Class Book. IV? til Copyright^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSOi HE History o or Atlantic Gity ALU. 1899 SECONH OOPV. I8a9. TENNESSE AVE -r- -^ ^r- ^ ■ V FR0 "> THE BEACH J*. m^. , 1 VIEW FROM Light House in 1898. » ^- -- ..it- «^^T ysFiRST Big Wheel. ■ ^^-^ . -^ % f" NL.ET FROM THE L16HTHOUSE IN DAYS OF OLD" SPECIAL EDITION FOR THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY The Daily Union HISTORY OF ATLANTIC CITY, N.J CONTAINING SKETCHES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT OF ATLANTIC CITY AND COUNTY. WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS SPECIALLY PREPARED BY I JOHN F. HALL AND GEORGE W. BLOODGOOD ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DAILY LNION PRINTING COMPANY ATLANTIC CITY, N. J. 1899 c Fl4-4r 38155 COPYRIGHTED JUNE, l8gr, BY JOHN F. HALL Twoconet received. UW\ ^ /O Cable of Contents. PAGE Introduction 7 The Earliest Settlers 9 Atlantic City Before the Railroad 11 First Visit and the First Train 13 The First Railroad 17 Land Company and Surf Hotel Association 25 Building of the Narrow ( iauge 31 The West Jersey Railroad 35 The Climate t,j The Invalid 39 ( )ur City Water Supply 43 Gravity System of Sewerage 51 Our Cottage Homes 54 Atlantic City Hotels 59 Easter at the Shore 63 The Boardwalk and Ocean Piers 69 Our Public Schools 75 Some of the Leading Churches 8i Great Advance in Real Estate 91 Atlantic City Homoeopathic Club 05 Three National Flanks 105 Cost of City Government 1 07 Beautiful Lougport 109 Golf at the Country Club 1 1 1 Neighboring Brigantine 113 On Bay and Ocean 1:5 City Officials, 1899 — 1900 117 Cist of Illustrations. BANKS 104 BEACH FRONT VIEWS. Bell Buoy 113 Boardwalk and Steel Tier 71 Boardwalk and Young's Pier. . . 70 Net Haul on Young's Pier 72 Old Time Bathers 29 Old Whaler Beached 10 Sail Boat in Clouds 23 Scenes at the Inlet 24 BUILDINGS. Allen's New Store 10fi I'.aehavaeh's Block His CHURCHES so. 85 COUNTRY CLUB Ill IIO.NKEOl'ATHIC CUB. Baily. A. W 96 Balliet, L. Dow 100 Corson, \V. A 100 Cromwell. Lydia H 99 i irosby, Geo. W 97 Crosby, O. H '.is Fleming, John R 95 Gardiner, W. G 99 Munson. M. 1 07 Sooy, W. (' 101 Westney, A. W 9S Youngman, M. D 101 LEADING HOTELS. Galen Hall 103 [slesworth 30 Luray 21 Rudolf 110 St. Chafes' 50 Schautler's 60 Seaside 112 Shelbourne 62 Traymore 116 United States 59 Windsor 16 OLD LANDM IRKS Dennis Cottage 94 Doxisrhty's Cabir 9 First City Hall 52 Friends' Meeting House 89 House of Andrew Leeds 11 House of John Leeds 12 House of James Leeds 12 House of Chalkley Leeds (First Mayor) 38 House of Ryan Adams 114 In Days of Old (Frontispiece.) Mansion House 93 Old Ocean House 46 Old School House 102 Old Surf House 26 Mews of Long Ago 92 PRIVATE RESIDENCES. Adams. ('. .1 65 Allen, George 40 Champion. John B 56 Crosby, Geo. W., M. D 57 Currie, Geo. F 55 Down. L. A 56 Evans. Charles .",7 Evans, Hon. Lewis 53 Fleming. John R., M. V) 53 Godfrey. Carlton. Esq 53 Godfrey, B. C, Esq 57 Hemsley. Fred 55 Jacobs, Mrs 66 Jordan, A. M 64 Kelley, S. H 54 Munson. M. L.. M.l> 53 North. James. M. 1) 47 Petroff. E. J 40 Quigley. F. P 45 Reed, E. L., M. D 5S Somers. ('apt. Samuel 6S Sweigard, A. L 53 Thompson, Hon. Jos 56 (Jpham, A. B 44 Wahl, Win. F 57 Young. John L 56 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 57 PUMPING STATION 51 Introduction. ^- UNDREDS nf bright writers have found pleasure and profit in picturing Atlantic City, these many years, and it is more of a pastime than a task for one who, during the last twenty years has been writing of and for the city, to tell the story of its phenomenal growth and gratifying prosperity. From the most inaccessible and least habitable corner, this island has become the most populous and attractive business centre of Atlantic County. From a briar-covered area of duck ponds and sand hills, these acres have become a modern city of tine hotels and handsome cottages, and attractive stores and business blocks: a summer health resort, and winter sanitarium, with regularly laid out and paved streets: ample water supply; complete sewerage; electric lights; first-class fire protection, and all the appointments of a modern city. From being the home and plantation of a stalwart soldier oi the Revolution, the scene of shipwrecks, and a resort for an occasional sports- man, and summer "beach parties," this strip of sand on the edge of the Continent has become famed throughout the world as the most popular bathing resort in summer and the most comfortable and satisfactory health resort in winter, for persons who would escape the vigorous climate of Xorthern cities, and find rest and milder temperature not too far from great business centres. Natural causes and well warranted enterprises have operated to effect the remarkable changes of forty-five vears. The decline of Atlantic County in thrift, and manufacturing enterprises, is not less striking than the rise of Atlantic City like a Phoenix from forbidding sand dunes to be what it is to-day. , English Quakers and their associates, two hundred years ago, took possession of West Jersey in search of religious liberty, and laid the foun- dation for the thrift and progress which has followed through their descendants. They dealt justly with the Indians and lived peaceably with each other, and made it possible for an educated, religious, and pros- perous people to subdue the wilderness, erect glass and iron works, build ships out of the cedar swamps, and enjoy the great natural privileges of the bays and rivers of the coast. In spite of the devastation of the War for Independence the progress ol West Jersey continued. Roads were opened, churches built, anil good old-fashioned families raised. The sailors and whalers from Long Island and Xew England moved down the coast, till the territory now included in Atlantic County, at the beginning of the century, had a population of four thousand, which fifty years later, when the first railroad was built, had increased to ten thousand people. To sketch clearly and concisely the honorable record of Atlantic County, since it was created, and forge accurately the strong links in the interesting chain of events that have made Atlantic City as the stranger finds it to-day, its favored location, out in the sea. its sanitary conditions and surroundings, its commendable enterprises, its leading citizens, its popular features, up-to-date hotels, and unsurpassed railroad facilities will be the scope and purpose of this book. ilSt., TLbc Earliest Settlers. PREVK )US to the advent of Jeremiah Leeds upon "Absecond" beach as a permanent settler, there had been squatters or temporary residents here. Whatever title to the lands there might have been at that early day seems to have vested in the numerous Steelman family or in the West Jersey proprietors, successors to the King- before the War for Independence. The abundance of game and fish, the frequency of shipwrecks and the undisturbed isolation of the island, must have made it an attractive spot for refugees from war or justice. Several cabins had been built and clearings made among the sand- hills when Jeremiah first stepped foot upon the soil, making it first his temporary and in about 17S3 his permanent abode. These different clearings or "fields" as they were called, even after Leeds little by little acquired title and control to almost the entire island, lore different names. "Dan's Field." so called from its traditional pioneer, Dan Ireland, contained several acres and was located within gun shot of where the Elks' Building now stands. The ruins of an old shanty are still remembered by surviving members of the Leeds family. "Fid's Field," so called from Fred- erick Steelman. its first cultivator, was between Arctic and Baltic. Tennessee and New York avenues, where Richard Hackett built his first house in 1844 and lived for nearly or quite fifty years. "Samp's Field," which took its name from 1 [ezediah Sampson, included the present site of Central M. F. Church and the First Baptist Church, on Pacific Avenue. "Inlet Field" was a leveled clearing, where the old salt works were built at the Inlet, at present mostly located in the Inlet Channel outside the Boardwalk. COUGHTY'S CABIN, BUILT 1740. "Beach Field"' was near the corner of Massachusetts and Atlantic Avenues, nearer the beach than the "old field" where pioneer Leeds spent the last lift\ years of his long life. On the inside beach at South Atlantic in an obscure spot was a cave or hiding place occupied for a time during the war of 1812 by one Bill Day. an alleged deserter, who was employed by llezediah Sampson, wdio lived near, ami who would give Day a signal when danger was nigh so he could escape to his cave and elude his pursuers. OLD WHALER BEACHED. 10 Btlantic (Ttt\> before the IRailroafc. IX 1852, when the first railroad was agitated, seven houses stood where Atlantic ( ity stands to-day. The first of these was the last residence of Jeremiah Leeds. It was still occupied by his family and was a frame structure standing at the corner of Baltic and Massachusetts Avenue. Soon after the death of Jeremiah Leeds in [838 a two-story addition was built to it and the widow. "Aunt .Millie." as she was called, then forty-eight year- 1 if age, engaged more extensively in the business of taking hoarders. Sportsmen from the city then as now found a visit to the seashore enjoyable. For ten or a dozen years "Aunt Millie" had the only licensed house on the island. In 1853. just before the building of the railroad, she rented the property to one Thomas McXeelis and went to live with her oldest son. Chalkier, where -In- spent the last twenty years of her life. Close to it >tood the cedar log house in which patriarch Leeds lived many years. This was built of good cedar logs, shingled on the outside and sealed with plowed and grooved boards inside. It had two rooms below and plenty of chamber room above. An ordinary man could walk under the mantle into the large open fireplace which had but one jamb, so that large logs could be rolled in and one end burned off. when the log could be pulled up into the fire. This saved chopping wood. This house was used as a shed and storeroom when a larger frame house was built near it later, and was finally torn down in 1853. when the railroad building and the cedar logs were con- verted into shingles. The next house in point of age standing at that time was the resi- dence of Andrew Leeds, youngesl of Jeremiah by his first wife. It stood where a section of it still stands as a part of the Island House property, near the drawbridge. It was built about 1815 and was a conspicuous landmark from house of andrew leeds. the bav side of the island. 11 The next house was at the old salt works near the head of Baltic \\cnue, where the Inlet channel now flows. It was built ami occupied l'\ one John Bryant, who operated the salt works till one John Horner came here from Tuckerton. when Bryant moved to Absecon. The building: is still standing, being a portion of the residence of Irving Lee on Penn- sylvania Avenue. Another of those island homes was the residence of Ryan Adams, at Delaware and Arctic Avenues. In it the first city election was held. The building is still standing-, hut not on the original site. The next house was the home of John Leeds, a son of Andrew, at Arctic near Indiana Avenue. This building is still in use. The sixth house was the home of James Leeds, another son of Andrew, at Arctic and Arkansas Avenues. It now forms part of the second story of a tenement on Arkansas Avenue above Arctic. HOUSE OF JOHN LEEDS HOUSE OF JAMES LEEDS. The seventh and last house to be built on the island before the railroad was that of Richard Hackett and Judith Leeds. It was erected in 1844 and was demolished in 1898. It stood in an open square near Baltic Avenue between Xew York and Tennessee. The first log hut that was occupied by Jeremiah Leeds when he first came to this island in 1783 to live permanently, stood near the corner of Arctic and Arkansas Avenues in what was afterwards known as the old Leeds Field. In this rude cabin the children by his first wife were born. Till the narrow gauge railroad was built in 1877. a cedar tree marked the site of the fireplace of this first log house, which was torn down when Jeremiah built a better one nearer the Inlet. That cedar tree is still [ire- served as a post and is the property of Mrs. Abbie Leeds, of this city. In addition to these seven houses which stood within the present city limits, there were two or three houses at or near South Atlantic City, where different families have alwavs lived. 12 Zhc ffixst Dtsit anb tbc jfiret Grain. THE first visit of the new railroad directors to the site of the proposed bathing village was made in June. [852. After a tedious drive by carriage across the country they reached Absecon and thence proceeded by boat to the forbidding sand hills which little suggested the site of a city. But the discouraging aspect of the island was made an argument in favor of buying up the land at a nominal figure, which the railroad when operated would vastly enhance in value. The part\. consisting of Samuel Richards. \V. Dwight, Bell and Rich'd B. Osborne. Dr. Jonathan Pitney and Gen. Enoch Doughty, landed at the Inlet and spent a few hours inspecting the plantation or estate of the Leeds family. They came unannounced, received no welcome, and were unable even to get dinner before the}' left for the mainland. Some of them questioned if the soft meadows would bear up a railroad train or an engine, but were assured by the engineer, Richard P.. Osborne, that their fears were groundless. The extension of the road from Winslow to the ocean all depended upon reaching the beach and successfully establishing a "bathing village" thereon. At the meeting of the directors, August 25, [852, the location of the road to Winslow was settled and John < '. DaCosta succeeded Thomas II. Richards as director and was elected President of the small board. September 28, 1852, Samuel Richards was chosen Secretary, pro tern., and the action of a special committee was confirmed to buy one thousand tons of iron at fifty-five dollars per ton. December 10, [852, Andrew K. Hay, was elected President to succeed John C. DaCosta. who resigned. January 7, JN53. DaCosta and Richards were given full power to close the contract for ferry-boats and property at the Vine street wharf. January 31. 1853, committee reported they had purchased 168 acres of Mark Reed at ten dollars per acre on Absecon Peach. March 10. 