Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-09-22
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY BY THE SEA.
Building improvements and
H1terations Being Made.
DISCUSSION OF THE COUNTY seat REMOVAL.
OUR CORRESPONDENT INTERVIEWS MANY
CITIZENS UPON THE sUBJEcT-AND GETS
SOME INTERESTING "PoINTERs"-
MOTOR sERv CE.-THE TURNPIKE.


MOTOR sERv CE.-THE TURNPIKE.
The men who have made Atlantic City
the most famous seaside resort in the
world are hard at work getting ready
for a big winter trade that promises to
be greater than ever before, and are also
planning extensive alterations and i'm
provements for next Summer. Among
others hear that the Manhattan Cafe,
on South Carolina avenue near the
Ocean is to have sixty or more rooms
added, and to be otherwise improved
and brought up to the standard of
first-class hotels. 1t will be thoroughly
renovated, repaired and refurnished,
and will offer many attractions to those
who wish to locate little way back
from the beach. The Mahoney Brothers
have been very successful in managing
the Manhattan and they are determined
to make it better than ever before.
The commencement of the Court, at
Mays Landing, has again started the
talk for the removal of the County Seat
to a more convenient spot, and many
are the inprecations hurled at the heads
of the Chosen Freeholders for not acting,
last year, on so important a matter.
They seem to be fairly well up with the
times on other matters, and why they
should decline to move, or take any
action in behalf of the large number Of
petitioners is surprise. More than a
thousand taxpayers many of them
among the heaviest in this City or
County asked them to make some move
II, 1s.e.sr huf
no notice of the request, and have con-
stantly worked in every way possible
to defeat the movement. A man told
me the other day that one Of the Rail-
road Companies was opposed to the
removal but little inquiry in the pro-
per direction soon disposed of that idea.
Another said it was because the PRESS
favored it. but the quiet search of the
files of the County newspapers disclosed
the fact that nearly all the other papers
favored it, too. 1t then struck me that
possibly there might be some politics in
it, and began to inquire among those
who ought to know-but the answer
was the same everywhere that politics
had nothing to do with it. Republicans
and Democrats-both silver and gold
as well as PrOhibitionists- in favor
of the removal of the County Seat. A
few days ago, | made up my mind to
interview lot of our citizens, and get
the opinions of the first fifty people |
talked with. The first man broached
the subject to was well-known lawyer
of this city. He said, in substance, "Put
me down in favor of the removal at the
earliest possible date" The next was
newspaper man, and he said, 81 am in
favor OF the removal, because it will
save the County large expense, and,
from the standpoint of economy l am
for it." The third man l talked with
was farmer from Egg Harbor Town
ship. After looking me over for awhile
he said, "What do you want to know
my opinion for ?'' l answered that |
wanted it for my own personal satis-
faction. "Oh'', said he, Il thought you
wanted to publish it." l asked him if
he would object to having his name
published, either for or against, and he
said he would not if he knew that an
honest effort would be made to remove
the County Seat. Then he told me,
further, that he signed the petition for
removal last year, and that two of his
neighbors soon afterward called and
told him that he was a fool, that to
build new County Buildings would cost
million dollars, and that it would
bankrupt every farmer in the County.
Said he. 81 pointed out to them what
the newspaper-whose business it was
to give it's readers the facts-said, and
they answered that the PRESS was
bought up by some land-boOmers to ad-
vocate the scheme. Since that time |
have made inquiries for myself, and am
satisfied they lied to me. You can put
me down as ready to do all l can to
to move the County seat from its pre-
sent location" This will give some
idea Of the arguments (?) used by some
of those who are opposed to the move
ment and shows that they will scruple
at no falsehoods however base. Alto
gether talked with fifty-four men-all
taxpayers but one, and of the total
number only three were opposed to
removal. One was opposed to any
action whatever. Another thought the
Jail was near enough now, while the
third opposed it because he thought the
politicians wanted it. He feared it
would give them more power and he
thought they had enough now. The
others were in favor of removal, The
farmer, from off-Shore, to whom / pre-
viously referred, told me that the PLEA
sANTvILLE PRESS had stated the suitable
buildings-better than those at Wood
bury, could be erected for less than one
hundred thousand dollars. He said he
wrote to friend there, and received the
information that those buildings cost
only $S7.O 900 "Oh," said he, Its no
use to dispute what the Press says. My
neighbors believe in it, because it fears
nobody and treats everybody fairly" J"
/ thought that was high compliment
for an independent newspaper, SO send
it to you, Mr.. Editor, to encourage you,
for know you get "cussings" enough
from the members of the sring' that has
carried things with high hand in this
County.
am glad to hear that Supt. Dayton,
of the WI. & Seashore R. R has decided
to continue the railway service to Plea
eantville. While it will materially help
you it will, at the same time accommo-
date hundreds of Citizens here who like
to take trip off-Sbore to get smell Of
the flowers and watch the improvements
that are being made. The Turnpike
Co. deserves great credit for putting the
road in such superb condition, and it is
a real pleasure now to 60 by wheel OF
carriage over the fve-mile stretch across
the Meadows.
l hear some inside news Of interest
from the Dumpmaster's Bread and But
ter Brigade who are casting about to
find candidate with which to beat
Mayor Stoy. They had several under
consideration but are not quite decided
which one to enter for the race. Another
nice little scheme, unintentionally dis
closed by q deciple of John Barleycorn
is to s.fall in" with the Assembly can
didate that is known to be against the
| old Brigade and under the CONT o