The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-20

LOt was elected FTesloent. TnlFty acres
OF land facing the sea 10 the eastward
OF Engeman's Ocean Hotel werc purchased for hotel
depot tho work OF building the railroad from
Prospect Park was nc once commenced anu continued
without cessation during tho winter by considerable
force OF worSmen. II IS broad gauge road, with a
double track Of steel rails Work continues actively
on hotel which is expected will be opened juno
l5 AS II rs now II looks very imposing structure
1t rests on brick foundation, the basement being also
OF brick. Tho frame superstructure rises above the
basement TO a height of three stories. There is
huge central tower aud several smaller towers sup
building Will command fnc view OF the sea Tho
kitchens, laundrics. servants dormitories, oath
rooms aud barrooms situated IN the basement.
On the first main floor arc tho grand parlors. mo
dining rooms, hall Tor picnic parties, the ladies'
private parors and the corcourse reception room and
parors a grand hall, forty iest wide, runs
through the building, connecting the front piazza
with the railroad depot at the rear, where
passengers may alight and step directly into the
hotel. Many staircases extending to the second
story lead to the private dining room tor permanent
boarders the ladies' private parors grand parors ana
scycnty.fve sleeping apartments In the third story
tho arrangements are substantially the same, except
that the reception and dining rooms are omitted and
the NUMBER OF sleeping apartments increased Tho
hotel il over $50 feet long and exceeds 100 feet
IN depth and s calculated 10 accommodate 500 pcrma-
nept boardcrs About ST. 100 COO have bean invested
in the railroad and hotoL IL rs tho design 10 sur
round the hotel with large park. which must IN.
volvc considerable time labor and expense; but WIN
the place highly attractive, as Is situated at
the end the Concourse the driving parties ar
rive from Brooklyn coming by Ocean avenue.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
Not far away from here William Engcmnn has
cree ed 200 and improved bathing houses, and
hotel close by is another enterprise ho has in
Is the property OF the Now York and Manhattan
Beach Railroad Company which set out last year to
improve II on largo and lavish scale and made " a
place of great popularity. They drew permanent
boardors 10 the island aud built a dyke along the
beach to keep tho out OF the grounds Tho hotel
is handsome aud spacious, aud this year
pavilion eastward OF It has been erected to be
the Manhattan Beach Railroad to Greenpont gave II
a great advantage One branch OF the road
begins at Bay Ridge, from which point IT extends TO
spot the Junction OF avenue and Seventeenth
street 10 the town OF Gravescnd, therc connecting
with tho three other branches, one OF which exends
TO Coney Island, to Grecnpont and the third,
which is called the Kings County Central Railroad to
the wllnx entrance to Prospect Park The Green
point branch begins at the foot Of Greenpoint
from Twenty-third street, New York aud
runs in irregular semicrcc through tho
fifth wards OF Brooklyn through East New York.
thence down Van Linderen avenue to Van Brunt ave-
Junction OF the Coney island branch. From Green
point 70 the beach takes about thirty minutes. On
the Bay Ridge route the travel Is by boat aud rail-
the boats being the d. r. Martin and Thomas Collyer
from the Battery aud the time taken forty five min
utes. The company has eighty i've cars, capacity
deemed by manager Corbh equal TO all demands.
Mr. c. Godfrey Gunthcr has made some improve
ment in the Brooklyn, Bath and Coney Island Road,
an has caused tho beauties OF Bath which is next
Coney Island, to be moro generally known by
the visitors passing through 10 the beach, out If no
would only re-cstabsh the old line OF steamers that
permit of very sweet rural watering place being more
generally appreciated.
Mr.. McCIusky. OF the Bath Park, Is understood to
contemplate running steamer daily June LIST to
the end OF the season.
UP THE HUDSON.