1853. sale of land to Wm. Neligh, at one hundred dollars per acre, confirmed, provided he give security that one wing of the United States Hotel on the property be completed by July 1st, following. n Ma) 30, [853. Executive Committee authorized to negotiate five hundred thousand dollars of the company's bonds. January -'. [854. Train time adopted to and from Atlantic. Richards and others to arrange for the opening' of the road, six hundred tickets to be issued. September 2, [852, the construction work was sublet to P. O'Reilly and he two days later received bids from sub-contractors for sections of one mile each. The crossing of the Camden and Amboy railroads at Tenth Street in Camden was effected one night in Jul}'. 1853. C >n June 20th of that year the whole arrangement of the contract for the construction was given over by 1'. ( 1'Reilly to John H. Osborne. civil engineer, who completed the remaining portion, which was about three-fourths of the whole contract. Kails were laid at Absecon, and also from Camden to Iladdonfield in August, 1853. Passenger trains commenced running from Camden to Haddonfield the same month and to Winslow, 27 miles, regularly in January, [854. The winter had been mild and open and favorable to work on the railroad, but in February a storm tide made a clean sweep of the road- bed which had been graded on the meadows, and again the following- April a terrible northeast storm prevailed for a week, flooding the meadows, sweeping away mile,- of the graded roadbed which was ready for the track and scattering the ties and wheelbarrows for miles along the coast. This was the storm which wrecked the emigrant steamer Powhattan on Long Beach. April 10. 1N54. when 311 lives were lost and some eighty bodies were picked up and buried in this county. The track was then laid on the original sod where it remained securely for twenty-five years. Damages were repaired and the whole work completed in time to celebrate the opening of the entire line with a special excursion on July 1. 1854. The pioneer excursion train of nine cars, attached to the new engine "Atsion" steamed out of the Lamden station at 0:30 o'clock that morning. There were six hundred invited guests aboard, stockholders, merchants and newspaper men. from Philadelphia, Camden, and New York. Several stops were made at Haddonfield, Waterford, Winslow, and Absecon, where salutes with guns and floral welcomes were given in honor of the event. It was the consummation of twenty-two months of hard work which involved the expenditure of $1,274,030 with only $240. 100 paid in for capital stock. The train arrived at the United States Hotel, which then faced on Atlantic Avenue, at 12 M., making the run of 58 6 10 miles in In mrs. A banquet was spread in the big saloon of the new hotel. Judge Grier presided and spirited addresses were made by Henry C. Carey, 14 Abraham Browning, J. < . renEyck, Gen. W'yncoop. John C. DaCosta, Thomas II. Dudley, and others. Thai evenl was celebrated by the survivors twenty-five years later, after a beautiful city had been built and when the wisdom and enterprise of the pioneers and promoters could be appreciated and their fondesl anticipations be so fully realized. Every train that has crossed the meadows since has added more or less to the business, wealth and population of the island. The train and its guests made the return trip in equally good time, leaving the hotel at five or six o'clock. Three days later the road was opened to travel and trains run regularly, ddie earnings of the road, the first full year, ending with June. 1855, was $122,415, which was more than Mi". Richards' first and only estimate, and the expenses were $71,751. Robert Frazer was the faithful and trusted Secretary and Treasurer of the Company from November, [852, till November, [863, ti years, and was then chosen President of the Board, serving till 1 X7 3. He was both a lawyer and a civil engineer and filled these important positions with great satisfaction. WINDSOR HOTEL. 16 Zbc fftrst IRailroab. THE FOUNDING OF ATLANTIC CITY. T' i the charm and fascination of the ocean chiefly musl be attri the remarkable growth and prosperity of Atlantic City. In [850. when a railroad in this direction first began to be talked about, Atlantic County had a population of 8,961. The sea captain- and vessel owner-, oystermen and fishermen, along the bay shore, and the wood choppers, charcoal burners, and shipbuilders, and glassblowers, along the ri\ers. were not clamoring for railroad facilities. Indeed they ga the enterprise very little encouragement. They were busy and prosperous, with their -hip-, and their industries, carrying glass, iron. wood, char- coal, oysters and clam- to New York, and getting supplies in return. Tin iations and habits of many of them were more of the sea than of the land, especially in matters affecting their livelihood. Limited lines of travel were over sandy road-. There were hut a few miles of railroad in the State. To the sagacity and enterprise chiefly of Philadelphia merchant- and manufacturers who owned vast tracts of land with glass and iron works, particularly in Camden County, is due the credit under such circumsta of sending the first iron horse to this seashore resort, opening up a favored and important section, establishing on this island a seashore city, and fine farming town- along the line, bringing thousands of immigrants and vastly increasing the wealth and population of the territory. ( If the live and enterprising merchant- who fostered and promoted the building of the first railroad, the Richard- family figured conspicuous! William Richards, the first of that name ti 1I1 Jersey, a grand-011 of Owen Richards, who came to this country from North Wale-, before 1718. William Richards was a man of greal physical strength and untiring energy. He acquired a vast estate at Batsto, at the headwater- of the Mullica river, and prospered as a manufacturer of glass and iron, lie -:■ feet four inches in height, and i- said to have been as threat in mind and integrity as be was physically. He was t!ie father of nineteen children, fourteen -on- and five daughters, by hi- two wives. He died at Alt. Holly in 1823, aged 85 years. One of his inaii\ sons was Thomas Richards, the father of Samuel, the principal promotor of Atlantic City. Thomas became a glass manufacturer on a portion of his father's estate, at Jackson, a small village in Camden County, near what is now Atco, anil his son Samuel became a partner with him i>re\ ions to 1850. Main team- were required to do the heavy hauling of the raw material for glass and the manufactured products, between Jackson and Philadel- phia, and to reduce this hea\ \ expense a railroad from Camden towards the seashore began to he talked about before 1850. foseph 1'orter. at this time, had glass works at Waterford, and was the owner of six thousand acres of land. Andrew K. lla\ and William Coffin were making glassware at Winslow and owned land there. William W. Fleming owned thirty thousand acres and was engaged in the same business at Atsion, a few miles above, ami one Hammonton Coffin had owned land and operated a similar plant at the foot of the lake at what is now known as "Old Hammonton." Jesse Richards, a brother of Thomas, succeeded his father at Batsto. and was actively operating an estate of fifty thousand acres, including an iron furnace and glass works. Stephen Colwell and W. Dwight Bell operated a similar estate at Weymouth., ten miles south from Batsto, covering one hundred thousand acres, belonging to- the estate of their father-in-law, Samuel Richards, another sou of William. Gen. Enoch Doughty, at Absecon, owned an estate of twenty-five thousand acres, and was supplying ship timber, gathering tar. and selling wood and charcoal. Or. Jonathan Pitney had been practicing medicine in Absecon and surrounding territory for thirty years when the railroad question began to lie agitated in 1850. Since he rode into Absecon on horseback, with his saddlebags, from Mendham. Morris County. X. J., one May morning in [820 and announced that he had come to stay. Dr. Pitney had become one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizen- of Atlantic County. He had taken an active part in the creation of Atlantic County from a part of old Gloucester in 1837, and had always keen as he continued to he till his death, a close personal friend ^i Gen. Enoch Doughty, who was High Sheriff of old Gloucester County before the division. In 1S44 Dr. Pitney represented Atlantic County in the State Constitutional Convention. In 1848 he was a candidate for Congress. Fore 1S40 he had agitated and advocated the building of a lighthouse for the protection of ships along this dangerous coast. When the railroad question came up in 1S50 no man was more prominent or influential than he, or helped more to shape matters to speedy conclusions. He seems to have been the firsl physician to appreciate the beneficial effecl of ocean air upon invalids and the manifold ad antages of a "bathing village" upon Absecon beach. Dr. Pitnej and Gen. Doughty on their frequenl trips to Philadelphia, met am! discussed the railroad project with Andrew K. I lay. Gen. Joseph Porter, Thomas and Samuel Richards and others, some of whom questioned tlit- advisability of extending the railroad farther than the glassworks al W'inslow or the iron works at Weymouth. It was undoubted!) due largely to the work and influence of Dr. Pitney that the railroad was continued to the- beach, as he seems to have understood the value and importance of the coast region better than his contemporaries. It was in the little old store of John Doughty on the hill at Absecon that Dr. Pitney and Gen. Enoch Doughty dictated the first draft of the charter for the Camden and Atlantic Railroad. As they dictated, John I loughty, the son. wrote it out. That was in the winter of 1X51. Whether this first draft was later revised and amplified l>y Abraham Browning, counsel for the incorporators, can only he conjectured. But it was largely due to the personal efforts of Dr. Pitney, as well as to the unflagging and persistent support of Samuel Richards, who followed the hill through the Legislature, ami to the resolute advocacy of Assemblyman John A. Boyle, of Atlantic County, that the charter became a law March 10, 1X52. The Camden and Amboy politicians waived their objections at last, on the grounds that this "air line" to the coast was an impossible scheme that could never he consummated. No railroad without a town at the terminus could ever amount to anything. The incorporators mentioned in the charter were John W. Mickle, Abraham Browning. Samuel Richards, Joseph Porter, Andrew K. Hay. John H. Coffin, John Stranger, [esse Richard-. Thomas II. Richards. Edmund Taylor, Joseph Thompson, Robert B. Risley, Enoch Doughty, and Jonathan Pitney. Samuel Richards had been from the firsl one of the most active of these men. He was thirty years of age, of pleasing manners, tireli energ perseverance and great ingenuity, being the patentee of several useful inventions, lie accomplished what others regarded impossible, and entered heart and soul into this enterprise of railroad building. It was Ik who on May 22, 1S52, wrote the first letter to engineer Richard B. Osbi instructing him to make the preliminary survey as ordered hv the incor- porators. .Mr. ( Isborne completed his work on the 18th of June following, after which the company was organized and the location of the road ordered to he made by the directors. Samuel Richards made the first 10 estimate of the probable business of the proposed road, and used it as an argument in favor oi the enterprise. Some oi the objects of the line which he had in view wore: First, i" secure better transportation for the glass works at Jacks \\ aterford. Winslow, Batsto, ami Weymouth. Second, to convert large tracts of waste lands, owned by his relatives and associates into fruit and truck farm-. Third, to open up South Jerse) b\ establishing an attractive bathing resort at the nearest possible point from Philadelphia. \t a meeting oi the director.- held in Philadelphia, June ti. 1852, Jesse Richards. Esq., was chosen President, and Andrew 1\. Hay. Secretary. The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, that John \\ . Mickle, Samuel Richards, Joseph Porter, Andrew 1\. Hay, Enoch Doughty, Jonathan Pitney, Jesse Richard-, and Abraham Browning, he severally authorized to procure subscriptions :>< the capital stock of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad, and report at the next meeting of the Company. In the diary of the late VV. Dwight Bell, occurs this memorandum. "June 22, 1852. Meeting at the house of Samuel Richards. Fifth Street, Philadelphia, oi people interested in construction of Camden and Atlantic Railroad. Present. Samuel Richards. W. Dwight Bell, Enoch Doughty, Jonathan Pitney, Joseph Porter. Stephen Colwell, Thomas Richards, and SS< Richards." Samuel Richards continued in the Board of Directors twenty-four years, and was an active officer as Director or Assistant President. The following letter indicates as much. Richard B. Osborn, Ess Pear Sir: — A resolution was passed at the last meeting oi the Board requesting you to prepare for filing in the office oi the Secretary oi State that portion of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad commencing where it crosses the White Horse Road, and ending at Longacoming. Yours respectfully, S \MI'K1. RICHARDS. Philadelphia. October _> 1 . [852 Sec. pro tent. At another meeting of the Board thai same year he offered a n lution which was adopted, deciding on the name of "Atlantic City," a city on the Atlantic for this resort, as Mr. Osborne had suggested on the map which he had prepared. He thought there was as much in a name here as in Philadelphia, and by his wise suggestion and prompt action the THE LURAY. 21 names of the streets and avenues were named for the several States of this land of liberty, and the great oceans o\ the world. The old minute book of the Company gives a report of the subscrip- tions to stock, fifty dollars a share, at the meeting held June 24, 1852, in the Arch Street House, Philadelphia. Shares Shares. Colwell & Bell 400 John Lucas 50 Thomas Richards 200 John 11. Doughty 1 Joseph Porter 200 Daniel Doughty 1 \ l\. 1 lay 200 Robert B. Leeds och Di nighty too Richard 1 lacketi VV. W. Fleming 100 Chalklej S. Leeds William Coffin too John Leeds Jonathan Pitney _\> lames Lee. Is Jesse Richards 20 John C. DeCosta 40 Thomas 11. Richards 20 At this meeting the following directors were elected: Andrew K. Haw ( hairman, and Samuel Richards, Secretary. William Coffin, Joseph Porter, Thomas 11. Richards, Enoch Doughty, Jonathan Pitney, Stephen Colwell, and VV. VV. Fleming. The following is an official list of all the Presidents of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad: August 25, [852, John C. DaCosta. elected President. December to, [852, Vndrew l\. Hay, elected President. April 1. [853, John C. DaCosta, elected President. September 1. 