New-York tribune., 1912-03-17
Jersey Autoists Plan Country
House at Mountain Lakes.
TO CLOSE CITY BUILDING
Postal Card Vote by Members
Will Probably Result in the
Adoption of Plan.

Automobolists OF Newark and vicinity.
and especially members of the New Jersey
Automobile and Motor Club, will have to
decide two momentous questions next
week The subjects are dovetailed and
| have to do with the closing OF the city
! clubhouse. at No. "a Park Place. Newark,
and the voting by postal card on a propo-
sition favored by the board of trustees for
the erection OF new country club at
Mountain Lakes, n. j.. a spot between
Boonton apd Denville, in Morris County.
On the propositions depends the virtual
| existence OF the club. for the maintaining
Of the costly Newark home has become Inn
practical and It means either a country
club with city offices or no club at all.
| The question of closing the city homo
will come before the clubs board Of trus-
| tees, which will meet in the clubhouse
Tuesday night They will probably take
vote to close the Newark building on May
t. when the three years lease on the house
| expires The plan now is to establish
smaller quarters in Newark. providing for
| Offices and lunch facilities, and suite OF
rooms in the new National Bank Building.
| at the corner of Broad and Mechanic
streets, is favored.
| The country club proposition will be put
UP to members direct by an appeal in let
ter form. This appeal will ask for an ex-
preston Of opinion by the members in
! postal card vote on the project TO erect a
clubhouse at Mountain Lakes. The board
Of trustees favors it, the house COMMITTEES
favors it and President Harry d. Bowman
makes special appeal for It.
| The club will receive by gift three-acre
site of land on the shores Of Mountain
Lake, twenty-five miles from Newark. 1t
| is located on the direct road from Newark
! and New York to Lake Hopatcong, and is
| close TO Morristown and Boonton. I'M
| proved roads are accessible all the way,
| with the single exception OF the 5-foot
boulevard from Boonton to Fox Hills,
which will be improved next summer under
the state road act. 1t is adjacent TO two
stations on the Delaware, Lackawanna &c
| Western Railroad, and within two minutes
of trolley line.
| The house committee which is headed by
| Robertson 8. Ward, who Is to be the next
president, in making its appeal to the
members says:
In making this appeal II should be
| borne in mind that We have taken into
consideration the experience gained during
| the last two years at Butler, where we
| have had a temporary country club, and
| that the large attendance OF members, es-
| peclally during last season, has indicated.
| and, in fact proved that this feature OF
| our club is not only desirable but neces-
! sary. About 5000 persons registered at the
clubhouse at Butler last summer, notwith-
| standing the very inadequate conditions
and also the comparative inaccessability OF
the place There is no doubt in our minds
that we need a home in the country which
will contain all the advantages OF real
country club and, therefore, your commit
tete, In making its decision. has taken the
above into full consideration. Here on the
shore Of a lO0-acre lake, the Mountain
Lakes, Inc. Company purposes 10 deed tho
club in fee simple about three acres OF
ground for the purpose Of aiding us IN the
erection of a suitable house.
Your committee suggests that the club
| accept this proposal and erect suitable
buildings which can be done for about &o,-
600. and IL Is further suggested that the
necessary financing be accomplished by
having the members subscribe TO per cent
bonds, which would be a direct mortgage
on the property, aud that sinking fund
| be established. 1t is further suggested
| that the bonds be issued in denominations
! Of $50 or 500 each, so that large NUMBER
of the members may avail themselves or
this exceptional opportunity to create a
summer and winter country home that
will be situated among surroundings which
will contribute TO maize it an object OF just
pride"