El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-05

which, as sad experience has proved,
are hardly more enduring than wood,
owing to the destructive action Of salt
water and rniStladen sea air. Indeed,
one may, in spots. poke ones finger an
inch deep into the metal supports. But
concrete appears to satisfy all require
ments admirably and before very long
it will have entirely replaced steel in
the construction Of the wood paved
roadway.
The Concrete Move.
There Is a movement now on foot to
replace the wooden deck" of the
Boardwalk with concrete. But objection
is made that it would be damp Under
present circumstances. after a rain it
almost Immediately dries; concrete
would hold the wet Furthermore,
moisture from the sea air would con-
dense upon the surface Of the artifi-
cia1 stone and keep 1t wet much Of
the time, rendering it uncomfortable
to walk upon and bad for women's
skirts. 1t would reflect light and heat
unpleasantly, and be too much like q
city pavement.
Another plan is to make the deck"
Of wooden blocks, which would be
smoother, affordiug a better surface to
walk or ride upon. The wheeled chairs,
in a somewhat ,bumpy fashion over the
planks- But the latter in all likeli-
hood will be allowed to remain. What
the people who go Atlantic City want
is a boardwalk; they would not be
satisfied with anything else. It is
largely matter Of sentiment. When,
in 1896, the steel piles were put in,
certain persons wanted to change the
name of the thoroughfare and TO call
1t an "esplanade," but the great Amer
lean public would have none of such
a notion.
National Thoroughfare.
The Boardwalk, one should realize.
is no mere local affair. 1t is in a
sense a national thoroughfare-the
great summer street Of the United
States, and the common meeting ground
of people from all parts of the coun-
try No other place in the union is so
cosmopolitan. The Californian Is as
much at home there as the man from
Philadelphia or the citizen of Texas.
It is the great health and amusement
resort Of the common people, having
the notable advantage of cheapness for
those who cannot afford to spend much
money. while for the rich there are
in luxurious and pro-
portionately expensive hotels
The unthoughtfu1 many who visit
Atlantic City, however, have little no
ton of the more intimate peculiarities
OF the Boardwalk and the beach along
which 1t runs. The landward edge Is
fringed by a row of shops Of every i'm
aginable kind. which offer for sale all
sorts Of merchandise from candy to
dry goods There are also clairvoyants.
palmists, and various other dealers IN
the mysterious; but these are merely
Incidental, for there is no proper like
ness between this roadway and the
street, of Coney Island. Rents are en-
ormous1y high. A seasons occupancy
OF a mere window space six feet square
costs q thousand dollars. The pur-
chase price of real estate along the
most desirable dozen blocks, from
Maryland avenue to Michigan avenue,
Is $4,000 front foot.
Sunday, Big Day.
Sunday Is the big day of the week
On the Boardwalk. On that day the
shopk eepers and amusement proprie-
tors expect to do nearly as much bust
ness as in the other six put together
But there is one block that is always
closed on the Lords day; 1t is owned
~ Philadelphia Quakers. who value
heir religion more than gain, and