The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-09-05
a WASTE nAEsH PROFITABLE.
The lake Brothers Buy an Island for
$4,000 and are now

The Lake Brothers BUY an Island for
$4,000 and are new A~siIiIOnatres.
Ten years ago three brothers. Ezra. Wes-
ley and James, sons Of ex-Assemblyman
Simon Lake, of Atlantic county, purohas-
ed a wild and slmost unknown island.
with seven miles of beach along the At
lantic Ocean, and extending inland to
Great Egg Harbor Bay. Now that waste
is Ocean City on the map, just half way
between Atlantic City and Sea Isle City.
This purchase amounted to 1900 acres
Of sand hills and salt marsh, which cost
them about IS, 900. After forming a stock
company these gentlemen formulated a
plan for their proposed city by the sea
There should never be any liquor sold, 10
Sabbath dissertation, no dancing, but
plenty OF religious meetings, peace, quiet
and rest. For these three founders were
active Methodist ministers, the TWO latter
still having churches. They were backed
by their wise and wealthy father, and ably
assisted by their cousin, William Lake,
who for IL two aas Us, LAID
surveyor and engineer in that region.
Soon the tract was mapped out into 60
900 building lots and divided into syndi-
Gates of 80 lots each. These syndieates
are q wise way 10 dispose of lots. and yet
get them at ono improved. Their plan Is
to get thirty persons to form a syndicate,
purchasing $50 lots, and each of the thirty
pledgiug himself to erect a cottage to cost
at least $500 on one of his five lots, thus
building up a close section and enhancing
the value Of all the ne~ighboring property
Of course, these syndicates build streets,
and generally a hotel or two, and are soon
active and valuable agents for the new
city. All Of the ~syndicates have been very
successful and satisfactory.
But 0 o it was found necessary to have
communication With the outside world,
and a steamboat vas purchased. then a
railroad built and many miles of streets
opened and graded. plots legeled, public
buildings erected and other improvements
made-indeed the original cost now seemed
a trifie, for in a short time d quarter Of a
million dollars was expended in improY-
ing and advertising the new city. The
peculiar religious restrictions instead Of
hampering the sale of lots seem to increase
and assist it-and cottagers and jewellers
have come solely on aeeouLt Of these safe
guards.
For several years the association sue
ceeded in prohibiting Sunday trains and
Sunday bathing. but recently the newly
organized borough council has granted
these rights, though no bathing suit nor
other article Of necessity q pleasure can
be purchased or rented Oh the Sabbath
day. Bathers must hire their suits Satur-
day night. An immense auditorium has
teen erected il TIE midst Of a forest Of
native eedars, holly and magnolia trees,
within a few blecks of either ocean or bay.
This assembly hall is used fer camp meet
m~eetinF purposes, which are now at their
height, and often over a thousand wor-
shippers crowd the building. Among the
trees of this beautiful forest are scattered
tents of the campers and worshippers, but
these are yearly decreasing fer the mole
comfortable cottages which the assoeia-
ton erect and rent, furnished, for $50 to
$50 a season. OF course, regularly built
cottages rent fer much more than these
rates.
Notwithstanding the severe restrictions
IN the deeds to all purchasers tie resort
has grown rapid! indeed, during the past
year forty.two dwellings have been erect
ed, more, it is stated than have been built
at all of the numerous other resorts of the
county combined. Nearly one half Of
the entire number Of lots have been sold,
leaving the balance a clear profit to the
founders, of over 10, 900 lots, some of hich
are worth over a thousand dollars each.