Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1897-10-13
A LETTER FROM THE
CITY By THE SEA.
Penna. Railroads Contem-
plated Improvements.
CHANGES ADOUl TO Be IADE IN TaIS CITY.
THE REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION AND
SAM" KELLEY's UNEXPECTED ''TURN-
DOwN"-"ARGUs" THINKS THAT 1T IS BAD
POLITICS AND WHOLLY UNNECESSARY.

nOunced in this correspondence that the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company con-
templated the erection of a new pas
senger station in this city. 1t was with
in my personal knowledge that plans
had been prepared and conditional ar
rangements made to that effect. The
general depression of business and the
uncertainties of the Presidential election,
however, induced the railroad people to
delay the commencement of work for a
year or SO, or until better business con-
ditiOns would warrant the heavy outlay
incident to the contemplated changes.
The recent passage of the Ordinance, by
Council, for the widening of South
Carolina avenue is but the precursor of
coming events, and feel warranted in
saying that there are some agreeable
surprises in store for the people of
Atlantic City. A doublet track over the
Camden & Atlantic roadbed has been
decided upon, and my information is to
the effect that work will be commenced
before winter sets in. The changes in
this city will be very extensive. and
there will be general Encouragement of
the railroad buildings and grounds
including very large and handsome
station with all the modern improve
ments. Elevated tracks from the draw
bridge into the city has also been NEIL
toned as among the improvements,
but the matter has not yet been fully
decided. These great improvements,
when made, will involve the outlay OF a
vast sum of money-running into the
millions-and they show, beyond any
question of doubt, what the opinion of
the Pennsylvania R. R. is concerning the
future of Atlantic City. Such corpora
tions do not do business and invest
great sums. of money strictly for fun.
They expect to get back every dollar OF
it in due time, and a lot more in addi-
ton. To do this there must be more
travel, more hotels, more business and
more labor, and all this means much to
the inhabitants of Atlantic City. PEI
sonally, l wish that the work might
commence tomorrow, and fancy there
are Others, out of employment, who
would hail with joy the official an
nouncement that plenty of work is close
at hand.
When promised, in my letter last
week, to give certain conversation
with politician here in reference to
politics in Atlantic County, | failed to
remember that the County Convention,
to which it related, would be over be-
fore your newspaper went to press.
Such news would be about three days
"after the fair" SO l forbear to feed
your readers upon threshed straw.
The County Convention, at Egg Har-
Dor City, on Saturday, was a peculiar
one in many respects, and indicates that
those who controlled it feel strong
enough to defy their political enemies,
and also pitch overheard their political
friends. This is evident from the treat
ment of Samuel Fl. Kelley, who ought to
be and probably is, about the maddest
man on the planet. To one, not a
member of the convention, it looks like
the rankest piece of political folly that
has been committed in Atlantic. County
for long time, "Sam." Kelley has
friends and they have feelings-and more
than that they have votes. He is young
| and popular, and to suppose that his
his hosts of friends will not rerent such
unparalleled aud wholly needless treat
ment, is to suppose that they have
| neither sense nor memory. The unhOrs
ing of a man from the chairmanshiI
of the County Committee, under such
circumstances as accompanied his undo
ing, is wholly without precedent,
believe, in this County, and suppose il
is the work of the Old Bread and Butter
Brigade who felt that he might become
possessed of too much power if he was
allowed to hold the reins. There are 6
large number Of people in this City,
which was one-who hoped to see him
nominated for the Assembly. Before
the assembling of the Convention it was
known, however, even several days prev
ious, that he would not accept nomi
nation, and his friends therefore re
Trained from presenting his name. Ther'
could be no necessity for humiliating
him to prevent nomination, for he was
not a candidate. This makes his turn
ing down all the more careless and in
explicable. The reason must be looked
for beyond the Convention. Was it th'
fear that he might become a formidable
candidate next year, for the sentoria
nomination, or for Mayor next Spring
l hear that both these possibilities urget
to account for what happened on Sat
urday. Later on l may be able to TAX
| a peep behind the scenes, and what
learn will be duly dished up for th'
| readers of the PRESS ARGUS"