1854, Samuel Richards, elected President pro tern. April 6, [855, George VV. Richards, elected President. July [3, 1857, John Brodhead, elected President. October J- 1 . [863, Joseph W. Cooper, elected President. December 18, [863, Robert Frazer, elected President. October 23, [873, Andrew 1\. Hay, elected President. November 18, 1875, William Massey, elected President pro tern. November [8, 1875, Samuel Richards, elected Assistant President. March 10. [876, John Lucas, elected President. October 25, 1S77. Charles D. Freeman, elected President. February 22, [883, William L. Elkins, elected President. Dr. Pitney and Gen. Enoch Doughty were instrumental in securing subscriptions to shares of stock throughout the County. From original papers the following names and amounts are copied: Shai ■ I 'eter Boice, Absecon 5 Joshua Gorton, Mays Landing.. _> |(»lm Horner, Absecon 5 fohn Albertson, Blue Anchor... 20 J< ihn ( '.. Shreve, Blue Anchor ro l harles < iollins, Blue Anchor. . 4 I )aniel I (aker 5 John I )oughty, Leedsville 1 David I )i nighty, Leedsville 1 Joseph Merrit 1 fames English, Smiths Landing. 1 Sli.it John Walker, Mays Landing.. . 1 Ebenezer Applegate, Absecon 1 Felix I .eeds, I .eeds Point 2 Augustus Turner, Leeds Point.. • harles < '.. Murphy, Absecon ... 3 I [ezadiah Sampson, Absecon. ... 1 Jonas 1 [igbee 1 I Janiel Bowen, M 1 iun1 I 'leasanl . 1 Frederick Chamberlin, Absecon.. 3 Edward Wilson 1 Km k'Ii ( 1 irdet \ 2 SAIL BOAT IN CLOUDS. SCENES KJ THE ' Cbe Eand Company and Surf fiotel Association. ^- IN connection with the railroad company it was largely, if not chiefly due to Samuel Richards that the Camden and Atlantic Land Company was formed, also the Surf House Association— the first to share -nine of the advantages in the advancing values of real md the provide a fine hotel to attract visiting thousands so that the railroad would have more business, and n allies would more rapidly advance. of these proved wis cious and successful enterpri The Act to incorporate the latter company was approved March jo. 1853. Its incorporators and first directors were William Coffin, John < ',. Da 1 Samuel Richards, William W. Fleming, Daniel Deal, W. Dwight Bell, Joseph Porter, Jonathan Pitney and Andrew K. Hay. The following portion of an addre 1 to the stockholders, and no doubt written by Mr. Richards in [853, fully and accurately de the geography and condition- of this island at that tin. "The principal portion of the lands now in pi 1 and contracted for l>y the company, lie in intermediate sections upon the beach, and comprise about one thousand acres, a; an aver of ten dollars per acre. "To give an idea of the greatly enhanced value of these land- since projection of the railroad, bona fii - have heen made of the land adjoinii \ of the company land not more advantageously 1< at one hundred to three hundred dollars per acre, and we consider thi prices now no approximation to the value of a portion of the land purchased by the company. "< Mir land? are situated upon an island at the eastern terminus of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad, in the County of Atlantic, about fifty- seven miles south of east from thi- city, and about four mile- from the main land, directly upon the ocean. This island is about ten miles in length, and the northern portion, for about two mile-, i- half a mile in width — the southern portion being much narrower. "It is separated from the land by the Hay of Absecon, a vast 1 of meadows, and an inland channel extending along the coast for a distance ighty miles, commencing at I ape May. and running north. The rail- 25 road, when completed, will form an easy communication with this city for an extensive districl of country, well cultivated, improved, and thickly settled, the principal means of communication with which is now by coast- ing vessels to New York; the great distance to this city by bad roads rendering il almost inaccessible. "Across the meadows and this stream, hv an embankment and swivel bridge, the railroad reaches the island at a point about two miles south of the Inlet upon which it has its terminus on twenty-five feet of water, .liter running through the center of the island in a parallel line with the ocean. "This portion of the island is covered with a beautiful growth of timber, which is now being trimmed — the undergrowth removed — the lands graded and drained — laid out in streets and walks, which, when com- pleted, will render it very attractive. "These groves are dense and extensive, and will form a beautiful retreat from the scorching sun and sands, from which nature rarely provides a shelter upon the seaside. "Adjoining one of these line groves, and near the beach, an hotel is now being erected, which, when completed, will equal in beauty, con- venience, comfort, and situation those to be found upon any other place on our coast. One wing of this hotel (of which there are to be two. with an extensive front), will be read) for visitors before the end of summer. "The arrangement is such, that the railroad is located in front of this and other hotels that will be erected, and the visitors will be landed by THE OLD SURF-HOUSE. 26 cars directly to their point of destination. This will save much trouble and confusion, and add much to the comfort of the throngs winch will seek this island during- the heat of summer. "The Inlet (upon which the railroad terminates) connecting the Bay of Absecon with the ocean, is about three-fourths of a mile in width, with a straight channel and outlines distinctly marked, forming an easy and safe entrance to the spacious bay, with good anchorages, and affording a safe harbor, shelter from all winds, for large fleets of coasting vessels. "A bar at the mouth of this inlet, which is covered from ten to twelve feet at low water, precludes the entrance of vessels of largest draft of water; this harbor is never ice-bound during the severest winters, and by the way of railroad will he within one and a half hours of Philadelphia. We have good assurance that when the road is completed an appropriation for a lighthouse, and for improvements of harbors, making it practicable for the larger size of vessels, can be obtained from Congress, and it will thus be made a complete winter harbor for the city of Philadelphia and greatly tend to promote our shipping trade. "We need only ask the question, whether a location like this will not grow into importance? It will be a direct, cheap, and quick route to the eastern ports, and will be always accessible when our river may be entirely obstructed with ice, as it is too frequently the case during winter. 'I he- bay abounds with shell and other fish of many varieties, which are caughl in large quantities; and to those fond of angling and sailing, win may seek pleasure here, it will contribute its full share of enjoyments. The meadows are the resort of all the different species of game usually found upon the seacoast, and form very extensive gunning grounds. The scenery from the beach is diversified and quite interesting. "The ocean rolling in upon the front, and breaking upon the beach for a distance of ten miles, in an almost straight line — the Inlet, with its entrance marked by the spray, dashing and leaping upon the bar far out in the ocean — the bay and meadows forming an immense expansi oi green and blue — the undulating outline in the distance, dotted with farms and improvements, combine to render the location one of the most plea ant to be found upon the seacoast. "The surface and beach are certainly unsurpassed, if at all equalled, upon our coast. The breakers are similar to those at Cape May; but extend along the entire beach for a distance of many miles; the strand is entirely level and smooth, at low water forms a drive of two hundred feet in width (so gentle is the slope) for a distance of ten miles. "The country through which the road passes i- proverbial for its pure air — its fine water — and extreme healthfulness. The land in many 27 places along the road is highh ments \\ here nsceptible of improvement, and can be purchased at moderate prices. Situated upon this great thoroughfare, it must be largely enhanced in value at an early period. The land company, with their capital of $100,000, will be enabled to secure a large amount of these lands (a course which they intend pursuing) upon which, in a short time, they will be enabled to realize a handsome ad- vance. "These lands, sold to actual settlers, cultivated and improved, will tend to swell the revenue of the road." The "Surf House Association of Atlantic City"' was incorporated by Act of the Legislature March 4, 1857. Its incorporators were George W. Richards, John C. DaCosta; William A. Rhodes, E. I-'.. Bondissot, William C. Milligan, Daniel Heal. Isaac Lloyd, Andrew K. Hay, John 1.. Newbold, Samuel Richards. P. Maison, William 11. Miller, George 1'. DaCosta, J. Freas, Thomas Allibone, 1. J. Slocum, Charles Wurts, Simon Cameron, and William 11. Yeaton. The Surf House, which was built bv this association, was a large, fine two-story building, occupying a full square i-^i ground hounded 1>\ Atlantic, Pacific, Kentucky an.! Illinois Avenues. It was built in 1854 and conducted with -leu advantage to the city, if not to its owner i^v man} years til! [880 when the property was sold to Messrs. Morris and Archer for $30,000. They sold and scattered the buildings to .1 do: en widely different sections of the city where they arc -till used as stores, hotels or tene- and divided the land into building lots, opening Mt. \ ernon Avenue, the main entrance and principal section of the large hotel stood,. - The Camden and Atlantic Land Company, whose policj of encour aging' early settlers bj selling lots on eas) terms promoted improvement, and whose histor) is so intimately associated with this city, still continues its work of development and has erected a hotel and cottages, graded and graveled streets at Ventnor, the southern suburb of Atlantic City. The Presidents of this company have been: April 22, 1853, William Coffin; June 22, [854, William C. Milligan; March 20, [868, William A. Rhodes; March 20, 1X73. Andrew 1\. Hay; January 9, [874, Samuel Richards, until his death February 21, [895, when John B. lla\ was elected his successor. OLD TIME BATHERS 29 HOTEL ISLESWORTH. 30 Butlbtng of the "IRarvow (Bauoc." ■ ~~ . ATv'T .V in 1876, owing to dissensions and differences among some of the directors of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad Company, I Samuel Richards, William Massey, Charles R. Cohvell and W. Dwight Bell withdrew from the Board of Directors. Mr. Massey had been elected President of the Board of Directors and he had appointed Mr. Richards Assistant President of the road, when differences with other directors caused these four to resign. After his twenty years of experience Mr. Richards saw a better opening in the operation of a second line than he did the first. They associated with themselves as directors of the new narrow gauge line James M. Hall, J. Lapsley Wilson. John E. Shaw, John j. Sickler. Levi C. Albertson, Tbos. C. Garrett, John J. ( Gardner, Melvin R. Morse and Jacob G. Campbell. Samuel Richards was ['resident: H. B. Linderman. Secretary and Treasurer; Samuel H. Grey, Solicitor; John J. Sickler, Chief Engineer and Theodore F. Wurts, Consulting Engineer. The new company was organized under the general railroad law that was enacted in 1873, providing "'that the actual amount of money borrowed by any railroad organized under this act shall not exceed the actual amount paid in cash by the subscribers to the capital stuck." The company was organized for the purpose of building and operating a narrow-gauge railroad from Camden to Atlantic City, fifty-four miles, connecting with Philadelphia by steamboat. The original intention was for a three-foot gauge, but this was finally changed to three and one-half feet with Bessemer steel rails, fort}" pounds to the lineal yard, instead of the standard broad gauge of four feet eight and one-half inches. A few capitalists who had thoroughly investigated the cost and pros- pects of the new line at once subscribed to a sufficient amount of stock to secure its completion. The original estimate of the cost of building and equipment was about $700,000, and all the contracts at the finish amounted to less than that sum. The Camden and Atlantic road had cost up to that time $2,425,478. or $40,000 per mile. The capital stock was S1.24S.150. and debt Si. 1(13,658. 3* The estimated cost of the Narrow Gauge was less than $13,000 per mile, with $150,000 for rolling stock. rhe population of Atlantic Cit) in twent) three years, since the firsl road was built, had increased from half a dozen families to ;.ivn people. The gross receipts of the old road had increased from Si 17.000 in (856 to $564,000 in 1S70. and the stead) growth of traffic with towns along the line as well as at the terminus was \er\ encouraging. In the building K^i the new road as for years he had been in the management i>i the old, Mr. Richards was the active spirit. \hont the first work done on the new line was in Atlantic City, where the late John 1.. Bryant built a wharf on the west side of the rhoroughfare for the landing of ties and timber sent from Philadelphia bj steamboat for use on the meadows. Ground was first broken in March and on April 1. 