The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-24
COMFY ISLAND.
The Improvements To Be Made fol-
the Coming Season
ENLARGING TIE GREAT HOTELS
Increase in the Facilities for
Reaching the Beach.

There extensive schemes of improvement for
Coney Island this season, but the work of adding to
and rendering more available and enjoyable the
fractions that already exist there goes apace. The
magnificent plans pondered over last year by the
Manhattan Beach Company not be carried out
| till next year. These embraced the construction
| in the interior of the island of lakes for
| still water bathing. the laying out of
| park of archery grounds and variety of other
things, but the company has resolved to take up
these enterprise at its leisure. feeling satisfied that
| it has accomplished enough for the present.
Every brings it's suggestions of improvement
here and there Last year there several matters
| forced upon the unwelcome attention of the public
which will be remedied this The crowding
and detention on the Manhattan Beach Railroad will
be avoided the bathing facilities will be greatly in
creased railway will spare people from the imposi
ton of paying fifteen cents for half mile wagon
| ride on the beach; the restaurant charges
pected to be generally reduced and steamboat facii
ties to the island will be multiplied and improved.
No hotels talked Of but the leading will
| increase their accommodations.
RAILROAD EXTENSION WEST END.
The extension of railroad track to Norton's Point
at the west end will render that region accessi
BILE and distribute the patronage Of the beach more
evenly The people of the ancient village OF Graves
| end, who claim to the fee simple of Coney
Island are greatly exercised the monopoly of
the land by the railroad In their widest
| dreams they imagined Coney Island would
become watering place where in q few
| years fifteen millions would be invested
| in improvements. They wake up to
find what magnificent opportunity they
| have missed. Several railroad companies are
striving to get down to the west end Of the island.
and their rivalry has brought the matter in itigs-
ton before the Supreme Court Of the district. The
Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island Railroad filed
map by which they proposed to take about third of
the island to themselves at the west end In the
meantime the honest citizens Of Gravesend would
like to know where their compensation comes in.
They have appointed committee to act with the
essees, of whom there eighty the island, and
sell the common land at such appraisement as
may be determined on. They hope to have act
| passed by the Legislature authorizing the sale.
RESURRECTION CLAIMS LAND.
Recently complaint was served the CoE-
missioners of Common Lands of Grayesend in suit
begun by Nicholas johnson, who processes to be
heir of of the original pateiBtees of Coney
Island, and accordingly eutitled to recover four
thirtyninths of the land now owned by the town Of
Gravesend Coney Island beach, and the
share of the rent aud profit which accrued to the
town 1860. In ls6O the number OF paentees by
grant and descent hadgreatly increased and the town
Of Gravcsend to protect the rights Of an. undertook
to manage such parts of Coney Island had not
been surveyed or released by the patentees, and
therefore executed leases to various and col
lected the rents. Tho plaintiff claims that
neither he nor his ancestors or grantors
ever sanctioned this exercise of authority
by the town, and that he and other patentees have
always objected to and protested against it. He
claims $4,000. with interest from January l, 1879.
and asks Judgment for the possession OF the prem
ises. and that the defendant be perpetuay enjoned
and restrained from exercising assuming to exer-
|
| OF rents profits ON the premises. This suit does
not involve the titleeither Manhattan Brighton
| beach. but how many more OF the same kind may be
started it is difficult to say for the Gravesend folks
believe they been sadly taken in by allowing the
| beach to go for song. when its very sands have
| proved to be us precious AZ gold.
| AN PIER PROPOSED.
1t is rumored that project il foot to erect at
the west end of Coney Island an iron pier similar to
that in course of construction ut Long Branch. The
| but when the large hotels put up it was CON-
pctely dwarfed. 1t is thought that the erection OF
| pier would DO the means OF counteractng the flow
| OF summer visitors to Long Branch which is so
much Iurher by water, and that Coney Island its
west end has just Us many attractions as the Jersey
watering place.
The work of double tracking the Manhattan Beach
| Railroad from end to end has been menced and
will be carried vigorously forward to be
pleted by the lst of May This will give great addi
tional facilities for the transportation of passengers
and the vexatious delays that frequently occurred
last by the ovorcrowding of single track
will be avoided At the present time i've miles OF the
road. extending from the junction to the beach, are
double tracked; but the remaining twelve miles
| have but one track Twenty drawing room cars will
| be placed the road resembling, in their interior
fittings those the Metropolitan Il" road, with
| the difference OF being tribe more elegant They
| have oval glass coupe fronts which give them
bright and airy appearance.
| INCREASING ROLLING STOCK
| Three more locomotives will be added to the roll
ing stock making total of fifteen, and for the gen.
eral passenger accommodation there will be 100
cursion cars. Two fcrryboa in place of will
ply between Greenpoint and three different points on
the cast side OF New York, including Twenty third
street On the Bay Ridge route the boats will be
on the North River the last year. but an ad-
dition will be made OF two boats which to
Wh the trains OF the elevated rslr w fron
| the east and west sides. Six ferryboats in
| all will ply in connection with the Manhattan
Beach Railroad. 1t is designed to build the Marine
! railway from the Manhattan to the Brighton Beach
Hotel and to erect handsome station house ut either
end The fare will be hve cents and trains will
| every six minutes. The charges by wagon last sea-
ten and fifteen cents. and then when great
| crowd was on hand there insuicicncy of
| wagons The railroad will remedy this and add an
other to the varied attractions of the island. The
Marine Railway the end OF the island will be
| improved and station houses erected at both ter
| mini. Trains here Will run every fifteen minutes.
| INCREASE or THE BATHING FACILITIES
The bathing pany contemplate extensive atcra-
| tions and improvements i'll the bathing houses and
| grounds. The present accommodation is LOCO bath
ing boxes, but this is TO be increased to the
Der of $780, and 200 tubs for hot and cold salt water
baths are to be provided within the building. A new
| dressing room, sumptuously furnished is to be
structcd for the ladies and made private and ex-
elusive possible. At the main entrance to the male
department room as 10 DE Duilt ooASO fcet where
tickets may be bought under shelter in place of in
| the open air. during last season. The
company has arranged to divide the beach
into three parsonc for ladies' bathing alone one for
gentlemen and ladies together and one for gentlemen
| alone. Tho whole bathing establishment is to be
overloaded and improvements applied wherever there
IL The hotel will DO enlarged by the erection
OF an independent building at the east end. especially
designed tor fishing parties who love to 20 in the
early morning to angle in the waters OF shoepshead
hay. 1t will accommodate about two hundred aldi-
tional guests.
IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE PAVILION AND uorrr
The Pavilion. which has heretofore becn open at
the sides, and decidedly cool place in breezy
weather. IL to be enclosed in framed glass that
case OF wind or rain storm the guests may not BE-
inconvenienced. In tho east end of the pavilion,
| on the ground floor, which has heretofore been
devoted to particular use, dining
room will be laid cut capable OF accommodating 600
! persons. The grounds in front of the pavilion and
| hotel and those intervening will be laid out in lawn
aud shrubbcry. In the centre of the plaza before