Bright as fresh paint could make her, gay with the
bunting OF every known, and, possibly. OF every
known nation magnificent in the official emphasis OF
navy blue and gold lace and gilt buttons, the Ply
mouth Rock started yesterday hor nrst excursion
OF the season Over twelve hundred persons accepted
tho inducements which Commodore Joseph Tooker
had lated in the interests OF Messrs Jarrett
Palmer and took passage the floating palace which
tho pier at the Battery ut Line O'Clock and the
pier the foot OF Twenty second street half hour
later. Her objectiv- point was Ncwburg, and she
also afforded her passengers tho opportunity OF land
ing at West Point. here delightful trip supple
inentcd by such popular and apprcciabe deli gifts
music, singing, banjo playing and general minstrel
entertainment, so tina. nobody grudgcd the half dol
lar which purchased tho privilege of taking part
in the excursion. More than half the excur.
sionists got on board at tho Battery. and
of these largo number came over from Brooklyn by
the Annex boat, which plies in connection with tho
Western railroads Everything beng rendy, the gun
OF the Plymouth Rock anticipated the mathis OF the
downtown churches, the lines were cast OF, tho su.
pcrb vessel swung into the stream anc started her
voyage OF pleasure The stay at Twenty.sccond
great steamer skimming the waters OF the
Hudson. Inc morning was delightful Such
so the hight aacs that decorated the vessel wore no
more than iuttcrcd by casual breeze that crept
OF some bay or round the point OF some headland.
Tho sunlight that gl,nted from tho wuteF was half
obscured and then by passing 1eocy cloud and
the alternating shadow and sunshine, each pursuing
and pursued, another along tho green
slopes and through the bright garden spots on the
eastern bank or clambered up the sleeper decvites
lists drink all tho bright EXPLANATION OF tho
day, or did they amuse themselves IN cleaning the
gray traditions OF the surrounding bills or did they
drink ~ Yes, they drank lager copousy. and
fountain that dispensed that SIN moro
delicious tipple at ten cents glass piled with
beautifui industry until tho vintage was exhausted
Tnis happened early and it may mentioned, without
prejudice the liquor, hat exactly one hundred per
cent was realized by the transaction.
on THE WATER
Then for recreation Horace Weston strummed his
banjo with reless energy his brother mnstrels aided
the convfvlal clamor the madrigal boys sang thor
and the band over, and anon bursting into mel
ody, supplied variety OF strains, OF which that re
cent ou. exceedingly popaIar lyric, Wnoa Emma
headed up the river. gided pest the Pal
lsadcs and tho quiet towns the river
BANK won't by tho slower vessels that with dstsnded
sails went wing aud wing up stream, and rounding
abrupt point suddenly camc upon that beautiful por
lion OF the Hudson Iona Island lies under tho
shadow OF Dunderberg. .'lps Burg or Burger some
lhing," SAID person who pridcd himself on greater
'.Limburgcr,u politely suggested Commodore Tooker,
who stood close BY. AYE that's IT, said
rnecso for the hill, as some people have
ere takon molehill for a mountain. Then tho
lnabic Commodore, being delighted to place his
knowledge the service or appreciativc person,
point ted out quarry where they get Belgian pave
ment. aud lofty hui from which the best mountain
oysters procurable.
0uly small portion OF the oxcursionists got
ashore at West Point, aud these had couple
Dr. hours at their disposal while thcy were wait
ng tho return Of tho steamer from Newburg.
Dn arriving at the latter place largo
crowd OF the townstolk was found waiting
It the pier, aud when after delay Of an hour tn Q
Plymouth Rock turned her bow homcward Ncwburg
tug steamed out with her and gave her parting
salute. The trip back made against the breeze
lnd was Ia consequence refreshing and exhiaratng
then tho Palisades were reached all the west
stepped In sunset hues aud the dusk was stealing on
,pace. By this time tho great excursion boat made
he landing IN Twcnty-second street. Although tho
humber OF cxcursionst was large IL would, doubt
css been mrcb larger but tor the fact that
ng the night the Plymouth Rock posters covered
,y Others announcing a posiponcment OF the trip.
SUNSHINE. on THE SOUND.
One OF the most enjoyable excursions of tho day was