1S77. active opera- tions began at both ends of the line. Day and night the contractors pushed forward the work tinder the vigorous personal supervision ii the city, which it proved to he. fhe party was entertained at Congress Hall that night by the late Col. Geo. \\ . llinkle. and made the return trip next day, leaving this city at S.23 A. M. and reaching Camden at [.25 1'. M. Considerable feeling was engendered among the people in this city and along the line by the building of the opposition road. Some bitterly opposed the new enterprise. I lie matter was discussed in public prim and in public meetings. Many naturally espoused and contended for the interests of the pioneer line. Editor A. 1.. English, of the Review, which till that time had been the only newspaper in Atlantic City, espoused the cause of the "old reliable" with considerable spirit, but mosl people fell that railroad rivalry would help the town and they were not mistaken. The location of the depol among the sand hills at Arkansas and Atlantic avenues was considered by some as too far down town. Excepting the Island J louse and the Seaview Excusion Hou e, there were very few buildings in that part of the island at that time, but subsequent events proved the wisdom of thai -election. I he landing of thousands of passengers in the new station made •• ttei streets in the vicinity a necessity, increased business, made a market for real estate, started new lumber yards, encouraged improvements after the dull and disappointing se; on ol i' v '7'>- The old Camden and Amboj statesmen who ruled New Jersey when that was the only railroad in the Stale, permittee! the Legislature to grant the charter for the Camden and Atlantic road on March [9, [852, because they laughed and scoffed at the idea of building a railroad thai had "only one end to it." As there was no town or business at the ocean terminus the absurd charter became a law. When the Narrow Gauge road was built as a separate and independent line, the idea was to construct a road especially adapted to the peculiar character of seashore travel and to the li,L;lit and variable business of towns along the line. Lighter and much less expensive rolling stock would cosl less and greatly reduce operating expenses. It was argued effectively that engines weighing ten to twenty tons instead of thirty to thirty-five, and freight cars weighing 6,000 lbs. instead of [8,000 lbs. would be much better adapted to the business of the country which this line was to serve and for the safe and speedy through traffic. The new line was built with as little delay and e possible, so that when completed it was able to do business on a greatly reduced schedule of prices. The reduction in fares and freight rate- was quite decided, which encouraged travel, popularized the line and brought hundred new people to the seashore. Round trip tickets, which, had been three dollar-, single fare two dollars, were sold for one dollar and a quarter and one dollar. Summer excursion tickets sold for one dollar and at time- fifty cents for the round •3 33 trip. Vearlj tickets sold for $20, m-~ic.nl of $40, and for a time passes were given to tin- proprietors of hotels and boarding houses with twenty or more sleeping rooms. Freight was carried at ten, twelve, fourteen and sixteen cents per one hundred pounds. Horses were brought down at two dollars per head, or one dollar and a quarter per head in carload lot-. The result was thai the rolling stock was barely sufficient for the demands upon it. and the crowds in the city were so large at times, especially over Sunday, as to nearly exhaust the supply ^i meat. milk, bread and. pro- visions in stock. All previous records were exceeded, new capital and enterprise were invited and expansion became popular. The Narrow Gauge was formally opened lor traffic July 25th. with a special excursion by some eight hundred invited guests to Atlantic City. The company began business with eight first-class locomotives forty passenger cars, two smoking cars, two baggage cars, twenty freight box cars and forty construction cars. Pier S. at the foot of Walnut Street, was seemed for the Philadelphia terminus or landing oi the steamers that run from the Unison Street wharf amden. \n excursion house was built at the ocean end of Florida Avenue in this city, on a half square of land extending from Pacific avenue to the ocean. \ storm tide undermined and wrecked the building before it was finished and the lot which cost $5,000 in 1S77 was sold fifteen years later For $25,000. It has since been sold for $65,000 and is probably valued .11 twice that sum now. The company met with reverses and passed into the hands of Charles \ » ilwell, as Receiver, July 1 _\ 1S7S. One year later it went into the hands of William 11. Gatzmer and G. IV Linderman, trustees for the tgage bondholders. In September, 1883. the road was sold in foreclosure proceedings to George R. Kearcher for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, which has since operated it. It was made a standard gauge, double-track e and given the finest roadbed and rolling stock. It has maintained its nihility and each year increased its business While not the financial success at first that its projectors anticipal the Narrow Gauge enterprise popular! 1 el to the seashore and gave Atlantic Cit) an impetus of prosperity that has continued ever since. .<4 Zbc Most Jersey IRafltoab. •a rOK twentj three years, 1854 to 1 ^77. Atlantic City had but one single track railroad connecting with tin oul ide world. That railroad had cost nearlj double the e timated amounl and had ruined, financially, all of its original incorporatot e cept Gen l noch Doughty, of Mjsecon, and he was a loser in the sum of mi thousand dollars. Fortunately, the Camden and Atlantic Land Company pledged its valuable holdings to ecure the note and obligation of the railroad, 50 as to continue its operation and 1 11 the enterpri 1 When the Narrow Gauge was buill in 1X77. the permanent popi tion of Atlantic < it) was aboul 3,000. I in reduction of lift) pei cent in the tarifl schedule, increased number of trains and quicket resulted in a general rush to the seashore. Hotels and boarding bo too few and too small for the demands upon them. Visit* times, walked the treets all night or slept in chairs on porche or in pavilions along the beach, unable to secure lodging Business of all kinds becami dingly active Real estate advanced rapidly in value and building operations were prosecuted with greal vigor. In four years from the opening of the Narrow G; 1 population of the city had doubled. This wa the ion in 1880, when Gen. W. J. Sewell, the ablesl and mosl active railroad man in the Stati the Pennsylvania Railwa) interests, " ized the West Jerse) and Atlantic Railroad Company, to build a branch from the I ape May line al Newfield, 34.4 miles, through Mays Landing and Pleasantville to Atlantic ( 'ily. This third line to the ea was formally opened with a irsion on Wednesday. June to. [880. Dinner wa in the new West ' Excursion House at the ocean end of Georgia enue. Kddresse ol ere made by George Wood, e Judge James Buchanan, Hon. Edward Bettle, Mayor Harr) L. Slape, William M; of the Narrow Gauge, Edwin E. Reed of the C. & A., Hon. A. Louden Snowden, State Senator Gardner and othi The Directors of the new Wi I Jersi line were George W01 1 . • idenl fsrael S dams, George < Pot is, Wm. S. 35 Mahlon Hutchinson, Charles P. Stratton, Gen. Mott, Edward A. Warne and Benj. F. Lee. This third line soon made the name of Atlantic City familiar in every ticket office of the great Pennsylvania system throughout the land and gave this city a prestige it had never had before. There were now three rival railroads connecting Atlantic City with Philadelphia, the second largest city in the United States: The Camden and Atlantic. 59 miles, opened in [854; the Narrow Gauge, 55 miles. opened in [877; and the West Jersey, 63 miles, opened in 1880. But the enterprising Directors of the West Jersej road were unable to secure the terminal facilities in this city which they needed and desired. The (A and A. had a valuable ami exclusive franchise on Atlantic \\enne. Cit) Council had granted the Narrow Gauge the privilege of a double track on Baltic to Massachusetts Avenues. This put the third and last road at a considerable disadvantage. Representatives of this company offered to give the cit} S100.000 for the same privileges on Atlantic A\ennc as the old road then had. The result was that when William 1.. Elkins was elected President of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad Company, February 22, 1883, the West Jerse) people had secured a controlling interest in the line that owned Atlantic Avenue, the Longport route and the valuable street car privileges. Both roads since then have been under one management, with com- bined and improved terminal facilities. In [897 these and all other branches ^i the Pennsylvania system in South ferse} were reorganized as the West Terse) and Seashore. Hbe Climate. OF the climate of Atlantic City a volume could be written, and then not tell half of its delightfulness and healthfulness. The beach with its many attractions, and the city with its beauty, could not bold the many invalids that visit this shore, did they not all realize that the climate was the one thing that they required, The air is dry, and the barometric and thermometric readings are remarkably regular, there being very little variation in atmospheric pressure or tem- perature. This is due to freedom from the influence of large bodies of fresh water. No river is here pouring its volumes of ice-cold water into the ocean, lowering the temperature; and no large fields of ice, broken or unbroken, over which the winds must pass and become chilled, here abound. The prevailing winds during the summer are from the south west; these are seabreezes, are delightfully cool and refreshing-, and do not permit the temperature to rise very high. The north and northwest winds are likewise dry, and not cold even in winter. They pass for miles ovei dry pine barrens, losing much of their moisture; true they are cooler than the winter ocean breezes, but they are far from being chilly. The atmosphere, as already stated, is dry, the rainfall being less than at either New York or Cape May. places representing the extreme points of the New Jersey coast, and both influenced by large rivers. Foggy days are rare; fogs follow water lines as river or coast, and Atlantic Citj being out in the ocean beyond the general coast line of New Jersey escapes the fogs that are frequently seen elsewhere. There is a mildness and balminess in the air that cannot be expressed in words, it must be felt to be understood. So pronounced is this, that invalids coming here in the winter from snow-bound cities call Atlantic City the "Florida of the North;" they unbutton their heavy wraps, walk up and down the boardwalk, or along the beach, and thoroughly enjoy the climate. The question is frequently asked, what are the causes that contribute to this delightful climate? In general they are three, two of which have heen already mentioned. The topography of the place; there being no large body of fresh water near, chilling the air in winter, or saturating it 37 with fresh vapor in summer. The air being dry it is ever ready to take up moisture, thus evaporation takes place readily from the human body, keeping it cool. The advantages of this Freedom from fresh water cannot be too strongl) expressed. The southern exposure that the city enjoys is another cause for the mildness of the climate. The ocean breezes from the southeast, south and southwest blow directl) from the gulf stream onto the beach, and the gulf stream is of itself one of the most potent factors in the climate. Its waters are a deep blue contrasting strongly with the green of the ocean, ami opposite Atlantic City this stream has a temperature all the year round of about 77 . and is nearly five hundred miles wide. Winds passing over it are tempered ami possess that peculiar balminess so well known here. Another point that must not be overlooked in the freedom of Atlantic City from fresh water influence, is the absence ^i malaria. The mixture or alternation of salt and fresh water is one oi the most potent factors in the production of malarial poison. If a large tract of meadows is for one- half of the twenty-four hours covered with salt water and the other half of the day covered with fresh water, malarial poison is sure to abound. This condition of things cannot obtain here. Besides this there is a preservative quality in salt water and salt air which prevents the growth iA germs; hence contagious diseases ,1,, not get a foothold here. The prevention of decomposition is manifest in our stable yards where manure may lav for months without becoming rotten. Lots in the city which were below grade were tilled several years ago with sand to a depth of one to three feet; upon digging down now to the old ground the grass that covered these lots is found discolored but still tough and not rotten. RESIDENCE OF THE FIRST MAYOR. 38 TLhc Ihwalib. ■ - ,VF.T? V newcomer to Atlantic City, whether he be well or sick, is usually surprised by two sensations, one is a feeling of sleepiness | _ and the other is an increased appetite. Thousands of visitors for the first few days of their stay here seem to do nothing but eat and sleep. They will be found in the hotels, in the sun-parlors, along the boardwalk or on the drj sandy beach, with neglected book or paper, either sound asleep or drowsily drinking in the beauty around .hem. This is not the listlessness of a warm, depressing, sultry, southern climate, hut simply the result of perfect oxydation of tissue securing this very important factor in the recovery of the invalid. The increased appetite is due to the same cause, and with it comes the ability to digest more- food, especially animal fats and oils; still the invalid needs to be cautioned against excessive eating, for with an increased appetite, and a tempting menu before him he may be led into sinning, and as a result suffer the pangs of acute indigestion. What class of invalids will be benefited by a visit to Atlantic City is a question frequently asked, and one not very hard to answer, in a general way. Consumptives, as a class do well here. Not all cases of consumption should visit the seashore, hut there are cases that are vastly benefited by the sea air. and if not radically cured the disease is rendered so latent, and the system given such an impetus, that the disease will trouble the invalid no further, unless some special influence is exerted to reawaken it. Incipient cases are those that receive the most radical and lasting good. A patient with a family history or con- sumption may have an attack of pneumonia from which he does not convalesce nicely, there is but little cough, . hut he does not gain strength as he should. Pie tires easily, lias no energy, appetite is poor and his sleep is disturbed. Or without any previous sickness he com- plains of lassitude, decreased digestive powers, has some cough, a constant daily elevation of temperature, and. perhaps, beginning tuberculosis. To such a ca a residence in Atlantic City, more or less prolonged, 39 as the case may require, will prove very beneficial because these cases demand an out-door life such as can be found here. For hardlv is there RESIDENCE OF E. J. PETROFF. a day even during the winter, that the consumptive cannot spend at least a few hours in the open air without danger of taking cold. In cases further advanced the outlook is. of course, not nearly so hopeful, but even SUMMER HOUSE OF MR. GEORGE ALLEN. 