Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-02-05
The Jersey Sumner Resorts

The Jersey Summer Resorts
AS the result of a recent consultation
with Governor John Franklin Fort
Edmund A. Wilson, the attorney gen
eral of New Jersey, is now busily ell
gagged in drafting the proposed Ocean
Boulevard bill, which calls for the
completion of a 127 mile continuous
drive along the sea front aud a connec-
ting line of highways between the
various county seats of the state over
700 miles in length. 1t is a very diff.
cult piece of legislation to draft and fol-
that reason it was placed in the hands
of the attorney general who is an init
mate friend of the governor and one OF
the best legal minds in the state.
As soon as the bill is completed il
will be introduced in the upper branch
of the legislature by Senator o. H.
Brown, who feels confident of its pas
sage. The senator will be supported
by the population of the entire shore
which has become very much enthused
over the exter of the project and the
benefits which they will derive from
it. The construction of a road from
Atlantic Highlands to Cape May
means much to the resort interests OF
the eacoast which are enormous and
growing 81. 900, 900 in vakle each year.
This is particularly the cast in Ocean
and Cape May counties which are now
falling in line with Atlantic and Mon
mouth and developing rapidly. The
total assessed valuation of Cape May
county has doubled during the past
six years, while the increase in Ocean
county is almost as great. 1t is believed
by the leading men of these two coun-
ties that if the Ocean boulevard bill is
passed it will add additional impetus
to this development and consequently
to the wealth of the state.
The mere fact that New York state
has authorized the expenditure of $780,
GOO, 900 upon it's roads and highways
within the next ten years makes it inn
perative that New Jersey also authorize
an expenditure of money for this pur-
pose In order TO maintain its reputation
as the summer playground of America.
Fortunately, however, it is not neces.
sary In order to complete the proposed
Ocean boulevard and connecting coun-
ty seat highways to expend one fftieth
of this s~tupendous amount of money, as
it is but necessary to build Ia miles OF
roadsand five bridges to complete the
Ocean boulevard and but 1859 miles OF
roads to connect the county seats, as
most of the roads have already been
completed by the various municipali-
ties through which the system
extends.
1t is generally conceded that New
Jersey in its competition with New
York state, Massachusetts, Connecti-
cut and Rhode Islandsas an ideal place
of residence, both in the winter and
summer, must maintain its former
high road standard. A few years age
New Jersey stood first in the union foI
its good roads, now it occupies sixth
place. This condition cannot but
hamper the growth of the summer re-
sort which are the states greatest asset.
1t has been incorrectly stated that
this proposed Inauguration of a great
road system will interfere with the inn
provement of other roads in the state.
This not the case. II the improvement
is authorized by the members of the
Legislature a special appropriation will
be made, while the roads themselves
will be more than self supporting in
view of the subsequent increase iu
property values along their route and
the subsequent increase in the income
of the various counties and the state.
Whenlthe measure is giving a hear.
ing by a committee at Trenton, the old
state house will be packed by at least
1000 enthusiastic s~Jerseymen residing
along the ocean front, anxious tomain.
tain the reputation of the state as q
great resort center and the national
capitol of pleasure.
--s
In Memoriam
Daoolufiono Of .aapaat ood ooolo