New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
LONG BRANCH OPENING.
Efforts to Restore This Resort to
Former GLOry.

Long Branch. N. J.. May 81 (Special)-Never
in the history of this resort the oldest along the
Jersey Coast. have the residents looked forward
with greater expectations for the future than at
the present time. There is apparently every
thing to encourage. 1t is the intention Of the
newly organized Beach and Park Commission
and City Council to push to completion at the
earliest possible moment the improvements out
lined prior to the ratification Of the $500, 900
bond issue by the voters last November.
The Beach and Park Commission was organ
lied month ago by the election Of Mayor c
Asa Francis president and Harry T. Blodge sec
rotary. The latter has resigned and will be
succeeded by Councilman James Dunn of West
End The commission has six members, one
from each ward. and is non-partisan. Mayor
Francis and President Of City Council George
w. Baxter are ex-of1cio members.
The commission has lost no time since it's
organization in getting to work. 1t expects
to continue busy until the prestige that Long
Branch once enjoyed is restored. It believes
this be accomplished by making improve
, ments OF a permanent character. such as the
erection OF casinos and convention halls. tho
widening OF the avenue and the erection of a
board walk. which are numbered among the i'm
provements that it expects to carry out.
The first real step toward improvements along
the ocean front was made when the City Coun-
ell by unanimous vote decided to get control
of the two mile beach front by instituting con-
domination proceedings The next was the pur-
chase OF the Ocean Hotel property. with front
oge OF 100 feet IN Ocean-ave. at a cost OF
$4,000
Many influential residents have decided their
property TO the city. among them being Colonel
David S. Brown. Arthur H. Hearn ]. S.
McCurragh, the late L. J. Phillips Ludwig
Bauman. Mr. Huyler and Mr.. Somehow. About
one mile Of beach front is now in sight, although
the line is not continuous There is every rea-
son to believe that at least seventy-lve per cent
Of the ocean front can be acquired by the city
without resorting to condemnation proceedings
The improvements include the widening of the
Ocean Dive to uniform width OF sixty feet
the erection Of twenty twenty-five foot walk
on the east side Of the avenue and an eight
foot walk on the west side. The erection of
casino, one that will compare with the best along
the coast will be started just as soon as title
to the Ocean Hotel property is acquired. The
date selected by the city to take title to the
Ocean Hotel property is June IL
Mayor c. Asa Francis who is also president
OF the Beach and Park Commission when asked
to-day as to the ocean front improvements made
this statement:
The Mayor and Council will put forth every
enort to acquire title to the beach front We
o
Wlthn short time, that the work of i'm
proVement can be started We mean business
Inc contract for a board walk, Jettes casino
etc. as outlined in the proposed improvements
presented TO the people before the ratification
or the $4,000 bond issue was carried will be
given out just as soon get title.
In regard to casino site, in which there has
been diversity OF opinion. Mayor Francis says
that the Beach Commission will certainly recon-.
mend Its erection the west side Of the avenus
somewhere near the centre of the present Ocean
Hotel The old hostelry which is one of the
landmarks in Long Branch, will be razed to the
ground next month. The hotel was originally
the Neptune House. later the National and in
1866 the Continental.
The Continental became we'll known In the
sixties. When the hostelry was changed TO the
Ocean Hotel it sttn retained It's prestige,
and during the days when the Lelands managed
1t the place was considered the queen Of all re
sort hotels. memorable event. one that will
live in history, was the complimentary military
ball given TO the members of the Ninth Regi-
ment n. G.. of n. Y. in the summer of 1870 by
Jim Fisk.
Mayor Francis assured a Tribune correspond