40 these arc benefited. As a rule they suffer from hectic fever and profuse night sweats, both of which arc much modified or entirely disappear after being here a few days. Appetite and digestion are always improved, and that brings increased strength. There is still another condition in which the lungs become contracted and hardened, and the air cells become nunc 01 less obliterated. In such condition this climate is of two fold benefit, for the invalid will receive more oxygen each time he fills his lungs, and the salts in the air have a direct effect upon the hardened tissues. The season of the year when consumptives should visit Atlantic City is particularly from the middle of September to the middle of Maw though some cases are benefited at any season of the year. Cases that should not come to Atlantic City are those that have had hemorrhage or that are liable to have hemorrhage, for this verv serious condition will most likely be increased by a visit to the seashore. Invalids that suffer from chronic bronchial, post nasal, or laryngeal catarrhs, with the attending annoying cough, which is aggravated every winter, do well here; in some cases the cough becomes entirely relieved. Asthmatics are another class of sufferers who bless the balmy breezes of Atlantic City. The "hay-fever" victim here finds immunity from his tormenter, and if he comes early enough and stays long enough, and repeats his visits for several years, the chances are that he may be cured of his trouble. Another great class of invalids are those suffering from chronic malarial poisoning. These are abundantly helped here. As is well known this poison may lay dormant for a long while in the system, but even in this dormant state it has an influence, and the victim docs not feel well. Such conditions may be radically changed, and after a residence for .1 few- weeks here the verdict is generally expressed thus "I feel better than 1 have for a dozen or twenty years." The poor sufferer from rheumatism finds relief here, and he often finds more — a positive cure. Many of the permanent residents of Atlantic City are old rheumatics that are living here simply on account of their freedom from pain. Here, also, is the Mecca of the nervous invalid. lie may be the man of business, who, for years has devoted all his energy to piling up a fortune, without taking any rest; he may be a student or professional man. working his brain eighteen hours out of the twenty-four; or the woman of society, living in a brilliant exciting whirl month after month; these and a thousand others come to this ideal spot for rest and find it. Peaceful sleep, which may have been for months unknown takes the tired feeling from the brain, and awakens within the invalid a hope that he m;i\ 41 recover, and he improves. He sits entranced by the hour watching the rolling deep in its grandeur, anil as he inhales the stimulating" air his mind is soothed, worry is removed, and he forgets that he is sick. Many other conditions could be mentioned, but the little invalid must not be forgotten. During the heated term the beach is a grand baby -how. Here is the healthy, happy baby sent from the city to escape the heat and its attending dangers, and there is a poor little sufferer, far advanced in marasmus; and as a rule both are benefited. Between these two extremes are many children more or less delicate, with pale faces and thin bodies. They have had all the diseases that childhood is supposed to be heir to: or have grown too rapidly at a fearful cost to their animal economy. A few weeks in Atlantic City will change all this, and the little invalid will become a healthy, rosy-cheeked child. This is not a miracle, it is simply a natural result. — - Our Cit\> Mater Supply. WITH all the advantages of living on an island out in the sea. it may well he supposed that there would be some disadvant; The greatest of these as Atlantic City increased its thousands of inhabitants was an insufficient supply of potable water. For many years before the city knew the luxury and value of having two to five million gallons of pure spring water pumped daily within it> borders, the first inhabitants depended upon surface wells. The soil not then impregnated with the deleterious waste of a dense population and good water was obtainable along the ridge of wooded sandhills that formed the backbone or ridge of the island. In most places where well> were dug, salt or brackish water was found which was worthless for domestic purposes. Chalklev. John, Steelman Leeds and others were favored in having wells near their homes that furnished excellent water. But as hotels and cottages were built, travel increased, and the demand for water grew, brick cisterns were built beneath every roof to catch and harvest the proceeds of every storm and shower. Xo well can furnish so pure, soft and wholesome water as a clean, well ventilated cistern yields beneath ocean skies. Occasionally it happened in times of drought that the railroad company was appealed to and did bring large tanks of spring water from Absecon to be peddled about the city and sold to those whose cisterns were dry. So late as 1880. when there were 1.000 buildings and as many voters and five times as many inhabitants, a water famine was tided over by the water peddler in this way. City Council had caused to be built a number of brick wells at accessible street corner^ about the city for recourse in case of fire, and pumping stations on the meadows at South Caro- lina and Massachusetts Avenues provide' water for sprinkling the streets for several years. ^^^^^^^^^^^■09 * At* s 43 So early as [856, Manassa McClees, owner and builder of Cottage Retreat or the Metropolitan, attempted to solve the water problem by sinking the first artesian well. With a nine-inch pipe he went down ninety to cue hundred feet, at a cost of $1,000, and striking salt water a: that depth, gave it up in disgust. Many of our large hotels now are supplied chieflj in this way. rinding a strata of pure and satisfactory water at a depth ■ >f eisfht hundred feet. m m i i » w r wn M ia—||MM A. B. UPHAM'S COTTAGE. John W. Mollly, Walter Wood and other capitalists of Philadelphia took tlie first practical steps towards giving this wooden city proper fire protection and water supply. On October _• 1 . [880, ( ouncil passed an ordinance giving them and their associates the right to lay pipes and supply water for all domestic and public uses. \ supplemental ordinance was passed November 10. 1SS0. more par- ticularly reciting" the conditions of this contract and securing to the investors certain advantages which created prejudice and. caused controversy which lasted for years. 44 The Moffly-Wood Company prosecuted vigorously the building oi their plant, erecting a steel standpipe in this city, connecting at first with a twelve-inch main across the meadows six miles to the brick station where powerful pumps forced the purest and sweetest water obtainable, to a people that needed it badly enough, but objected to the contract for its ting. The ordinance of the MofRy-Wood Companj was repealed by Council on May 24, [882, alter several hundred thousand dollars bad been invested. but such action was ignored as illegal. It certainly was not effective. \ % -a^n-jxi Residence uf francis p. quigley. The streets had been thoroughly piped and one hundred and fifty fire plugs had been located and put in service for the water which was first turned on June 19, [882. The excellence and abundance of the water proved a great blessing to the town, restored confidence, promoted expan- sion, and greatly encouraged building improvements. But the tariff charged by the Wood Company was considered by some to be extortionate and the feeling against its promoters became intense. Council refused to pav and never did pay the stipulated $7,500 a year for the 150 fire-plugs and made special arrangements for sprinkling the streets, so that contractors for the work should buy of whom they pleased the water which they used. 45 A special election was held in [881, to vote on the question of the city building and owning a water plant of its own. ( >nlv half the total vote was polled, or aboul 600 ballots cast, but the result was five to one in iavi »r of the pi < »pi isition. Council passed an ordinance March 5, iSSS. giving the Consumers Water Company, a local organization, the righl to lay pipes and supph, the city with water. The incorporators were Henry J. White. Fred Hemsley, Daniel .Morris. George Allen. |ohn 1!. Champion, Dr. T. K. Reed. Mark Malalesta and Win. ( i. Bartlett. This company proposed to get its THE OLD GCEAM hOLSE. supply from artesian wells, hut as a precaution, secured an option on the pond at Port Republic. Seven wells in all were driven by the Consumers Company, two at Arctic and Michigan avenues on the Gas House property, which have since been disconnected, and five at the pumping station. Kentucky and Medi terranean Avenues. These wells were four, six and eight inches in diameter and at a depth of nearly eight hundred feet reach a water-bearing strata that has yielded satisfactor] results. For several years the water controversy and costly litigation continued. The two rival companies fixed a low tariff schedule and furnished in abundance an excellent article, creating careless and extravagant habits in 46 the list.- and waste of water which had to be checked years afterwards by a costly svstem of meters. Bui some of the stockholders were practical businessmen and noticed that as expenses increased dividends did not materialize. The demands of a growing city made further investment and improvements constantl) necessary. The result was that the two companies consolidated with a view nl the city taking both plants, which was finally consummated on August [. [895. \ special commission, consisting of ex-Governor George C. Ludlow, Washington < •. Robeling and — - Harrison, with Robert Herschel, an expert engineer, went over the records and appraised the plants at $771,782. This large sum is supposed to cover every dollar of the original RESIDENCE. OF DR. JAMES NORTH. investment with interest to date, with all the unpaid water rent due the Wood Company. At the time of the purchase engineers estimated that the plant could be duplicated for a trifle mure than half the amount for which city bond; were issued. Extensions and improvements since have increased the amount of water bonds issued to about $900,000. The property is more than self-sustaining on a low schedule of charges and is economically managed by a hoard of three commissioners, consist- ing at present of Messrs. L. Kuehnle, Dr. E. A. Reilly, and Rufus Booge. There are fifty-three miles of pipe in the city, four hundred and twenty- five fire-plugs, close to four thousand services in use and over three thous and meters. A7 The full pumping capacity of the plant is over 13.000.000 gallons daily. A 20-inch and a 12-inch force main bring over the meadows the spring water from the mainland in quantities ranging from [,500,000 to 5,000,000 gallons daily. The Consumers station is also operated for those who prefer that water, which is pumped in quantities ranging from 250,000 to 700,000 gallons daily. The excellent quality of these waters is shown by the last report and analyses made by Prof. Wm. P. Mason. Prof, of Chemistry at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Troy. \. V.: 1st. Sample from 30-foot wells at the mainland pumping station in Absecon: Analytical results in parts per million: Free Ammonia .02 ? Ubuminoid Ammonia .0; ( hlorine 9. Nitrogen as Nitrites Trace. Nitrogen as Nitrates .; "Required Oxygen" .4 Total Solids 30.2 Idle mineral solids of the above are composed as follows: Silica (Si O 7.75 Oxides of Iron and Aluminum t Fe Al, S ) . 0.51 Sodium Chloride (Na CI) 0.4 Magnesium Chloride | Mg Clj) 4.03 1 .ilcium Chloride 1 Ca CI 3.3 Calcium Sulphate (Ca SO,) 5.03 27.02 "This is of excellent quality. You are fortunate in having so good a supply. The water is not of local origin, being quite distinct in character from those of your immediate neighborhood, and, although the wells supplying it are hut thirt) feet in depth, there are sundry reasons why it would he proper to classify it as a 'deep-seated water.' " Second >ample taken from the artesian wells at the Consumers Pump- ing Station. As there is no question as to the purity and potability of this water coming up 800 feet from the surface of the earth, no sanitary analysis was made, hut simply a determination of the minerals contained. 48 Analytical results in parts per million: Silica i Si O.) 35.5 Oxides of Iron and Aluminum ( Fe, O. AL On) .. t.8 Magnesium Sulphate (Mg S OO 8.4 Calcium Phosphate (Ca, [PO,].) 2.0 Calcium Carbonate (Ca C O,) -'3.0 Sodium Sulphate (Na-, S O,) 39.7 Sodium Chloride (Na CI ) 10.7 Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO,) 23.] 1 44.X "Regarding tins water, from the artesian wells, nothing' need be said beyond the statement that its quality is good." The following" is a statement of the expenditures and receipts for year ending August 1. [897. Water Department of Atlantic City. Item. Expenditures. Receipts. Management ami Repairs $14.6X0 52 Pumping Expenses 1 5.39-' 55 Interest 43,250 00 $539 66 Construction, .Meters, Etc 210 39 Sinking- Fund 22,580 00 Water Rents rec'd Aug. 1, [896, to Aug. 1. 1X97. 66,499 '4 Penalties 1 ' !< > o_> Bills of Series of Aug. 1, 1896, and Feb. 1. 1X97. unpaid -Vug. i, 1X97 645 5 1 Meter Bills due Aug. 1, 1X97, for water used in previous six months 1 4,030 00 Sundry Account 911 82 Bills on Sundry Account unpaid Aug. 1, 1X97. . t>4 01 Rebates 66 43 Street Service Account 3.402 17 3-3^ h 60 Street Service Account, Material on Hand Aug. 1. 1897 .1'?^ 17 Rent of Bargaintown Mill Property 150 00 Amount received from Tax Duplicate as payment to Sinking Fund 1 2.100 00 Expendedon Permanent Improvements to Plant. charged to Management and Repairs 840 85 Totals $9'J-37i r, 7 $99,810 27 4 49 HOTEL ST. CHARLES. SO Gravity System of Sewetage. A] I ER more than a year of agitation and discussion, City Council, mi December i _\ [884, passed an ordinance granting the Improved Sewerage and Sewage Utilization Company of New York the right to lay pipes in the streets and alleys of Atlantic City, to take away the waste water from hotels, cottages, bath houses, etc. The very great importance of a feature of this character can only be imagined by those who were personally familiar with the situation and conditions in this growing city at that time. The disposal of slops and waste water of all kinds was attended \,\ great inconvenience. A supplemental ordinance was passed December 15. 