New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-17
SUMMER LEISURE.
CITY-BUHDING IN NEW-JERSEY.

SUITS.
lfKoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNH.l
AsBURY PARK, July 16-IhIs summer resort
is phenomenal place in several respects of which is
that practically built up by man, that to-
day that indefinite something called public spirit Is vr
tually embodied III this man. One cannot be long
at Asbury Park without becoming familiar with his figure
he is carriage the greater part OF the time
driving bay horse in the morning which is exchanged
for dapped gray in the afternoon. The inhabitants,
who drop naturally into history and Statistics viii tell
that this is James A. Bradley and that his fore
sight and enterprise have made Asbury Park what it is
He tx rather stouty built and in his plain dress looks
much like thrifty farmer who has removed to town to
take his having made a competency out of his
broad acres.
One summer day In lS71-so the story-Mr Brad
ley made his first explorations OF this part of the New
Jersey coast accompanied by his man Friday. When
Friday tie dosoation OF the place he wanted to re-
turn to civilization Robinson Crusoe sald no. There
fortune here for somebody and he endeavorcd to
persuade the Ocean Grove Association TO join him i'll
buying the ground where Asbury Park stands
then strip sand hills. Ocean Grove then
it's incipency and the association, after debcr
alton, decided not to make the venture Mr. Bradley
then resolved buy himself and he paid 100000 for
500 acres. To-day the assessed value of the village is
81 100000 and this remarkable growth is not by any
to be attributed to chance, but to the peculiar
methods pursued by the enthusiast who saw in magma
tion City by the Sea-, rs they call it here suddenly
rise a wase-a stretch of sand. One OF the first
laying out streets and avenues which were made 100
feet in width and condition placed on builders to
set their houses twenty feet from the frontage line
making virtual width of 80 feet.
"There must be liquor sold here said Mr.. Bradley
to himself and a clause was inserted in each deed
STIMULATING that proof that the holder spiritu
Gus or malt liquors the property should revert to the
original owner without compensation. The wide streets
and the exclusion of rum began to attract certain class
of people and one cottage after another sprang up on
the sand hills Liberal offered to those of
limited means leases being granted for ten at low
figures with the privilege of successive renewal every
ten years for hundred years. Others even fur
nshcd with the money to put up their houses, which
they subsequently paid back out OF the profits of
summer traffic which the increasing popularity of the
place now made considerable. In order to make the
place attractive the eye the natural rowths of timber
preservedin many places and plots OF ground
set apart for public parks aud to the same end many OF
the cottages built the sand banks tcrracing them
and turing them instead of grading them down to
the level of the when lot sold vir-
tually the addition OF another cottage hotel. sale
should build. once when this rule relaxed the
SPECTATORS got in fast that it was necessary to go
back to the original custom
Meanwhile Mr. Bradley was postmaster at a consider
able annual loss but keeping the Office in his own hands
with view to making it chcent he laid compact clay
roads in all the streets and in every way made the public
Improvements keep pace with the growth OF the town:
He has now an omnibus line for the accommodation Of
cottagcrs which does not running expenses, owing to
the light traffic ON some OF the routes.
Hello there how many passengers have You had to,
who drives one of these star routes.
"Four-twonty cents" replied the hoy.
PLANTING CHURCHES.
As church society after another wanted TO build,
Mr. Bradley gave IA deed to plot OF land a good
situation. Ground furnished the terms for
a schoOl-house, Home for Workingwomen, and other
buildings of Alike character one OF the most noteworthy
improvements the erection Of OF the Centennial
Exposition buildings, known a. Educational Han which IL
thrown open for home amusemcnts without charge Mr.
Bradley had fancy for the drop curtain at the Union
Square Theatre, which represents "A chariot In
Roman amphtheatre, and he had one made from the
same model he also procured few pieces OF sccncry
for the benefit OF youuy people with taste for the
tcur drama. The building IN the winter season l. open
several nights every weckconcers lectures fairs and
other entertainments following each other in close
ccssion one OF the most practical improvements
the putting down OF system Of sewerage, which the
prpperS-oWhers ii'd ho arrived AT a sulhclchty hd
vanced point 10 undertake it, hut ~ Mr. bradley had,
his expense and each house ia 10 be charged much
year until the property h"lders are ready to indemnify
him. At present very good water is obtained from
iron wells driven into the sand. but Mr. Bradley
pipes from springs several miles in the intcror -
one OF the natural advantages OF the Park lies in it's
beautiful sheets OF water ON one side Is Wesley Lake
separating it from ocean Grove; at the other side
between these is Lake, dividing the Park
III two. Originally made by the invasion the ocean,
of gates and is proposed TO give ike penanency
Deal Lake which has been far subject 10 the ,asaies
OF the tide.
WHERE AsBURY PARK Is.
The average inhabtant will also giby tell you that
AHbuFy Is on srlp OF the NcW-Jcracy coast
tending from sea Bright twenty five miles to Sea Grit
about midway between these points, and has pccu-
liar climatic advantages, the temperature winter
being from 20 To A. warmer than At New York. and
from 20 to 20 than at Long Branch fact greatly IN its
favor > "a place of winter residence.
when the visitor steps from the train on the Long
Branch division of the NewJersey Southern Road few
minutes after passing Elbcron where President Garfield
recently enjoyed brief period OF leisure he discovers
that he has left the world behind The world stops Mt
Long Branch. II deyOtec OF Vanity Fair come
down. it Is only to 90 back after satisfying his
curiosity; there are pleasant surroundings good surf
and all that but how he do without his wine for
dinnera 1t is true that there WINE occasionally ON
of the tables at two of the larger hotels Mt
Asbury Park, but it is put by the guests them
selves who have sent to the city for it, This il d a.
couraged frowncd down 1t il by no means innrnh
able, too, that many worthy cottager indulgcs now
and then in brandy and water but il he does the bottle
taken out under favorable conditions There is any
number OF carriages drawn in line, and n for
midable Of hacks instead Of boscting I'M, new
conner with a noisy camor the drivers suggest In a
quiet way mat anybody can ride, If he chooses, at a
One of the first things that attract attention ia the
AR OF summer comfort that rc,ts the place. There
are stores OF all varieties but they confined mainly
TO one avenue. and the workshops incident "a village Of
1000 permanent inhabitants crowded at one side
in an out-oheway street. As in an summer resorts
there ara many hotossomc OF considerable prctcnsions
and others of lcssand many villas and cottages where
the thrifty housewife opens her doors when heat of
summer swells the population to 10000 persons more
placing some poetlcal name like "siiyerdean." Idle
door TO catch the public Here and tent il
seen pitched III yard at the side n cottage. The
nOusc mas bech gwen over Tor the visitors
from the city IN consideration OF several
and The family neanW bile is enjoying the comforts of
tent NE 1t is SAID that her ttagcrs still more
OF thelr money! while without home by taking "A visit
ing Jaunt among their relatives and friends
Owing TO the backwardness of the season there are
great many unoccupied rooms in the hotels and many
afch harvest looks dscons0atey at the empty places
at hei table There are enough OF those however who