Evening journal., 1900-06-16
SEASON OPENS
AT CAPE MAY
Many improvements Made at
the Popular Resort
PIER NEARLY COMPLETED
Boulevard Now Considered One Of the
Finest in That Section Of the
Country
Special to the Evening Journal.

mer season at this resort has been
opened in a manner which indicates
that the season Will be as successful as
any of the past. The large cottage col
ony is already in evidence, and the
number Of applicants for suites Of
rooms at the leading hotels throughout
the place, are indications which go to
prove the assertions that Cape May
will have another successful season.
Since the close OF the season last
September there has been great activ-
ity on the part of residents and of the
officials Of the municipal corporation.
The city fathers, locally known as the
City Council, have expended several
thousands OF dollars in adding improve
ments which will tend to make Cape
May more attractive this year than in
the past The main feature has been
the elevation Of the boardwalk, which
extends along the entire length of the
city, and from which a fine view of the
ocean is had without any distractions
to the eye. This walk during the early
hours Of the evening, and during the
bathing hour of the morning, is the
Mecca OF those who come here to en-
JOY health and rest from the heat Of
the inland cities.
! Another series of improvements
which have been added are the pavil-
ions, which are located at convenient
intervals along and just outside the
boardwalk. These paviliOns are fittec
up with modern cOnyeniences, nicely
/ furnished with carpets, rocking chairs
and tables. On the tables are the latest
magazines and other literature Of the
day, all of which are supplied at public
D aNFr 49, a.
way OF the walk, and have around
them decks, which extend out over the
water and are during the evening hour
the favOrite resort OF visitors. The old
ocean waves roll up under them and
! give the visitor the idea that they are
much cooler while on the decks than
they would be if they were further
back In the town.
II Cape May is to have a new connection
with the south and southwest which
will considerably shorten the time in
travelling to this historic resort. For
about a month work has been in pro-
u gress in the building OF a new mann
moth pier which extends from the
central portion of the town into the
sea, a distance of twelve hundred feet
At this pier line Of boats will touch
coming from Lewes, Delaware, and
connecting there with the QueenAnne' s
railroad from Baltimore This will
make a shorter route by one hundred
miles for those who come from the
south and southwest to visit here dur
ing the Summer.
. This pier is not expected to be com.
!, pleted until the fifteenth of July, o1
= which date the first boat is expected t.
land. This will shorten and make Z
t more pleasant route for visitors com
ing from Maryland and the Ohio rivei
, valley.
. Besides the outer pavilion for the ac
commodation of passengers and others
on this pier there will be an uppe
4 deck, which is to be occupied as a cafe
The lower portion of the auditorium Il
to have a seating capacity of two thou
- sand, and a space in the center eight
by one hundred and fifty feet for dane
ing and like purposes. For the seasol
' of 1900 a Mexican band of fifty piece
is being negotiated with This will b.
> a new feature for staid old Cape May
S Already a large number Of visitor
from Maryland, Virginia and West Vir
e ginia have arranged to come to Cap
r. May this season, over the new route
AS a consequence a more than ordinar,
= number Of visitors are expected to pas
Il the season here bringing back the son
e and grandsons Of those who fort
years ago visited Cape May regularly
!. but who have not been seen here sine
r the civil war. These are always tn
o class Of people who make life the mos
d interesting and leave the most none
with the local boarding houses Of thi
resort
A large amount Of money has beei
expended to make Cape Mays drive
equal, II not superior to those Of an
1 other resort along the coast Of the Mid
U die Atlantic States The boulevard
which extends along the ocean from
just inside of the boardwalk. is one @
the finest pieces Of roadway to b
Is found in this section of the countr,
= The boardwalk is not elevated hig
II enough to obstruct the view of the oC
II cupants of carriages who are ridin
n along the drive, and they are therefor
lt enabled to enjoy looking at the oceaI
a as well as those who promenade IN
ID walk. Aside from the beach drive-wal
the avenues about the resort are we
y shaded and constructed OF the bel
.g road-making material Outside of th
q resort itself, there are roads leadin
al
have been put In excellent order by IN
! authorities of the adjoining territories
= which make this feature of the resort
= pleasing one to visitors who have the
10 horses and carriages or bicycles
speaking Of the driving and bicyclinl
the improving of these roadways ha
been a great stimulus to the formatio
OF parties who go for long rides OF lon
a. drives In the country. and enjoy
,e some ancient farmhouse a dance {
4 other sort Of amusement peculiar
~ those old manors.
Often parties OF from fifty to on
hundred persons get their bicycles L
= gether. and others hire an old fashion
y ed farm wagon, arranged with seats Q
both sides. with the bottom of the wal
on filed with hay. drawn by fol
horses girdled with sleigh-bells. an
with the footing Of horns, start out Il
of frolic through the country. Abol
D. 9 O'Clock at night the start is usl