Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1896-12-23
A Letter FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
Big Real Estate Deal Still
Hangs Fire.
IT'S ADVANTAGES hot APPARENT.
ARGUS" DISCUSSES THE CITY HALL PRO-
JECT IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
BIG DEAL IN REAL ESTATE THE TERMS
OF THE DEAL NOT SATISFACTORY.

As was foreshadowed in my last let
ter, considerable opposition has deyel-
oped to the huge deal recommended by
the City Hall Commissioners. On the
face it looks like good thing, but there
are some people who do not regard it
particularly good for the taxpayers of
this city. 1t seems to be almost impossi-
BILE to get reliable information concern
ing the project. Mr.. Lee, who seems to
see ''big thing in it for the city, fails
to explain just where the big thing
comes in, except in the big pile of money
the city will have to put up.
As understand it, the conditions are
first, that the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company agree to give to the city piece
of ground, shaped like a fiat-iron, situat-
ed at the corner Of Atlantic and South
Carolina avenues, with a railroad track
through it, in return for which they ask
the widening of South Carolina avenue,
from Atlantic to Arctic avenue. If this
statement is correct it looks to man
up tree that the railroad company is
getting a good bit more than it is Civ
ing. Another condition is reported to be
the abandoning by the city Of all the
lawsuits now pending between the city
and the company. Some of these suits
have cost the city considerable money al
ready, and who is to bear the costs does
not yet appear, but one would suppose
that business men, such as compose the
City Hall Commission, would take into
consideration such an important matter.
1t would seem also that the proposed
agreement carries with it an acceptance
of President Roberts offer to the city
last year-to pave one-half of Atlantic
averGe, which was then rejected.
At any rate, more light is desired be-
fore the city commits itself to so great
al undertaking, and that was the view
taken by the Council at the two previous
meetings on the subject. There is no
doubt of the Councils favorable action.
if it can be shown that it is for the best
interest of the city to accept the PROPOSE
ton made. Every member is in favor
of a new city hall, and the present Com
mission was created for the purpose of
forwarding it's erection, and with full
power, am informed, to act in the mat
ter Instead of doing this they come
back to the Council asking for authority
to purchase. not only a large piece 3f-
property, but also to settle numerous
lawsuits and disputes now pending, and,
Incidentally, to do some paving business.
Taking it altogether, it is a big transac-
ton. and Councils deserve the praise OF
every taxpayer for haltlng the matter
until it is better understood.
Every reasonable consideration should
be extended to the railroad companies to
enable them to facilitate the transaction
of their business, and no hindrance
should be placed in their way; and be-
lieye that every reasonable citizen Will
sustain the Council in living up to that
line of action. Nearly all the people
with whom 1 have talked upon the sub
iect have an idea that the whole project
originated with the railroad people.
am confident they are wrong in that be
lief, and am inclined to think that the
whole scheme originated with the Com
missioners. These gentlemen are reputa-
BILE men, and there is no doubt they think
it good investment for the city; but
their Judgment is not infallible, and 1t
is possible they may be wrong. One
thing seems to me desirable and that is
that the City Hall be located as near the
centre of the city as possible. An
other thing is certain-the growth
of the city must be in souther-
Iy direction. and the way it is now beng
built ND down the beach toward Nentnor
will leave South Carolina avenue far
above the centre of the city, as it Will
be in the near future. 1t would be well
for the Commissioners to take this mat
ter into consideration.
The argument that it is a good invest
ment TO spend S175,000 in real estate, be-
cause the property is cheap. at that price,
is not weighty one, for the city IS not
supposed to be in the real estate pusi-
ness for speculation purposes.