The Washington herald., 1917-06-24
ATLANTIC CITY MORE
OPTIMISTIC Than EVER
Hotel Men Anticipating Busy Sea
son and Tremendous Prosperity.

Atlantic City, June 2s.-Nothing less
than a business cataclysm. probably,
could daunt the wonderful optimism
upon which the Greater Atlantic City
Of today has been founded.
Four weeks ago hotelmsn, scanning
terse announcements to the effect that
three Of the largest conventions sched-
uIed for the resort had been cancel
ed because OF the war" wondered
Just what this war was going to do
to Americas great playground!
Today many Of them are figuring
upon q summer season Of astonishing
crowds and tremendous prosperity be-
cause of the war! This Is character
istic Of Atlantic City. 1t Is the In
evitable result Of the spirit which
has made the name OF the resort
known all over the world. It IL re-
fection Of the confidence which i'm
PEELED pioneers in the big hotel In
dustry to spend hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars collectively in advertising
and keep their houses open during
the winter months at q great loss
during the time when Atlantic City's
now immensely profitable winter pat
ronage was in the making.
There are tangible reasons for the
conviction that the season is going
to be what old-timers up and down
the boardwalk term hummer" One
Of. these is the presence OF more than
the customary flock Of early seekers
for all-season reservations. Another
is the fact that virtually all of the
AmN n. Il
and Ventnor sections have been taken
at rentals equal to the best prices ever
paid there. Still another Is found
in the inquiries coming in daily from
distant places for summer domiciles
for people who formerly came for
week or two at the most and fell
prey to the lure OF this community
which still believes itself to be in ii:
infancy and plans constantly for
greater things.
Business VENTURES sueeessfuI.
As a matter Of fact. no business ven.
ture for which there was a demand
laptic, City. The gigantic Traymore
a 5000, 900 enterprise. Is a striking ex.
ample of that seashore truism. Ths
Traymore met a need personified BY
thousands of cosmopolitans accus,
toned to the marble foyers and the
OAO"ub InO hOLGl pal
aces Of New York and other large
cities. 1t has met 1t without affect
ing the popularity or the dividends oi
the other established hostelries of the
beach front; filled a distinct want b.
providing a submarine grill and 6
lotus room with their barbaric Ori.
entail scenic effects. the work, by tn,
way. of George Harding, a Phiia del
phia artist; by providing a ma-nifi
! cent dining hail in which !. 800 Pc som
were served last week at one time
/ In. short, IL has supplied the thing
which were needed to attract 1t to At
lantic City thousands who had neve
been here and probably never woul,
have come if Atlantic City had no
gone even New York one besssr n
the way Of the kind of aecommoda
tons to which It's, residents were ae
| custoned.
The Traymore is paying Just as tn
Marlborough-Ble -Blenheim has paid from
| the day the proprietors of that cele
brated, hotel challenged the skeptic
| by meeting a similar need at a tint
| when a larger measure OF confidenc
was required to Justify the expendi
ture. Today. like the Traymore, It 1
the habitat of diplomats, railway ex
ecutives, rest-seeking members o
Congress and large clientele Of dis
eliminating people who want the bes
accommodations they can procure.
The Breakers has been q financia
success from the date of Its openini
! last year. following an expenditure o
| $IO0. 900 upon a new. Boardwalk from
tage of imposing proportions and mos
complete equipment. A $500. 900 ex
penditure upon the st. Charles SINH
| larly has repaid the confidence Of 1t
| owners, because It also contributed t
a need which Atlantic City either ha,
\ to meet or suffer the fate of all insti
| tutions which stand still. Let Allan
| tic City once, stand still and 1t vii
| slide backward" sage once said
and a realization of this fact Is on
| of the impelling causes which drive
| the resort forward.
What has been said here OF tn
-Blenheim, the Traymore