The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-08-23
Mayor Says j.
People Are /
Making Money
Asks That All Look Around
And See Investments Made
And Their Increase
WEALTH PER
CAPITA is HIGH
Ruffu Says He Is Making
Money and Others Are To
Explains Why 1t Costs n
Entertain 10000, 900 Guests
a Year
BY MAYOR ANTHONY NJ RUFrU

BY MAYOR ANTHONY Nj RUFFU
Government statistics have been
quoted to show that the cost Ct
running Atlantic City is the highest
per capita, Of any municipality 81
the United States. This Statement
is being used against the admins
tratien with view of proving 1t
has been extravagant and wastefuI
of public funds. But the comparison
is not fair, Atlantic City fills POSI-
ton which is unique among cities
of a similar population. AS q pieas-
ure resort, we must provide for
the comfort and protection of far
greater population And the nature
of our business calls for puhlie
facilities TO, be on high plane.
This costs money for it requires
adequate forces of employees
The population is approximately
$1,000. But with our visitors the
inhabitants probably average 125,-
900 throughout the year Some
people have estimated that we en-
terrain 2o,eo0.000 guests in single
year. So when we figure cost of
upkeep, we have to consider ATTAIN
tic City as having population of
almost million
There is another side Of Va
picture to which little or no refer
ence is made in times such ~
these. How many people have b.
come wealthy in Atlantic City, We
hear much about losses in business
and certainly there are real losses
in some cases. personally have
had losses. but / also have made
money, and am making money, and
that is the situation with many
others here. There is ample evi
Idence of progress, Notwithstanding
complaints. Local firms have In
creased their investments and i'm
proved their hotels, shops or other
business plants by reason of steady
growth in patronage and increase
in earnings.
Look around you on the beach
front and throughout the resort
and you will see the improvement
and the expansion which has taken
place. This has not been done on
nothing. It costs money to build
and to develop facilities either in
public or private enterprises to
accommodate greater and greater
numbers of people.
Statistics are not always very
Interesting. but for sake of com
parison | have taken few figures
from the reports and Lar census
The total valuation Of property III
New Jersey cities in 1926 was
$5.44S,4SS.s53. According to The
1920 census there was S,155,000 In
habitants in the state, giving each
individual a per capita wealth Of
sI.72l.
Now consider the situation IN
Atlantic county as whole The
total valuation last year Was $685.,
303,sS6. With population Of 3d.
s16, according to the federal census
of 1920, this would give per
capita wealth fer county residents
amounting to s4.6Ss- Figures for
the city considered alone viii shoW
a greater wealth per capita here.
Strictly local statistics wiz elso
reveal that the wealth per capita
is twice as great as the liAhillty
per capita.
Much OF the so-called 1oes y
business is loss Of what ae1ls
people think they ought to nake.
even while they are realizing i
good profit ON their Investment
We like to receive, but not to nv
out in Atlantic City That. as ~
lit, Ia our main trouble. ~