The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-26
HAS BRADLEY BACKED OUT?
A STIR IN ASBURY PARK NJ HIs FAIL.
URE TO SELL THE BEACH.

amer H1s O2er to ben the ocean Front y
LAW wns Passed to Enable the Town to
Rus-Now bradley 10 Not Eager 20 Sell.
The conduct OF Baron Bradley OF Asbury
Park is greatly puzzline the people Of that
place. They do not precisely accuse him OF
fooling them. but only say that what he has
done during the winter would look that way
ito man up tree" He offered to sell to the
town his valuable beach rights on the ocean
front and on the inland lakes. and when they
were all ready to make the purchase Mr.. Brad
ley was like the flea upon which the 1rishman
put his fnger-he was not there. The
story Of james A. Bradley's relation
ship to Asbury Park is too we'll known
to need telling at length. The origi-
nal owner OF the land. he turned it
into town site and managed 1t with exceed
ing shrcwdness both for himself and the peo-
pie. He has been able to keep tho most valu-
able land that which was bound to be the
highest priced when q town should be built
behind and around 1t. A whole strip n block
In width along tho ocean front is still In his
name. and several blocks around each OF the
ornamental lakes he retains the town having
been built upon the less attractive sites away
from these waters. No one can look at Ocean
Grove. the next-door neiRhbor to the park.
without recognizing Mr.. Bradley's shrewdness.
for whereas that place was laid out with mar
row lanes and sold in very small lots. Bradley's
town was planned with broad avenues. all
widening at the ocean front. and with building
sites never smaller than so by $50 feet.
Bradley's refusal to deed bit OF land with
out prohibitory liquor clause In tho deed. his
espionage over the bathers and the size and
style of their bathing suits. his signs inform
ing visitors Of the proper hour for quitting the
Sac I nE Fl how I'd Sse on sae fds
women in bathing dress as in silk gown.
were all approved by the mass OF tho residents
Vertised tho place tremendo usIy. Moreover. it
was perceived TO be a valuable kind Of ndver-
Using because it spread the idea that women
ord ord ' resort. Whether ilr. Bradley did ali
these things in the general interest Of morality
san say: The Reople Who bought land there
dd not They baked him up because OF
talk hi Hs to ps wth his
lake lake to Wesley Lake. Which, divides Asbury
Park from Ocean Grove Along this board
4O.O0o persons at a time in the season. no
established AZ. nnmber Of bn t houses with
su h air o
people to sit in and wa Itch the bathers and the
ocean and in these he leased pIiytiege s to
bSsaAS band 90" Of music every s.' sum-
Places st but '' as the lat is passed around
S 5 e ct Ssl a n hss great ws pn
winter storms battered great reaches Of Il to
upon its line of piling. Every year thousands
Of dollars were required to nut it in order for
nj profit il it was crowded with booths. goat
wagons, donkeys. sausage stalls. and merry
CAPE sna fE pas ey
but Mr.. Bradley wisely reira ,, from cheap;
eninS his town IN that way. But he announced
Every one Believed him to be in earnest All
thought they could SCI, good reasons why he
beach. but the town has government OF its
own and his power is weakening continually.
spd he e To MN
instead OF over many. as he was at first. His
health was reported to be poor; and this also
would sell he was in earnest. He even named
his price after, a while. putting the beach.
at sl5o.0oO. The figure made such a bargain
that any one OF a, score OF men IN the town |
Eo ths Hfn ss
a bill through the Legislature to enable The
towns to, raise money, for the purchase Of
toMnsfolk and lie local Assembly man.
mt those who saw Mr. Bradley agned
make good lis 9f1er t to SELL liz found faat
with the law that had been enacted. He said
later still lie said that he had sold rights I'M:
land on the lake, front. He was informed that
the tow, ,, cared very little about the lake
wa What Tsnsfa Brade Ss
Great Pond from the men he had sod =. as he