Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-09-08
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
"A Warm Sunday Breaks the
Record for Sept. Travel.
SOAE A0RE PAVILIOHS AND Seas NEEDED.
THE TAXRATE AND THE ASSESSORS vALU-
ATION-FREEHoLDERs' PET Project THE
'TERRAPIN'' ROAD-THE MOVEMENTS OF
THE POLITICIANS AND COUNTY POLITICS.

September is supposed to mark the
close of the season here about as soon as
the month puts in an appearance, but
Sunday broke all September records and
the crowds at the Inlet and along the
Boardwalk were but little less dense
than they were in August. The season,
as whole, has been one of the best ever
known at this resort in spite of a tinan-
cial crisis, business depression and a
| general fear that the predictions of the
early crOakers would prove true. The
reason is due, largely, to few go-ahead
and energetic men who had the good
sense and the "nerve'' to put out money
IN judiciOus advertising, and in many
other ways, and in improving and en-
larging their houses. The prospect for
another year is better than ever before,
for thousands of people, who have been
here this season for the first time, are
sounding the praises of Atlantic City all
over the country especially in the West.
This ensures steady and growing
patronage for the future and the rail-
roads will help it along with fast trains,
superb accommodations, reasonable
fares and polite attention. With these
facts before us would it not be wise to
take time by the forelock" and begin
some much neededimprovements? First
| of all, there ought to be more pavilions
and large number of free seats along
| the Boardwalk. This is absolutely
necessary, and in the end would prove a
paying investment. If l had influence
| enough with the powers that be would
see to it that there were vastly-increased
| accommodations before another year.
Another piece of advice / would ven
ture to give is to stop the silly talk
about the tax-rate. Anyone who knows
anything at all about the matter knows
that the rate is not excessive as it
| stands now when it is taken into con-
sideration that the valuation is placed
| at about one-third or less. The tax
rate could easily be reduced by increas-
| ing the valuation of some very large,
properties to somewhere near One-third
| to one-half of what they are really
worth. / have an idea that a careful
examination and comparison of proper
ties east of Atlantic avenue would read
| lily disclose exactly where the shoe
| pinches and why we are forced to have,
this year, higher rate than was expect
ed. Real estate has already been in
jured by this unwarranted howl that
has been made by certain people for
personal reasons. Many persons, es-
| pecially strangers, who are not familiar
| with the inside facts, believe the rate to
| be based upon q full valuation of pro-
| perty. believe am safe in saying that
One-half of all the real estate in the City
is not assessed at one-fourth of it's real
value and strangers who have money to
| invest need not be alarmed by some of
| the idle vapOring we have heard of late.
The sudden love for the interests of the
poor taxpayer, in certain quarters is
really laughable, when we consider that
| these Good Samaritans have encouraged
| every kind OF extravaganza and were
willing to put through any kind and
number of 'jobs" always
that they could have a hand in them.
| notice that the Chosen Freeholders
had their quarterly meeting at Mays
| Landing, last Wednesday, and Judging
from the reports of what they did, they
are likely to hear from the people in the
very near future. If the taxpayers of
the County would watch their proceed
ings little more closely, and pay a lit
tie more attention to public matters at
| the proper time there would be less oc-
casiOn to find fault with them when
| payment is demanded on certain bills.
1t is to be hoped that the adding OF
"Our Joe," (as "Argus" used to call
him), as Px-officio member of some of the
Committees, will have the effect Of open
ing his peppers, just a little, in the in
terest of the taxpayers. He is man of
business, and hope he will be able to
dis Germ some things that he ought to be
able to see without glasses.
That pet prof ct of the Freeholders'
"Combine"- "Terrapin Roads
| ghost that refuses to stay in its grave,
| and even if it would there are some peo-
| pile who won't let it. How badly this
great thoroughfare is needed! And how
eager the taxpayers are to be "salted''
for ten thousand dollars to build It'll
predict that some of the members of the
Board who are so anxious to build it
now, will wish it was "between the
Devil and the deep sea" before they hear
the last of it. l cannot account for
their anxiety to build it. 1t is not
needed and nobody has asked for it.
Possibly, bnt no, it cannot be. ! dismiss
the thought. This is not Mercer County.
One reason / suppose is that the wave of
| returning prosperity, under Republican
rule, has made money SO plentiful that
some way must be devised to spend the
surplus, and in what better way could
it be got rid of than in building the
Terrapin thoroughfare?
notice interesting moves on the part
| of the members of the old Bread and
Butter Brigade that must, am sure,
mean something. Such unusual activity
cannot be for nothing. An old friend
| tells me that there is to be a general
reunion of all the old veterans who have
| fed at the public crib and suffered SO
much and so long for the good of the
party and the welfare of the people who
| are expected to turn out and vote to
keep them right where they are during
the rest of their natural lives. After that
l suppose they will arrange to have their
sisters, their cousins and their aunts fall
in line and hold on to their places. To a
man they favor higher salaries-and
lower tax rates. l hear that they are
about to open recruiting Offices to
strengthen their ranks and provide a
still better government for the people of
the city, which means more places and
better feed for themselves. Already they
boast that the Combine" is divided and
that Kelley is man of too much mental
capacity and independence to go to the
Assembly. They assert, as matter of
fact, that should he be sent to Trenton,
| to represent Atlantic County, he would
| not pigeon-hOle bill that thousands of
his constituents wanted him to pass
| Again, they assert, that he would belong
to himself and would not "take orders
from the Dumpmasters, which is the fact.
l am inclined to believe. And all this.