1884, when the promoters of the "West patent" proceeded with the con- struction of the plant. Wintield Scott West was a civil en- gineer from Virginia, with headquarters in New York and Ins system consisted first of ail of a pumping station with a receiving well sufficiently large and dee]) to bring the sewage by gravity from all part- of the to through pipes laid in the streets. This well was centrally located at Baltic and North Carolina Avenues and was excavated 24 feet in diameter and jo feet deep by the use of sheet piling. This held the sides from caving in while powerful pumps removed the water till the timbers, brick and concrete of the bottom and >ides could be secured in position. The brick and stone engine house and pumping station was built over the well as over a cellar and the work of pumping water out of this cellar has been prosecuted without intermission for the past fifteen years. There is never any offensive odor in or about the well or station. The sewage i> all pumped far away before any decomposition can take place or any offensive gas be generated. The sewage enters the well 15 feet below the surface through a 20- PUMP1NG STATION. inch iron pipe which extends across the city and to which lateral mains are connected leading to either extremity of the town. These pipes are all laid at a grade of ~\ 2 feet to the mile, which covers most of the city. Recent compressed air devices have been attached t<> the pipes in Chelsea, the most distant point, so that the sewage there is lifted into" the pipes from receiving wells automatically and forced along the same as from nearer points. A suitable iron screen at the mouth of the pipe in the well prevents rags and all solid matter from getting into the pumps and pipes beyond. Two ioo horse power boilers and two centrifugal pumps with a daily capacity of 16 million gallons are at present ample for all requirements in keeping the well free. There is also a reserve 5 million gallon Hollv pump in the station. The daily pumpage varies from _' million to (> million gallons. A 16-inch iron pipe leads from this well and station two miles back on the meadows to the northerly side of the city, where the sewage is disposed of in a manner so highly satisfactory as to meet the approval of the highest health authorities and the best sanitary engineers. There are now about forty miles of sewer pipe laid in the streets of Atlantic City, and 4.475 properties connected therewith. While the city authorities under the present laws cannot compel people to connect with the pipes of a private corporation, the rates are so low and the service so efficient and satisfactory that more than two-thirds of all the buildings by actual count are connected with the service. The Atlantic City Sewerage Company, its name since the reorgani- zation in 1885, represents an investment of $400,000. It is paying interest on its bonds and dividends on its stock and is one of the most essential and important features of this resort. FIRST CITY HALL. 52 Jlfit ill- Mini. MMM.m.m.sH . 1 1, J8]i . llt , )lttTTAGE by the sea has furnished a commanding theme for poets and story tellers in the years agone, but we doubt if any song or story has ever been inspired by such delightful surroundings as make the beautiful cottages of Atlantic City the ideal homes by the shore. t )f the six thousand and five hundred buildings on this island two- thirds of them are cottages and the illustrations on other pages give the stransfer an adequate idea of this striking feature of the town. _^H- — RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL H. KELLEV. These cottages that breathe forth in every delicate detail and elegant ornamentation the artistic -pint of the owner, become every season the temporary homes of a multitude of summer sojourners, who. while they may have no voice nor vote in the local government of the city, consider this wave-kissed island their home. cw One mav stroll for miles along the avenues and become bewildered 1>\ the mam well kept lawns, the luxuriant shade trees, the inviting resi RESIDENCE OF FRED HEMSLEY. dences that harmonize delightfully with the tranquil feeling engendered by the dreamy cadence of the ocean swell that pulses soothingly through the bracing sea air. RESIDENCE OF GEORGE F. CURRIS II II RESIDENCE OF MAYOR JOS THOMPSON. RESIDENCE OF L. A. DOWN. -£&i - RESIDENCE O' JNC. L. YOUNG. 56 RESIDENCE OF JNO. B. CHAMPION. RESIDENCE OF CHAS. EVANS. RESIDENCE OF WM. F. WAHL. RESIDENCE OF GEO. W. CROSBY. M D. RESIDENCE OF B C. GODFREY. 57 Men of influence and position in the learned professions, in finance .nitl trade, escape the clattering noises of the great metropolises, come hero, anil amid our peaceful surroundings commune with nature and enjo) otiiim nun dignitatc. i )ur well graded streets, fringed with handsome homes, make an indelible impression upon the mind. The infinite variety in the styles of architecture adds to the general effect and relieves the drab uniformity that sometimes prevails. The material prosperity of Atlantic City very largely depends upon the renting of cottages, as probably half ol them in summer are not occupied by the owners. Some of them produce an income of $100 per month or $500 to $1,500 or $2,000 for a summer season. In July and August, when the sun kissed waves invite a plunge in Old Neptune's bosom, city folk take possession of main of these cottages, and children in gaj attire ma\ be seen disporting themselves at play on the green sward, afterward forming merry parties that wander to the neighboring beach, guarded bj attentive maids, and happy-hearted parents glad to bring an added lustre to the eyes of childhood by the unrestricted privilege of digging in the clean white sand. Of late years the fame oi Atlantic I it\ as a cottage home for fashion- ables has been growing and there is hardly a family of any prominence residing within a thous- and miles of this fax ored region that has not at one time or another oc- cupied, as host or guest, oneof thebeautiful homes which form the crowning glory e Ville -'.5(1 tn Little Brighton 2.00 t< > 1 .elande 2.00 to Strand 2.00 to Edison 2.00 to New England j.oo to Runn) mede 2.00 to Kuehnle 2.50 Cedarcroft 2.00 to Revere 2.00 to Canfield 2.00 to Ponce de Leon 2.00 to Richmond 2.00 to Chester Inn 2.00 La Belle Inn 1.50 to Norwood [.50 to Day. Per Week. Capacity. 3.OO 1 2.00 to 1 5.00 ^75 3.OO 10.00 to [6.00 300 3.OO I2.00 to 1 S.oo 200 3.OO 12.00 to 18.00 150 3.OO IO.OO to 18.00 250 3.OO 10.00 to 1 6.00 150 3.OO 1 O.OO to 10.00 (75 3.OO IO.OO to 15.00 200 200 2.50 12.50 to 18.00 200 2.50 12.00 to 15.00 100 2.5O IO.OO to 15.00 5° 2.5O IO.OO to 1 5.00 I2 S 2.50 IO.OO to 15.00 200 IO.OO to 1 2.00 1 50 2.5O S.OO to 1 5.00 1-5 2.00 S.OO to 12.00 [25 Easter at the Shore. A TLAXTIC CITY as a Winter Resort d; - hen the late F. W. Hemsley opened Brightoi all the year house. The Brighton then had fifty-threi d of two hundred as now. and speedily built up a profitable spring and winter trade. The late George F. Lee. the owner, encouraged thi by enlarging the house and providing up-to-date appointments, which were appreciated, and other hotels were not slow in catering to the same class of patron-. Physicians and railroad officials heartil; ith satisfactory results. The advantages of this city a.- a place of retirement for •.ring the Lenten season are now widely appreciated, fashion- ables from Xew York, Philadelphia and more distant center-* coming here X ' 11 M«i. *J*» ■ II II II H I H it » to find the restful changes and relief that come from the peculiar advantages and characteristics of this resort. Here it is that the fair women and brave men who grace the social circle at home, drink deep of the ocean air and diverting surroundings for which this seadashed island is noted. Thus in a few weeks is a reserve fund of energy gained that enables them to resume with fresh delight the routine of life and care in the great metropolises. During the forty days which usually include parts of March and April, the shore is a veritable paradise, everything being conducive to a sense of peace and tranquil enjoyment. The tedium of travel to distant southern resorts is avoided by a trip to Atlantic City and the benefits RESIDENCE OF A. M. JORDAN. of an ocean voyage secured without the risk and objections of being at sea. As the great religious festival of Easter approaches, the arrivals become more numerous and the scenes, like those in the illustration, more frequent and striking. When the sun shines forth on that glad Sabbath morning, sackcloth and ashes are cast aside and Queen Fashion, arrayed in all the bewitching beauty of her gracious loveliness, is revealed to the crowd that promenades the Boardwalk. Easter is the culmination of the spring season and the churches are usually largely attended, after which the procession along the Boardwalk 64 is at its height. Such an array of fascinating women in seasonably fashionable gowns and millinery are only seen in such bewildering pro- fusion on Easter morning. For weeks afterwards the social world talks with the enthusiasm of youth about the brilliant and varied scenes witnessed along Atlantic City's famous Boardwalk. The greatest Easter Sunday in the history of Atlantic City was on April 2, 1899. It was not an ideal one so far as the weather was concerned. The air was chilly and raw. The wind blew a gale at times and shortly after noon a snow squall passed over the city. But the weather condi- tions did not prevent the greater part of the estimated forty thousand visitors takinsr a stroll on the Boardwalk. RESIDENCE OF C. J. ADAMS. Between the hours of eleven A. M. and one P. M. the number of promenaders on the Boardwalk was the largest of the day. There were two steadv streams of people, one going up the walk and the other down, that reached from rail to rail. There was a marvelous display of Easter garments and headgear by both old and young. There was an abundance of smart frocks and perfect dreams of hats and bonnets. The women that came forth in their light spring tailor-made suits also had use for light furs and capes. Many bright and chipper Easter girls and many fashionably attired young men 5 65 scorned to wear over their natty suits a wrap or an overcoat. They preferred to carry thorn on their arms and make themselves believe it was a balmy day. Between the hours of four and five o'clock in the afternoon the Board- walk was for the second time filled with a double stream of strollers. Although nearly every roller chair was in use. there was very little inter- ference to pedestrians. Since the order of the police, making' the attendants wheel the chairs in single tile, there is more comfort to promenaders than when the chairs were allowed to he wheeled two or three abreast. RESIDENCE OF MRS. JACOBS The trains that arrived in this city on Saturday came in sections, the same as they did the two days previous. The Camden train on the Penn- sylvania that arrived Sunday morning about 10.30 came in three sections, two of ten cars and one of five, a total of twenty-five cars, of which rive were parlor cars, eighteen coaches and two baggage. The bridge train that followed the Market street train into the depot brought thirteen cars in two sections, six parlor cars, six coaches and one baggage. The 5.30 train from this city Sunday evening to Market street wharf was composed of twenty-four cars, in two sections of twelve cars each. As every seat was taken and railroad men estimate sixty persons to a car. more than fourteen hundred persons left on that train. 66 Both railroads report traffic ahead of all records for the week. The following figures of the last two years are of interest, showing a gratifying percentage of advance. ROYAL READING. 1898 Jo99 Thursday 56 cars. 88 cars. Friday So " 88 " Saturday 95 " 108 " Sunday 41 " 44 " Total 2J2 cars. 328 cars. WEST JERSEY AND SEASHORE. 1898 1899 Thursday 54 cars. 83 cars Friday '.3 " 87 " Saturday 71 " 103 Sunday 35 " 60 " Total JJ3 cars. ^^7, cars. By this it appears that a total of 661 cars, or 39.660 people, were hrought down by both roads, those four days, as against 495 cars, or 29,700 passengers for the same period of 1898. THE RUSH AT THE HOTELS. An idea of the Easter business mav he gained bj the record of Sundav dinners at leading hotels compared with that of a year ago. J 898 1899 Grand Atlantic 694 J^2 Haddon Hall 500 530 .Hotel Dennis 528 Islesworth 355 525 Garden 300 500 Rudolf 385 500 St. Charles 450 435 Hotel Brighton 475 Hotel Traymore 250 400 Hotel Berkeley 355 Hotel Windsor 325 Hotel Senate 225 270 Chalfonte 240 Hotel DeVille 24 1 Seaside House 240 250 Shelhurne 22' 1 251 > Pennhurst • . . 