The Washington herald., 1910-08-22
BEDLOB Boy LOYAL
TO ATLANTIC CITY
Mixes in Public Fight for
Power Boat WharVeS.
QUESTION OF RIPARIAN RIGHTS
WeII-known WashingtOnian, Now
Occupying Summer Home on Jer-
sey Coast, Grants Interview on
Controversy and Gives Solution for
Steamship Service.

Or. Edward Bedloe. better known 90
Capital residents as Bedloe Bey. is back
in Atlantic City, and his presence at that
resort is heralded by his mixing in the
fight for the construction Of a power
boat wharf adjoining his property.
Bedloe Bey is in the fight for keeps.
as may be seen by the following inter
view granted at his summer home yes
terday. Dr. Bedloe was found sitting on
the porch of his residence. buried behind
huge perfecto. engaged in shooting of
mosquitoes and evolving plans for his
fight in the public interest"
He was asked about the controversy in
which he Is now taking a leading part.
For Public Welfare.
My plans are wholly in the public
interest and for the public welfare" ne
replied. and are in thorough accord
both with my loyal devotion to this most
magnificent seaside resort in the world.
and With my rights as a citizen and as
an owner of property. 1t is a funda
mental proposition that the riparian rights
Of the city are limited to the termination
OF beginning Of the avenues that end or
start at the seashore. Now, all the
avenues east Of Caspian avenue have
their examinations at the stranJ. But
Caspian avenue begins or ends, as you
choose TO express il, at IT'S intersection
with Water street. which street extends
along the shore outside OF the northwest
erly terminal portion OF the Boardwalk.
Water street is the boundry line Of the
property Of the late George p. Way. now
owned by Judge Thompson"
How about RIPARIAN rights?" asked the
interviewer.
The question Of RIPARIAN rights" re-
piled DR.. Bedoe brisxly, does not apply
to the proposed Improvement nor 10 the
reclamation of my property. That is sit
uated above the head of the Boardwalk
and adjoins the wharf Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. The deed OF record at Mays
Landing gives me the ownership Of
frontage on Water street OF hfty-fve feet.
whence my property extends out 20 feet
TO low water mark. with an outer line
along low water mark OF 10 feet
Upon this keystone shaped site formerly
stood the old Inlet House. But storms
washed away the land and the building.
leaving OF the original tract a land
area Of only about thhty-siK by
hfty-fve feet. II IS Of interest 10 observe
that the United States government has
granted permission to erect such works
as jetties. piers. bulkheads. sc, for the
purpose Of retaining the land now under
water"
1.-The only difficulty. then. rises out Of
a misunderstanding"
From Parents.
Most assuredly that is a fact. The
trouble lies in comparing the existing to-
Biography with that OF record. I inherited
the property from my parents, who ac-
Quired their ownership long before the
Incorporation in March. 1854. OF the pres
ent Atlantic City. Before that date this
region was known as AbsecOn Beach.
The name Absecon is OF Indian deriya-
ton. and its original meaning was down
by the sea" My father was a farmer In
Delaware at a place called Townsend.
four miles from Middletown. He suf-
fered from malaria, and In accordance
with the advice OF his physician moved
with his family TO the seashore. That
was a journey somewhat more difficult
than now. In those days the only means
OF transportation across New Jersey was
by oyster wagons from Camden TO Abse-
con and thence by boat across the bay TO
Absecon Beach. I am reliably informed
that it was during this migration, while
our party halted at Camden. that I first
breathed the air OF New Jersey. Thus. /
am a native citizen OF the State In those
days the visitors who endured the print
tive means OF transportation were wont
to find shelter and entertainment at the
home Of jeremiah Leeds and his good
wife Amelia They had two sons, Chalk
ley and Barley Leeds. The former was
the first mayor of Atlantic City. while
Barley was its first postmaster.
Those are interesting "reminiscences.
II refer TO those early days" replied
DR.. Bedloe. -only to indicate my reason
of birth and ancestry for a loyal and de-
voted interest in ali that concerns the
growth and development Of Atlantic City
I contemplate no enterprise, and l assert
with that attitude ! am moved to make
this frank declaration because Of a re-
ported alteration between men employed
by my contractor and certain building in
spectors of the city"
Activity I'm washington.
The interviewer called the attention OF
DR.. Bedloe 20 the published announce
ment that Mai. r. R. Raymond, of the
Engineer Corps Of the United States
army, has written TO Mayor Stoy for a
presentation Of available statistics and
arguments in favor OF a deeper channel.
TT is said here" remarked the inter-
viewer, that the governments interest IN
this subject is result Of your activity
at Washington"
Il can say in regard to that kindly
comment" said DR. Bedloe that any
thing l may have done may approprl-
ately be supplemented by the affirmatory
testimony Of Mayor Stoy and other
prominent citizens, including Councilmen
Busby, Bacharaeh, Kessler. and other
progressfves, when the board Of river
and harbor engineers convenes in this
city 20 consider the ways and means OF
making this an important port by max
ing the entrance to the inlet safe for
steamships carrying both freight and pas
| sengers. Therein lies the solution or
abundant supplies for households and
hotels at reasonable prices. as we'll as
the opening OF new and delightful means
Of transportation by water from the
cities OF New York and Philadelphia"