The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-14
LONG BRANCH WAKING UP.
Err ORTS TO GET A PART OF CONEY
ISLANDS PATRONAGE
An Ocean Pier TO be Butt by which Excur-
sion steamers may be Attrnctcd-Innuenc
OF the Sunday Liquor Lnw-The Hotels.

An Ocean Pier to be BuIlt by which Excur-
sion steamers may he Attrnctcd-Innucnce
OF the Sunday Liquor Law-The Hotels.
LoNG BRANCH, liov 13.--Important and
rival efforts will DO made. between this and tho
opening OF the next summer season. to make
OF Long Branch another Coney Island. In tho
old times. when money was plenty. and this was
the nearest respectable seaside resort, excur-
sions from New York were popular. Last sum-
mer. although tho season was reasonably pros
porous for tho hotels. the excursion business
amounted to very little. 1t was only on Sun
days that there was an influx OF visitors for
day. and even then the number was insignin-
can. compared with the multitudes on the
Concy Island beaches. Tho hotels were crowd
ed. but with guests who came on Saturday TO
stay until Monday Only one small establish
mcnt depended on the patronage OF excursion
lists. and that was, the only one that did not
shnre in the general profits of the year.
However. the sudden and wonderful popu-
larity OF Coney Island has opened the eyes OF
capital lists TO the idea OF q similar future for
Long Branch, and the sale OF the Pavilion Hotel
yesterday Is part OF one Ofthree schemes under
way. Long Branch can now be .reached by
either OF two routes ut n cost OF 81 80 for the
round trip, The a-rnil line is u branch OF the
Central Railroad Of New Jersov. The time Of
the fastest trains is ono hour and twonty min
utes. including the ferriage across tho Hudson
River, but the ordinary trains are considerably
by steamer to Sandy Hook. and thence by rail
over the New Jersey Southern road. the time
varying from an hour and half to. two hours.
according to the weather. New Jersey dust
makes the ride OF either OF these routes exceed-
ingly unpleasant. except in wet weather. The
cost 10 too grcnt for the multitude. Worst Of
all cxcursionsts find little pleasure after they
get here no outdoor music no adequate
bathing accommodations. no shaded lounging
naccs and no good restaurants. II IL believed
that a direct line Of steamboats, and supply Of
the things above indicated as lacking. would
make Long Branch u successful rival OF Coney
Island. and 1t is in that belief that these enter
One company. with William Conover at its
head. his secured the Pavilion Hotel, the house
that ex-Gov. Morris kent for forty years. until
his recent death. 1t is the smallest OF the
eleven principal hotels, and has been a cross
between country tavern and summer board
lastly year after year. Its site il excellent. but
II Will need charging for its new use. The i'm
portant part OF this project. as Of tho two
land on the New Jersey coast below Sandy
Hook. Several years ago q wooden pier was
landing. Then came storm. and that was the
last OF the pier. 4 stone and iron pier Is 10 be
built in front OF the Pavilion with an extensive
covered promenade, and the hotel Is to be made
big restaurant on the European plan. The
material for the pier Is TO be prepared in the
winter. so rs to be put together early In the
spring. The second project is in connection
with the Ocean Hotel and the Lelands. The
house Is the largest in the place. and a pier in
front is the only thing needed for the new en-
terprise. The third contemplafes an iron pier
below the West End and the construction OF n
new hotel: Ihis project. In view Of the others.
Is ltkeliest 10 DO abandoned; hut IL is certain
that Long Branch will nvxt season offer one
dollar ocean excursions. with attractions equal
20 those that have proved so potent at COney
Island. This prospect does not please the
one obstacle will be the Sunday liquor law.
which was so rigidly enforced last summer that
a spirituous drink could not be bought by "a
stranger The hotels are licensed to sell on
other days.