165 [68 67 Verily is Easter at the seashore a time when wealth, fashion and culture form the three graces that sway the hearts of the multitude. The surroundings here seem especially designed for a proper celebration of the day. The sublime majesty of the deep teaches a silent lesson of the omnipotence of the creator and the dependence of frail humanity. Atlantic City as an appropriate place in which to observe and magnify the day has been recognized for years and the hotels make it a point to cater particularly to the rush that comes just prior to the great festival. Easter week, as a rule, is devoted to private card parties and dances which are toned down to meet the requirements of the season. In the hotel world especially at this season our city is invested with a halo of romance that appeals to the sentimental natures of young people who admire the moon and see loved faces in the foam as they gaze at the surf and dream of the day when their happiness will be consummated. "You'll remember me" is the favorite melody at this time as the jingling cadence oi the music chimes harmoniously with the throbbing hearts of the city lovers. For it must be borne in mind that the Goddess of Love is the divinity that presides at the seashore and the matches that are made within sight of the sea while not as numerous as the sands on the beach, are of frequent occurrence. The post Lenten season marks a disappearance of those who have added a touch of color to the resort during the preceding forty days, but many weeks do not elapse before the Boardwalk is once more crowded with strangers in search of health and pleasure. RESIDENCE OF CAPT. SAMUEL S3MERS. 68 Cbe Boatbwalfe anb Ocean jpiers. THE ceaseless charms and wond< 1 ocean first induced visitors to come to this island and capitalists to build railroads here. to-day the main feature of the city is the four miles of elevated boardwalk for pedestrian- along the beach where ai! the glories of the sea — the glittering sunlight on the waters, the rolling breakers, the spray and tumult of the storm, and the tireless ebb and flow of the water along the shore — may be enjoyed by inland stK peculiar fascination and inspiration in the power and beauty and lif': the sea and hear music in its roar. Xo other promenade in the country is so unique and enjoyabl< Atlantic City's Boardwalk. It was first built in 1870, when the populati of the place was only about 2,000. The beach then was a wild public common, with scattering bath houses and tiresome areas of m marsh and soft sand. The first boardwalk - .000, which was a con- arable sum in those days, when no legal opinion was asked for and when public sentiment was strong enough to push the scheme successfully along. It was at first only eight feet wide, set on piling three fee: the sand. It extended from the lighthouse to the Seaview Excursion House at Missouri Avenue, and was in use onI_ nonths in summer. Fashion in those days did not disport herself along the beach in winter or at Eastertide as sh< Before winter came the walk was piled up in sections and secured t t storm tides from wrecking it and bearing the pieces and piling too far away. Larger and longer walks succeeded the first one as the town extended and the need was felt, till in 1891, at an ex; ; 000, a 24-foot wide walk was built from the Inlet to Chelsea to replace the old one which worn out. The rapid growth of the city made necessary a larger, mo- rue- I 69 ture. It was built high and strong on wooden piling. It was like the iild ones, all of wood. This investment proved a good one. All agreed that the attractiveness and popularity of the wider and stronger walk, with an unobstructed view oceanward, made it pay for itself in two years. At the end of five vears parts of the structure, for the safety of the crowds upon it, needed rebuilding. It was then de- cided by the city fathers to build a steel or iron structure, costing more and to last for many years. The piling and entire framework of this new promenade, from Rhode Island to Texas Avenue, are steel, floored with dressed heart pine from Georgia, laid on extra heavy joist. Galvanized iron railings extend along either side where needed as a safeguard. The piling are sunk ten feet or more in the sand by hydraulic process and are firm as the hills. Most of the way this new walk is forty feet wide and this proves quite too narrow for the crowds which throng it at Easter and in July and August. Excepting the two piers, only open pavilions are built along the ocean side, where seats are provided for their patrons and the public by the owners of the stores and bath houses on the opposite side. From any point along its entire four miles one has an unobstructed view of the ocean — of the ships and steamers passing a safe distance from the shoals, out where the water meets the sky. and of sailboats which, like ducks, float leisurely with pleasure parties in the distance or troll for the bluefish in season. The Boardwalk is brilliantly lighted at night the entire year by electric arc lamps. and during the summer months is incom- parably the most fascinating boulevard in the world. Many brilliant journalistic pens have made it famous in history, and many tongues have told the Story of its attractions. 70 Between the Boardwalk and the ocean view is the magnificent stretcli of surf bathing grounds, where from 10,000 to 20.000 men. women and children may be seen any day during the bathing season, disporting in the foaming breakers, creating a living picture which the most gifted artists have not equalled on can- vas, which talented pens have failed to fully describe and which no other watering place on the planet can approach. It is unri- valled, unequalled, and like Pleiades, "the loveliest of her train," Atlantic City is the gem of all ocean resorts in this respect. On the other side of the Boardwalk is a wonderful kaleidoscope of merry-go-rounds, an opera house, haunted forests, shell bazaars, bath houses, swimming pools, shooting gal- leries, bric-a-brac stores, mineral-water fount- ains, phonograph parlors, and a hundred o charming, exhilarating, harmless entertain- | ments into which the visitor enters with zest ? and upon which he spends his spare change " m with so much pleasure and benefit. § It is a typical American crowd, full of f, life, but never disorderly, full of the charming 3 vivacity that seems to be an inheritance from ? the sea. Here may be seen a Senator or Car- s dinal, a millionaire, priest, merchant or pro- fessional man of eminence, happy among the more numerous members of the middle classes. Every civilized nation on earth is represented in the cosmopolitan procession. ©cean flMcus. The first ocean pier to be projected in this city was the enterprise of the late Col. George Howard, of Washington. D. C, in 1881. This structure, which stood only for one season, celebrated its opening July 12. 1882. It extended 050 feet into the ocean, at the foot of Kentuckv Avenue, on what i-- now J' the Hotel Luray property. The science of sinking- piling in heavy beach sand was then in its infancy. The expeditious hydraulic process had not then been used here and the methods effective in softer soils were not satisfactory along the beach. A September storm destroved this pier, but did not discourage the builder. Col. Howard proceeded at once with a stronger one, 850 feet long. At considerable expense screw threads were cut by hand on the sharpened ends of heavy log piling, with the expectation of screwing them deep enough into the solid sand of the beach. This method proved ineffective. NET HAUL ON YOUNG'S PIER. as power sufficient to twist the logs to splinters would not penetrate the sand. This crude thread failed of its purpose. Steam power and the water process was then introduced and the financial possibilities of ocean piers tested for several seasons. The outer pavilion of the Howard pier was damaged by the Robert Morgan, a large new vessel in ballast which was driven ashore high on the beach just above Kentucky Avenue on the night of January 9, 18S4. This pier was never a great success financially and was removed by the commissioners who condemned property for the building of the new board- walk in 1891. It was assessed at $8,000. J. R. Applegate, in 1883, was next to embark in the pier business. He bought one hundred feet of beach front at the foot of Tennessee Avenue for $10,000, paying $3,500 for one fifty-foot lot and $6,500 for another next adjoining where his picture galleries were. It was a double decker, artistically finished, with an amusement pavilion at the outer end 625 feet from the walk. This pier from the upper deck afforded a fine ocean view and was built to accommodate several thousand people. Tin's pier and real estate was sold in 1891 to Messrs. Young and McShea for $56,000 and has been extensively enlarged and improved since, till it now extends 2,000 feet into the ocean and for years has bee:: the great centre of attraction along the beach front. A large net, hauled twice daily in summer at the outer end, brings up a large and varied assortment of the animal life of the sea, which is of infinite interest to visitors. From this net specimens of fish of all sizes are secured for the large tanks on the pier, where living specimens may at all times be seen. In one large pavilion, 80 by 200 feet, hops, cakewalks, baby shows and entertainments are given and in another still larger auditorium meet- ings and conventions are provided for. A small trolley system carries visitors from the entrance out to the net, and a continuous program of popular attractions during the season afford diversion to thousands. As a resting place, where the ocean and bathing grounds may be viewed, the pier has become indispensable. Otherwise the congestion of travel on the Boardwalk might become decidedly unpleasant, where now the surroundings are of the most novel and enjoyable character. Che ©Ifr Iron pier. In [887 a company was organized in this city to build an iron pier as a popular beach-front attraction at the ocean end oi Massachusetts Avenue. Iron bridgework was used and a fine structure built, 1.000 feet into the s.ui .u a cost of $60,000. It was kept open several years, but was not a success financially and was sold at a forced sale, becoming finally the propert) oi Messrs. Young- iS: McShea, who purchased a square of land at the entrance. \ storm-tossed vessel wrecked a portion of the outer pavilion and .. severe Storm a few years later carried away several sections of the pier nearer the entrance. Damages were repaired and the old iron pier 1- still rented and used for business purposes. Ebe iRcw Steel ipuer. In 1S0S the Atlantic City Steel Tier Company was organized and incorporated and the handsome structure built 1050 feet into the ocean. at the foot oi Virginia Avenue. The capital stock of the company is > At the entrance from the Boardwalk a two story casino and music hall, glass inclosed and steam heated, seats I200 people and is a favorite simparlor and waiting place for social gatherings or visiting organizations. A large dancing pavilion or auditorium further along accommodates 3,500 people at one time, and a still larger one at the extreme outer end is being erected to accommodate 4.500. As many as 1S.000 people have been admitted to the steel pier on a single occasion during its first season. It is a substantial, safe and select resort for visitors, conducted to please the best class of people. \ dividend of seven per cent, was declared on the stock at the end K^i the first season. George W. Jackson was one of the leading promotors and largest shareholder. The structure was built on lauds that were his. The officers and directors of the company are: President. Win. Jaj Turner. 929 Chestnut Street. Philadelphia; Vice President. Frank J. Patterson: Treasurer. George W. Jackson: Secretary and Superintendent, Thomas R. Dibble; Directors, the above and A. O. Dayton. Win. T. Tiers. L. \V. Passmore. D. F. Keenan, Fred lUtrk. Charles F. Grosholz, Robt. T. Hastings. 1-. E. Filbert. A. S. Elliott. Morris Pfaelzer and T. T. Sullivan. 74 ©ur (public Schools. ^- THE growth and development of the public school system form one of the many gratifying features of the history of Atlantic City. The six fine buildings, seventy odd teacher-, four thousand pupils and up-to-date methods which now comprise our public school-. started from very humble conditions forty years ago. So early as 1836 one Richard Risley, from the mainland, came to this island to instruct less than a dozen children of the Leeds families. Crude indeed and meager were the means and methods of instruction in the rudiments in those days by private tuition. Risley was succeeded by one Mortimer Goodrich, who had his private school in the Ryan Adams house, which stood exactly in the intersection of Arctic and Delaware Avenues. Tradition says that John Weaver followed Goodrich and there were probably others during the long winters that intervened before the incorporation of the city and the advent of the railroad in 1854. Anna .Maria Gaskill taught a private school in the dining room of the Chalkley Leeds residence in 1856, and later in the same year Edward S. Reed, assisted by his wife, opened a school near Baltic and Rhode Island Avenues, in a house which still stands next to the hirst M. E. Church on Atlantic Avenue. A Miss Thomas succeeded Mr. Reed, having her school in a basement room of the M. E. Church, which had just been erected. There were then some thirty or forty school children on the island. The late Arthur Westcott. who for many years was City Assessor, taught a private school in a small building erected for that purpose by Richard Hackett on South Carolina Avenue above Arctic. A Miss Slade had a school in Mt. Vernon Cottage, next to St. Nicholas R. C. Church, on Atlantic Avenue, and a Miss Price had a school for a time in the Chester County House at New York and Pacific Avenues. The first public school was opened about 1858. in the old Ocean House, at Maryland and Arctic Avenues, where Beyer's Hotel now stands. It was first taught by Mr. Chas. G. Varney. The following year the School Trustees were able to provide the tir-t public school house, a small frame 75 building, on an ample lot at Arctic and Pennsylvania Avenues. Mr. Varney was succeeded by Alexander L. Bellis. a graduate of the State Normal School, whose system of discipline proved an innovation. During his two years' stay Bellis was assisted by his sister, Miss Sarah, Miss Fannie Smith, Miss Debora Cordery and Miss Lena Scull. About [863, the little three-room school house became so crowded that the trustees awarded a contract to Richard Souders for building a two-story, four-room structure, as a more imposing front to the original building. There was difficulty in providing" funds, and the contractor was unable to proceed. Mr. Robert T. Evard, at pecuniary sacrifice to himself, completed the job and provided much-needed school facilities. For many years afterward Mr. Evard served as school trustee. His sturdy sense, rugged honesty and firmness enabled him to select good teachers and tell when a school was well taught. Mr. Bellis was succeeded as principal by Mr. J. A. Abrams, Then came Mr. Leonard and Mr. Robert L. Guerney. In the fall of 1863, Mr. Silas R. Morse, of Livermore, Maine, who had been teaching successfully two or three years at Hammonton and Winslow, accepted the position of principal and continued in charge of the schools for nine years. Mrs. Morse, then a blushing bride, came with him and for seven years was one of his most efficient assistants. Hundreds of our best known citizens have pleasant memories of old school days under Mr. and Mrs. Morse. Other assistant teachers under Mr. Morse were Miss Elliott. Miss Nellie Hayes. Caroline Bigelow. of Livermore, Maine: Miss Elizabeth Allen, of Hoboken; Miss Ina Ross, of Burlington; Miss Anna Weatherby, Miss Mary Elliot. Miss Samaria Eldredge. In the fall of 1872 Mr. Morse resigned and Mr. Charles G. Kingman was elected, who two years later was succeeded by John H. Batten, and he by A. R. Dickerson. who remained one year only. In September. 