones are far hand
than the Old. They line all the available streets
compact rows, with just elbowrOOm enough at their
sides for little grass and slrubbery. Grounds and
buildings trinity kept than they used To be- and
bespeak the ownership and careful attention OF the
people who make Of them their Summer homes. AS at
all resorts upon the jersey coast cottage life at Cape
May is evidently growing in favor every year. The
golden Of big hotels the time of the and the
few years preceding ii, when money burned IN the peck
cts Of thousands of the riches aud they
~ assert its possession by showing their jewels and
hnery waterin epIace crowds The large houses of
late, although better kept than ever and Offering
social attractions, barely hold their and scarcely
pay ordinary interest the capital invested in them
The travel 10 the seashOre increases every year. but TIE
old hotels manage to supply all demands upon them. The
increase of visitors chiefly from two classcsa
most at the extremes Of the social scaethe rich. many
OF whom own rent cottages and the poor who crowd
the excursion trains leaving Philadelphia early in the
morning. bring their lunch with them have n glorious
frolic in the surf and return home the evening
Here, Atlantic City, provision made by the rail
fort nf laff. ella in
excursion hotel with pOrches that will protect from the
sun 600 people immense parlors and washrO0ms and
large dinngrOOm for those who have money spare
to buy dinner The cOttagers come earlier than
they used to. BY the LIST of June most OF them
installed, and they linger longer than the hotel
guests. More and more they regard their places
here homes inste ID of temporary refugees from
the Summer heaa feeling that results in greater inter
in the towns prosperity The resident tradesmcn
find them better customers than the hotel guests and
growth OF their numbers Is pretty true gauge Of the
prosperity of business interests About 800 cottages
occupied by Summer sojourners and Of these probably
twothirs by their Since last u cottages
have been built.
IaPROvEM FNTS IN THE VILLAGE.
Cape May used TO be elow-g0ing and conservative
Her citizens knew that they had by far the best beach
bathing the whole Atlantic and thought that
people would here without effort their part but
Of late they have rival resorts with inferior
attractions make much rapid progress under the
impulse Of wel-drected enterprise ana they have in
consequence begun 10 see The wisdom Of making known
the advantages they already and Of constantly
adding to them Since last year smooth d-t-road has
been Lard along the shore for distance of mile
and half, from the Mineral Spring the
Sea Breeze Hotel, bounded on the seward side.
where IT passes the main part Of the town by wide
plank walk with low board barrier 10 keep off the sand
and spray. Those who fond Of beach-triving VINO
Cape May beach low tide is unequaled
world for sodity, breadth, and level surface,
will look this artificial highway foolish attempt
to rival unapprOachabe boulevard but they
will themselves find very convenient when the tides
run high and when they want TO get more speed from
their than the sand, hardpacked il il. will per
nit The long boardwalk is m agreeable promenade and
Rendezvous and a thorOughfaTc between the principal
hotels fronting Hot and cold salt water baths
indoors been put in handsome buildings erected FOR
the purpose at Congress Hall and the Atlritic Hotel
At other places they have proved only
popular luxury. but a heath-agency greatly
priced by invads who endure the chill and but
feting the surf II VIII not be long before such bath
ing establishments will be essential aduncts Of all large
seaside hotels For years there has been talk OF an iron
pier like that at Brighton England 10 extend beyond the
surfne furnish landngp place for steamers. and prom
ena,ie for visitors The experiment has thought
safe by some and hazardous by others To try whether
the Will tolerate such an intrusion Mi Cake of
Congress Hall has built wooden structure which Is Of
course nearly firm the proposed iron one would
piles driven in the sand. and for season at least Will
furnish a delightful II the Winter storms spare it
we may expect the Cape May pier enterprise take
definite shape.
competent authority estimates the capacity Of the
principal hotels Cape May follows Stockton House,
900 guests Congress Hall, 1000 Columbia House,
600 Ocean House, 400 Centre House, $50; Arctic,
$50; Atlantic. 800; National Hall 300; Merchants,
200; United States, 200; Delaware, 1907 White Han.
$50; Sea Breeze Excursion Housel l00-can provide
food for 1000 persons; st. Elmo. IS American, -.
There are number Of smaller houses which each
accommodate 40 or 20 persons, and about dozen good
boarding houses Charges range from - 80 day at me
Stockton House and Congress Hail. TO 81 at the smaller
board by the week being obanaole at all prices
from $40 10 $2s.
ATTRACTIONS OF TIE PLACE.
Cane Nav II 81 miles from Philadelphia by the West
Jersey Railroad ,this gude-book information can be
skipped by those who the place., and tho distance
is run by express trains leaving PHILADELPHIA at A. m
and D. H. in about three hoursthe mail trains taking
four hours. each way, 81 so; down one day and
back she next, ~ with liberal monthly eominu alton
rate Excursion trains leave every morning during the
season O'Clock and return the same evening giving
passengers 1872 miles Of railroad travel Tor 81 90 less
than mile. Last season nearly 10000 pasOus
to the place on excursions Ie Iaitoa eolnpdny
gets immense business III summer Dy lh'se low Id'eS
Il also encourages people 10 CONF ne. 10 nNe ny
pass for three years TO every one who builds COT
tage. . o. f,-o ,
pe pr,ler deserves "a more extended notice han can
eHd Oi IuS lclitf IL II WI "a
growth. Western tOWn ever showed greater results
ior three months In April there was nothing 10
be ~ al It a range bleak sand ls along tie shore
and a strip Of very fOrbiddng looking scrub OAK ana
dwarf pine forest Now you Ind ha!solne MOTEL VAN
room Tor 800 guests 30 pretty cottages aT2e store
ana most prominent OF al, big circular NmVi1 |
ion for RELIGIOUS services, crowned Win "a tdIl !
srire Weilgraded roads raGlle in all dircc- |
tons Eand-bis nave been levced, mOrlSses hllei, /
the forest cleared OF the nncst trees and ce
ceut-shapcd pond that used IL De- desOlde a. Foes
dark tarn IN the misty mid-regOn OF Welf Hlkes q /
pretty in the center of the growing Via- IL
design Of che founders that the place shan furnish