New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-11
FOUNDER" BRADLEY.


THE PLACE-SOME CURIOUS OUTCROPPINGS
OF HIS INDIVIDUALITY.
II the man who causes two blades Of grass to
grow where only one blade grew before Is en-
titled to the gratitude Of his fellow men. what
must be the claim of Founder Bradley on his
felow-citiZens Of Asbury Park?
Through his energy, enthusiasm and well-di-
rected efforts a seaside wilderness has been con-
verted into garden spot, order has taken the
place of chaos, the imprint Of civilization has
been stamped upon tract Of land which had
resisted the tendency Of tn, times and block OF
real estate which was quoted as worth $l3OOO
in 1870 was advanced to a taxable value OF about
$3.00OOO Other places have been doomed and
developed but the case of Asbury Park is unique
for the fact that the characteristics and pecu-
iarities of the founder. James "A. Bradley, nave
bee ONE incorporated with the place. and MS
ideas and sentiments, his tendencies and his
moral bent have been closely interviewer with
the spot that they cannot be separated from 1t,
and they will remain a monument to the founder
long after the story Of to-day will have become
ancient history
PERSONALITY IN EVIDENCE
Mr.. Bradley's personality is seen in every I'M
provement that has been made in the village,
ard every enc knows that his was the hand that
directed every movement that led to the estap-
lishment of the pretty seaside resort. The conse-
quence IS that everybody in Asbrry Park KNOWS
Mr.. Bradley and looks upon him a sort Of
uncrowned king or dictator. From the innocent
town fool-and the place has one-to the heads
OF the educational, business and religious COM
nunity all know the f under and delight to tell
the story of how the rudy. vigorous-looking man
of sixty-seven, who looks ten years younger than
his years came to the place twenty-seven years
ago when it was wilderness. to seek rest and 10
try to build up his shattered health, and no" ne
succeeded in building a delightful summer resort
alc ng with his health.
Asbury Park covers area OF about hve
hundred acres, and it was at one time all the
property of the founder, but the ground has been
converted into streets, parks, pubic squares anu
other public places, building lots have been SOLO
and to-day the original owner possesses only the
water front and small amount Of real estate in
the village proper.
81 have lost no money on the Asbury Park
venture" said Mr. Bradley, but the slight profit
made which would have been a small salary Tor
the work done would disgust the ordinary specu-
lator and although the calculations as TO pronts
have been disappointment the enterprise mas
been a grand success" And to demonstrate the
fact Mr.. Bradley pointed to throngs or men ana
women who sat listening to the music In the
great pavilion. to the children rOmping on the
sands and the hundreds Of bathers In the SURF.
THE PEOPLE WHO COME.
1.-THE people can have so much entertainment
free here" said the founder that they naturally
flock to the place; but inasmuch as we dscour-
age all the vulgar and boisterous atract'o"s
which have made other places notorious pet'er
and a more refined class comes to the place
Mr.. Bradley has always been an ardent church
worker. and was for many years identified with
the Methodist Episcopal brick church in Grand
ave. Brooklyn When he began the development
of his seaside purchase he brought his religious
views with him, and gave all to understand that
the town which he hoped to build would not be
hampered in its progress nor lowered ir its moral
tone by the sale liquors in the place. So one OF
the first edicts which was issued was to the
effect that mo LIQUORS shall be brought into nor
sold in the community"
."There was not so far as I know" said MI
Bradley, "a seaside resort, an incorporated town
on the American continent in Europe at that
time where in the deeds the sale Of intoxicating
liouors was prohibited. Friends told me that the
place could never be made success unless the
restrictions were removed, and that resort near
New-York must be failure if liquor was eX-
.luded But my hatred for liquor and the traffic
IN il was uncomfortable and insisted on it's
excluson The alarmists have my triumph.
Hundreds of deeds have been drawn and are
recorded in the office Of the County Clerk in each
one OF which the no-liquor clause appears and
the same clause has become feature in the
deeds OF many seaside resorts staIteo Oh the
New-Jersey coast since then
THE mo RUM" FEATURE.
o;,,tc by xxt,i ic