Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-29

]. Thompson Baker, ESQ.,, one OF
the founders of Wildwood and Wild
wood Crest, responded to the call on
behalf of this resort. and in an eloquent
address said that he did not believe
there was a person in the state who did
not appreciate that the construction OF
the proposed boulevard would be n
of the most advantageous improve
ments that had ever been contemplated.
The civilization OF a country or a COM
munity Is marked by its highways, he
said, and as this commonwealth has
become one of the foremost in the
country, the splendid e boulevard
should be constructed, without a ques-
ton, even II the state was obliged to go
into debt and borrow the entire amount
OF the cost for building it.
He paid tribute to the wisdom and
foresight of the chief executive of this
commonwealth, Governor j. Franklin
Fort, who has 80 ably advocated this
proposed highway, and who, he said
has wisely discerned the great possibili-
ties that are in store for us, and for
future generations, if we are but large
enough and sufficiently broad-minded
to grasp the opportunities that are now
presented. He called the attention OF
his hearers to the indisputable fact that
the climatic advantages, unsurpassed
health giving and health restoring
qualities Of the seashore resorts, and
their incompatible BEACHES, had made
this state famous from one end of the
country to the other, which fame was
rapidly becoming world wide.
Hundreds of thousands of persons
from all parts of the world come to this
state every year to visit its seashore
resorts, seeking health and pleasures;
and from this source of revenue alone
millions of dollars are derived, for the
seashore resorts of the New Jersey
coast have become the pleasure grounds
of the world, he said, and the construc-
ton of the grand Ocean boulevard,
from one end Of the state to the other,
would be one of the most magnificent
Improvements ever completed in the
state, and would doubtless bring thous-
ands of visiting automobiles here to
enjoy the pleasure OF riding on this
splendid highway, that now do not
attempt to bring their machines within
the state lines.
In speaking of the remarkable grow
tn of Cape May County, its superb
location, its superior inland waterways
and its many sources of revenue, atten-
ton was called to the fact that where
a few years ago the assessed valuation
OF property in this county was ranged
in the hundreds of thousands, today
the assessed valuation is placed at the
enormous figure of twenty-five mil
lions; and of this amount the seashore
resorts in the county represent more
Observation-Disclosures speakes
said the revenues derived from fish,
oysters, and other seafoods caught in
sound and sea more than exceed the
income from cereals in some Of the
largest grain growing counties in the
United States.
He called upon the residents of Cape
May County mot to follow the ex-
ample Of the muck rsker in Pilgrims
Progress that vas raking straw while q
golden crown was hanging over his
head, which he could not see in his
blindness" but to be awake, alive, and
broad enough to grasp the golden op-
portunities that are here waiting for
the progressive people to take advan-
tage OF them.