New-York tribune., 1912-04-07
Views Of Realty Experts.

"A city Of opportunities" is the terse
descriptive term applied 10 Long Branch
by we'll known realty expert who recent
ly investigated conditions in that famous
New Jersey resort city. Nowhere" he
added, is there spot blessed by such
combination Of favoring circumstances.
Ideally located with respect TO proximity
10 the Western Hemisphere's greatest cen
tres Of population, possessing transporta-
tion facilities equalled by few and sur
passed by no place five times its size,
healthfully situated on high and dry
ground. naturally highly picturesque and
attractive and with a richness of abun-
dance Of territory yet TO be developed. it's
a seaside paradise from an investment
standpoint"
Another real estate expert says "A cold,
calm review Of the facts not only bears
out this statement, but even makes It seem
conservative. It's astonishing indeed,
great and steady as has been the places
development in q period Of recent finan-
cially lean years, that these opportunities
haven't been appreciated. OF course,
there's an explanation. For many years
the places advantages were adequately
appreciated It was for decades the great
est Of all American resorts-without rival
the summer capital of the nation and
the one summer social capital as well. But
II also became a great racing centre, and
when a constitutional amendment barring
racing in the state was passed and little
later the magnificent clubhouses which
had become a feature OF the towns gay
life were closed Long Branch was thought
20 have received a knockout blow. The
news spread, the residents and property
owners despaired and sat down in the
ashes Of the old glory and mourned So
that the towns prestige was lost, and 1t
has been a long. hard pull to bring It
back and rehabilitate 1t on a substantial
business foundation.
This task. however. is fast being accom-
pIished. The physical aspect Of the ocean
front, and indeed most OF the territory
embraced in the city limits. has been radi-
cally changed for the better in the last
six or seven years. Innumerable handsome
residences have gone up-some palatiai
ones. costing. in one instance, 100000 ana
IN another over half that-but the hundreds
of cottages, built at an expense OF from
5000 10 $4,000. have meant more because
they have added TO the places population
most largely
Growth OF the commuter colony has
been a notable feature of the citys de-
velopment The quick and very cheap train
service between there and New York and
the combination of all modern city con-
venlences and comforts with the charms
'of country have lured many Gotham resi-
dents TO make their homes there all the
year around.
And this progress is along logical lines.
Long Branch has always been pre-eminent-
ly resort Of cottages or homes. From It's
earliest history, dating back TO just before
the Revolution. Il has been favorite place
for men TO bring their families for the
summer. In addition TO five Presidents
the distinguished men who have been coll
tagers here could be named by the hun
dreds Among these were George w.
Chllds, Admiral Farragut, WILLIAM Cullen
Bryant, James Gordon Bennett. Henry
Ward Beecher, Prince de Joinyille, General
"Phn" Sheridan, w. H. Vanderbilt, John
Hoey, George NJ. Pullman, the Drexels.
Van Rensselaers, Winslows seIgmans,
Livingstons and Guggenhelms.
THE cottagers have contributed greatly
toward making Long Branch the beauty
spot Of the coast. They have built pala-
tlaI summer homes, and they lave made
whole sections yeritable gardens, rivalling
those Of European royalty, with magnih-
cent lawns, trees. shrubbery, statues,
drives and fountains.