The New York herald., 1879-09-22
AUTUMNAL BREEZES.
THE LAST OF THE SEASON AT CoNEY ISLAND
WHAT HAS BEEN AND WHAT WILL BE--THE

THE LAST OF THE SEASON AT CoNEY ISLAND
WHAT HAS BEEN AND WHAT WILL BE-THE
''RoCK's" LAST TRIP UP THE HUDSON
leaden sky covered Coney Island yesterday, and
bleak wind added to the discomforts Of visitors,
but still the boats carried fair complement of pas.
sengers during the day, and the railways emptied
good many pleasure seekers, If not pleasure finders
upon the different parts Of the beach. It plainly
to be seen, however, that the great crowds which
were found all over the island on summer
Sundays had flown for the season, and on
every hand it could be perceived that it closing
time for Another year. Norton's and Cables both
closed week ago. and the Sea Beach Palace and its
feeder, the New York and Sea Beach Railroad, shut
down yesterday. 1t is the design to keep the Nam
haitian. Brighton and West Brighton Beach hotels
open until the first Of October, and the boats will
continue to to the iron pier for another week,
but the life is Of the season and Coney Island
has few attractions to tempt the wary from tho
greater delights of the town.
THE SEASONS RETRosPKcT.
The season has been Of great prosperity. Coney
Islands visitors this year numbered by the mill
ion. Tourists from every part of the country-it
may be said from every part of the worldwide
passed through New York during the summer all
found their way this great resort for day two
and the metropolis itself poured its overheated
denizens upon the island every afternoon by the
thousands watering place rivalling Long Branch
and Cape May in its hotel facilities and SURPRISING
them in everything else-the beauty Of ita
beach. the excellence Of its bathing and the means
of approach sprang out Of the sand almost in an
instant. Five years ago Coney Island had repute
bad as that enjoyed once by the Five Points. II
the resort OF backegs and thieves and respect
able people seldom went there, because they found
IL dangerous a certain man found the road be.
tween Jerusalem and Jericho. Capital however.
in Coney Island fruitful aeld for investment,
and every dollar spent in its purifcation and i'm.
provement tempted its hundreds Of visitors, until
now it has o future more thoroughly assured than
any other seaside resort i'll the country. And
scarcely has the Of 1879 closed when the i'm.
provenenis are discussed and decided upon which
to usher in the season Of 1880.
"We cannot drain Coney Island with its present
level" said Colonel h. A. Abbott. OF the Sea Beach
raise 1t fifteen twenty feetin order to make the
place thoroughly healthy and desirable. There arc
difficulties IN the way Of such project of course.
ana some OF the hotel men oppose 1t because 1t will
cost money. II left to themselves perhaps they
will not attempt it, and SO the town OF Gravesend.
or the Legislature, ought to compel an improvement
necessary alike for health and prosperity. This
island and Its business yet in their infancy but
If my idea Is carried into effect the wonders Of the
next five years Will exceed those Of the five years
Just closed. l
STILL MORE IMPROVEMENTS
An important step toward the contamination Of
this project it is understood. is under consideration
by the New York and Sea Beach Railroad. The CON-
pany has already decided to double-trsct its road
before the opening OF the next season. and 1t
thirteen acres Of land Immediately opposite the iron
pier. tho property on which the Sea Beach Palace
stands 1t s proposed to raise the water front to tho
height Of the pier. It Is estimated that this i'm
provement would involve outlay OF $4,000, and
1t s not yet determined whether not the improve
ment shall be made. 1t has been decided. however In
any event. to build 100 handsome cottages the
panys land and have them In readiness for summer
occupants. These will be the first OF the Coney
Island cottages, aud It Is claimed that in years
the entire island will be dotted with summer
homes, becoming the rival Of Atlantic City city
by the sea. There is also project to open the old
shell road, in order to provide short and pleasant
drive from Brooklyn to the beach both for summer
and winter travel On every hand one hears of pro.
jected improvements and the experience the last
year two shows that they not likely to prove
chimcrcal
At the same time. reform next season may not be
undesirable. Many of the passengers the steamer
Columbia complained yesterday of the noise. which
made tho passage hdeous. Some young men In.
hicted the Pinafore upon the OF the poor pas
sengcrs all the way from Norton's Point to Jewels
wharf. Even the band played "Pinafore'' med
lcys. II heard nothing but we sail tho blue
and i am the Monarch Of the Sea- ever after left
New York." said distressed passenger to the
HERALD reporter, 'and IL the steamboat companies
allow similar nuisance next year n good many
suicides are sure to happen rs the result OF the
piled up horrors of this Pinafore business 1t does
seem little hard that man can't go to Coney
Island without having some half drunken fellow
bawl in his car am the captain Of the Pinafore."