Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-03-30
RACEWAY
BOAT LIVERY
Bids To Be Received For
Boating Privilege.
OPEN ON FRIDAY
Park Commission Will Receive
Bids for the Privilege on
Friday Night.

The City Park Commission on Fri
day night has it's regular March meet
ing and the session will be of more
than ordinary interest to the public
On Friday night the Park Commission
will receive bids for the public boat
ing privileges along the raceway for
a period of five years.
So many people are interested IN
the boating along the raceway and in
the lakes that they await with antici-
patton the awarding of the boating
privilege.
During the past ten years there has
been complete change in the charac-
ter of boating along the raceway. Pre-
viously there were perhaps forty or
fifty private boat owners who had
what may be termed light yawl boats.
A few of the owners had private boat
houses along the lake shores and 9TH
ers tied their open boats along the
race banks and kept their oars in lit
tie houses along the banks. The
boating privilege was let and dozen
big, heavy row boats were kept under
the old shed for hire.
Jacob B. Jones and Chester Garri-
son then inaugurated a new system
and era for the lovers of boating
They leased from the city the old
frame house used at one time as a
stove mill by the iron company, moved
it, at their own expense, to the race
way, and the young men fitted it up
with lockers. A few canoes were pur-
chased and private owners kept these
frail, graceful craft in the big house.
Then there were more light canoes
purchased by private owners and the
old brick boiler house was leased from
the city and fitted up for the care Of
boats.
Later the Bridgeton Pleasure Boat
Company was incorporated and the
concern built one of the three large
locker houses. More demands from
private boat owners were made and
two other large houses, attractive and
we'll equipped, were added to the
plant. The company built waiting
room and Office and it is now provid-
ing lockers for nearly 250 private boat
owners.
The company has also established a
splendid canoe and skiff livery and
the public has been able to hire the
best boats and equipment. The COM
pany maintains an electric lighting
service, has built concrete wharves
and provided other advantages.
The Park Commission has adver-
tised for bids now for this privilege
to be let for five years. Specifications
setting forth the requirements have
been in the hands of the Clerk of the
Park Commission and are available
for anyone interested.
The requirement is for the bidder
to provide boat houses of the same
general character as now furnished 10
take care of the private boats and TO
have on hand at all times at least 30
canoes and skiffs for public hire. The
Park Commission has arranged that
the successful bidder for the privilege
can take over the locker houses of
the Bridgeton Pleasure Boat Company
at price which has been fixed and
approved by a competent building con-
tractor, or the bidder can replace the
present houses with buildings of
similar character
The Bridgeton Pleasure Boat Com
pany has for years maintained a high
standard to the very great satisfaction
of the community and more especially
to the private boat owners. The peo-
pie are anxious that the person who
shall secure the privilege for the next
five years will provide the same gem
eral character of service
There has been no suggestion of
any number of bidders for the privi-