New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-22
OIIcK TRIpS 10 THE BEACHEN.

Many articles have been published ia many
newspapers az various times IN praise oi ih' d'
! lights of New York aS Il summer resort. but IA
few ~ those articles has The amazing increase
Of opporuniti", for cheap and quick travel to
cool and refreshing places OF recreation been
sufficiently dwclt upon. The transformation
which has been wrought in the last quarter "f Il
| century j. weli-nigh magical. Twenty h'" years
ago Concy Island was almost "A nrholy
waste. with fcw petty inns. ~ wliirh clam
bakes and sO-caIlrd shore dinners Wrr" cooked.
! In 1879 the trip 10 toncy Island from any part
| Of Manhattan Island. ana even from the central
part Of Brooklyn. was extremely slow aud
tedious. and the traveller 81 the beaches had
scaniy choice of routes Now The number "f
trains moved by steam which ht between tn"
several divisions ~ Concy Island aud many
points ia the Borough Of Manhattan and la the
Borough OF Brooklyn is enormous while the
trolley lines afford maryellously cheap trans
porraton and move at high rate ~ speed
The wage-earn.rs whose income, are small
are not now compelled 10 restrict their amu~c-
ment, 10 the immediate nclghborhoOd of their
homes on Manhattan Island. Excursion boats
with rates Of fare much lower than those which
were customary twenty i've years ago max" IRE.
unent trips 20 excursion grounds. groves and
other resorts. north south. east and west ~
Madison square. An outing ON the wafer can
be obtained by any one living in any part 81 any
OF the horoughs contained IA New York FOR
trfing outlay. and now that all restrictions ~
10 The free use Of the Bay. ~ The two great rlv-
ers and ~ Long Island Sound have been
moved since the return ~ peace. the excursion
business In and about ibis town Is expanding to
an impressive extent. The lot of the dweller, in
tenement houses j. much lighter aud brighter
thar il was before the striking development ~
surface lines elevated roads and excursion con-
panes Almost any labOrcT who is not ont ~
employment can get together the little sum
necessary 10 Civ. his family an occasional "trip
on the water and an occasional visit 10 the surf.
Beaches and salty pleasure grounds of every
Imaginable class and quality have been multi
Piled all along the New Jersey coast, aud every
where about Long Island. Connecticut aud the
southern part Of the Empire State. Life in the
tenement districts has many consultations In
These times which the poor were without UP 10
a recent period. The health and happiness Of
the children OF the poor and ~ all families Of
modest incomes have been vastly improved by
the ease and convenience with which short jour
neys can be made 10 scenes and surroundings
entirely in contrast with those of humble city
habiations, and the building Of 80 many rail
roads. both surface and elevated. and the run
ming Of 50 many cars in SO many directions have
conferred inestimable benefits upon people
whose summers but for the expansion Of The
excursion business and enlargement in facilities
Of travel would be- dull gloomy and hard TO
bear
The open cars which are run SO extensively on
many roads bestow a boon Of true value
upon the people who live in the hot city through
out the summer. Long Journeys can be made in
these open for hvccent fares with the
transfer system which Is now SO widely preva-
lent The parks IN the various districts of New
York were never more popular and more bcnc-
fetal than they are now. In fact the mighty
army Of people who remain in town during the
summer have manifold reasons for gratitude
because they are enabled 10 enjoy so many
alterations and mitigatons Of the dlscomforts
OF hot weather.