1877. the schools opened with John F. Hall, another Maine man, as principal. He had taught several years in his native State and one year at Weymouth, in Atlantic Count}'. The trustees at that time were Joseph A. Barstow. Robert T. Evard and Andrew \Y. Tompkins. Hall continued two years, resigning in 1879. having embarked in journalism. The assistant teachers during the two years of his administration were Misses Adah M. Seely, Eliza U. Xorth. Mary Lara. Helen C. Seely. Sarah Hagan, Eva Madden. Xellie Thompson, Carrie E. Adams. Annie M. Adams, and Mrs. Johnson. Osmond C. Evans, from Maine, succeeded Hall, and taught two years. He was succeeded in the fall of 1881 as principal by Clarence E. Morse, /6 also from Maine, who had been in charge of the school at Mays Landing several years and was assistant principal in the Indiana Avenue school in the previous year. About this time a separate school for colored children was opened in rooms now occupied by the U. S. Fire Company. It continued success- fully several years, till political influences prevailed against separate colored schools. Prof. William A. Deremer took charge of the schools of this city in the fall of 1891. and continued in office as Supervising Principal until ( >ctober, 1893, when the silent reaper "death" claimed him as his own. He was a self educated man from Cumberland, Md., and had taught very suc- cessfully at Vineland, X. J., several years. He was an indefatigable worker, with tact and orginality that made him popular with his associates. He introduced manual training and a system of moral training which comes from having teachers and pupils investigate and relieve cases of warn and suffering among the worthy poor of the city. During his term of office four schoolrooms were added to each of the following buildings, viz.: Xew Jersey Avenue, Indiana Avenue and Texas Avenue. The teaching force was increased from thirty-five to forty- seven teachers. Manual training was added to the course and L. E. Ackerman, a graduate of the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, was elected to be in charge of this department in the spring of 1893. In October, 1893, Chas. B. Boyer, then principal of the High School, was elected to rill the vacancy caused by the death of Prof. Deremer. Henry P. Miller, a native of Sharpsburg, Maryland, was at the same time elected to the principalship of the High School. Since 1893 the teaching force has been increased from forty-seven to sixty-seven regular grade teachers and five special teachers. The total enrollment June 30. 1894. was 2.31 1, while that of June 30. 1898, was 3.391, an increase of 1,080 schoolable children in four years' time. The following table concisely gives the dates of the construction, the capacity and present value of the several school properties in Atlantic City: School?. Rooms. Built. Value. High School 10 1896 845,000 Pennsylvania Avenue 16 1887 40,000 Indiana Avenue 12 1879 30,000 Xew Jersey Avenue 12 1883 35,000 Texas Avenue 12 1883 25,000 Chelsea 6 1 897 30,000 Total 68 S205.000 78 In the fall of 1898. the manual training course was extended, in order that all pupils of the grammar grades should receive the benefits from such a course of training. At the present time there are five manual training rooms located as follows, one at Xew Jersey Avenue, one at Penn- sylvania Avenue, one at Chelsea, and two at the High School Building. A regular commercial course was introduced in the fall of 1898, and F. J. Klock, a graduate of the Rochester Business University, Rochester. X. Y., was elected to take charge of this department. Vocal music, as a regular class study, was introduced into the schools in January, 1891. The department was placed in charge of Miss Josephine Fletcher, who continued as supervisor of the same until the spring of 1893. The present supervisor, Miss Rispah Potter, took charge of the department in the fall of 1893. The results obtained thus far have been very gratifying. The present Board of [Education consists of C. J. Adams, President; Carlton Godfrey, Vice-President; Aaron Hinkle, Secretary: S. R. Morse. Dr. A. D. Cuskaden, W. A. Bell, Paul Wootton, and Dr. W. M. Pollard, City Superintendent. All expenditures are wisely made, and of the $80,566.28 appropriated by City Council for educational purposes during the past year, $67,267.12 was spent in behalf of the schools of this city. The best interests of the schools have at all times been considered and the Board has acted wisely and judiciously with all questions pertaining to the welfare of the boys and girls. The work in all departments is in the hands of faithful teachers. While Atlantic City may boast of her magnificent Boardwalk, her modern hotels, salubrious climate and world renowned popularity, she may also feel proud of her public school system and the influences emanating from the same. High School graduates who have entered higher institutions of learn- ing have been successful in their various lines of work. The future of the schools of this city is bright. The demands for the support of the schools have always been met with a willing response from the generous public. With the expansion of our city and the constant increase in popula- tion, it will be necessary to provide in the near future more school buildings for the better accommodation of the children. 79 So Some of the Xcabtno (Tbutcbes. fnet fID. i£. Churcb. THE First Methodist Episcopal Church in this city, on Atlantic above Connecticut Avenue, was built in 1857. The cornerstone was laid in July of that year. The lot. 60 x 150. was given to the church by Chalkley S. Leeds, who then owned many acres in that part of the island. The first religious services were held in a house then standing in the "old field." Local exhorters conducted services at first, till an organization was effected. Rev. Edward H. Durrell is said to have preached the first regular sermon. A Sunday School was organized in Cottage Retreat before rooms in the new church building were ready for use. During its construction William Conover was killed by the falling of the tower from the roof, one of the girders breaking. V. Since first occupied the church has twice been enlarged and improved. It is free from debt and valued at $12,500. There is a comfortable par- sonage at No. 30 North Delaware Avenue, valued at 84,500. The membership of the church now numbers nearly three hundred persons, and the Sunday School nearly four hundred. The annual receipts and expenses exceed S3.000. The twenty ministers who have officiated at this church since Mr. Durrell preached his first sermon are the following: 1. W. B. CULLIS, 2. J. T. TUCKER, :;. R. .1. ANDREWS, t. Mil. I. AIM) FOGG, :». W. S. BARNART, 6. U. M. STRATTON, 7. A. M. NORTH, -. a. .1. gregory, 9. .1. f. heilenman, 111. j. t. hutchinson, 11. JAMES \l< DUGALL, 12. W. S. /AXE. 13. \\. T. ABBOTT, 14. -I. I.. ROE, 15. PHILIP 1 LINE, in. J. II. BOSWELL, 17. .1. U. DILKS, 1- .1. II. l'AVKAX. 19. HENRY BELTING, 20. GEORGE S. MESEROLL. 81 The present official board comprises the following persons: JOSEPH C. ( LARK, JOHN J. MASON, ( i. \i;i:\( K I.. COLE, JOHN A. CLEMENT. MRS. MARY REPP, i\ ii. now en, HARRY PARSONS, MRS. LEWIS EVANS, LEWIS BARRETT, LUTHER EDMUNDS, ELWOOD JOHNSON, JOHN W. PARSONS, MRS. K. s. REED, ELLIOT RE] 'I'. MRS. MARY WOOTTON, THOMAS RILEY, THOMAS MAT1IIS, \VM. G. LORE. MRS. \V. <;. LORE, JOB (i. MONROE, s. P. DUBOIS. VLBERT DOUGHERTY, URIAH RILEY. first |prest)\>terlan Cburcb. The first Presbyterian services ever held in this city were conducted in the house of the first Mayor, Chalkley S. Leeds, on January 21, [855. Missionaries of the Presbytery conducted services for some years in private houses during the winter months and in hotel parlors during the summer. So early as 1855 the Camden and Atlantic Land Company very generously gave to trustees the present site of the First Presbyterian Church. It was swamp)- ground at that time, a small part of a tract that cost the land company Si 7.50 per acre. It cost con- siderable to grade the property, but sand Hills were not far away. At that time there was no building of any kind on Pennsylvania Avenue, except the Mansion House. The corner stone of the first edifice was laid August 21, 1856, on which occasion addresses were made by Rev. John Chambers. D.D.. John Ley- burn. D.D., and Samuel Beach Jones. D.D. Rev. William H. Green. LL.D., of Princeton Seminary, also was present. The first public services were held in the building July 26. 1857, with only temporary seats and unplastered walls. In the same month of July. 1S57. the corner stone of the First M. F. Church was laid. In [858 the Presbyterian property was seized by the sheriff for out- standing debt and was extricated with considerable difficulty. Stock was issued in $50 shares, bearing six per cent, interest, to run five years. AH were finally redeemed. For years the church was only occupied in summer, and preachers were secured by giving them free entertainment at the United States Hotel for their services. The building was too large and cold for w inter use. 82 The church was dedicated June -'3, 1859, when Dr. Charles YVads- vvprth preached from Luke y.j. On December 29, 1870. a regular church organization was effected by the following seven charter members: Mr. and .Mrs. Lemuel Eldridge, Henry, son of Rev. \Y ,\V. McNair, Mrs. Henry McNair, Miss Mary Scull. Mrs. Rachel Scull Turner and Mrs. Rebecca R. Townsend. Mrs. Turner is the only one of them living to-day. Rev. Allen H. Brown. Rev. Dr. V. D. Reed and Rev. S. VV. Pratt were the committee of the Presbytery on organization. Zealous missionaries in the early days of the church were Rev. Allen H. Brown and Rev. F. R. Brace, who are still among the living. For years the church was dormant, till with increasing population it became self-sustaining. Rev. W. W. McNair was the first stated supply. He continued about two years after the organization, when various ministers tilled the pulpit irregularly. Rev. A .G. Baker officiated about two years, till 1878. when Rev. H. Martin Kellogg became the stated supply till February, [880. The building was enlarged to its present size in 1876. at a cost of $3,500. The chapel was erected in 1S78 at a cost of $2,400 and was dedicated January 14, [879. It has since been twice enlarged and is an indispensable auxiliary of the church. In March. 1S80, Rev. Edward Bryan, a classmate of Mr. Kellosre. came and officiated acceptably till October, [882. Various supplies and candidates filled the pulpit till the fall of 1883, when Rev. Dr. William Aikman was installed as the first regular pastor. He officiated ten years, till April 17, 1894. On November 21, 1894, Rev. F. J. Mundy, D.D.. was elected pastor and served till March 31. 1896. He was never installed as pastor, but withdrew with seventy-four members April 2j. 1896, and organ- ized the ( )livet Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City. January 20. 1897. Rev. Frederick Jonte Stanley. D.D., was elected pastor. He began his labors February 1. 1897, and was installed pastor by the Presbytery April 26, 1897, becoming the second regular pastor in the twenty-nine years' history of the church. The church property is clear of debt and is valued at $30,000. It has an active membership of 253 persons. The scholars, teachers and officers of the Sunday School number 314. The annual receipts and disbursements by the last report amounted to $7,685.93, an increase of $1,606.66 over the previous vear. In November. 1898, this church started two mission chapels under the personal direction of Rev. H. R. Rundall, one in Chelsea and one in the northern section of the city. 83 first Baptist dhurcb. The history of the First Baptist Church is a story of consecrated effort ami abundant success. In February, [880, a few earnest Baptists met one evening in the home of Airs. Jane B. Shane. 225 Atlantic Avenue, and after •• good deal of discussion concluded that they would at least make an effort to organize a Sunday School, and hold regular services on Sundays and a prayer meeting during the week. The thought of organizing as a church had not at that time been expressed. The Sunday School was organized in the Pennsylvania Avenue School House, where it met for a few months. The school building not answering tor preaching purposes, the hall at the corner of Atlantic and Chalfonte Avenues, known then as Mehler's Hall, was rented. Here, for a few weeks. gathered the faithful founders of the church. They were not alone in their meetings, for many visitors to our city found them out and met with them. Thus encouraged, the subject of organizing a church was talked of. Some of the Philadelphia visitors advised it. and a meeting was called for the 29th day of June. 1SS0. At this meeting were present the following clergymen: Revs.R. F. Young, of Haddonfield, who was really the father u\ the church; L. P. Hornberger, George Cooper, C. C. Foote, VV. B. Toian, and J. G. Walker, of Philadelphia; T. L. Bailey, of Pottstown. Pa.; and A. 11. Puns;-, of Camden. Rev. Mr. Young presided, and Rev. Mr. \\ alker acted as clerk. At this meeting the church was organized with the following members: J. 11. Leedom, Mrs. Harriet Leedom, Edward Ross. Mrs. Emma Ross, Mrs. Maggie A. Peterson, Miss Mary A. McClees, Mrs. Adeline S. Pee. Mrs. Maggie Shinnen, Dr. A. \Y. Baily, Mrs. Jane Black (Shane), Mrs. May A. Borhek, Mrs. Laura A. Bewley, Jacob P. Peterson. Rev. T. P. Baily, Mrs. Caroline A. Baily, Miss Susan P. Baily, Mary A. Simes. Mrs. Esther A. Moore and Mrs. Margaretha Camerer. At this meeting Jacob IP Leedom was elected Deacon and Treasurer. and Dr. A. \Y. Baily, Llerk. During the summer of 1SS0 the church worshipped in the Presbyterian Chapel, returning to the hall in the fall. The) were without a pastor, depending upon supplies front Sabbath to Sabbath, and also without a church home, hut an active building committee at work. In the summer of [881 the Presbyterian Chapel was again secured. 1 Hiring the summer of [88] Mrs. Isaac Ford presented to the church the lot on which the building now stands, and on the 8th of September ground was broken for the foundation. On the 29th of the same month the cornerstone was laid, and during the fall the work of erection was pushed 84 85 along slowly, for the church went upon the plan of "paying as thev went." One of the noted events in this history occurred October 31st of this same year. That day Rev. Sidney Dyer, of Woodbury, was elected the first pastor, and from that date to January 1. 1SS5, he served most faith- fully. Under him the building was completed and paid for. In the June following Ins election the building had been pushed forward to the point when it could he occupied. It was little more than a barn, though, for there was no plaster on the walls ami nothing- but muslin in the windows. But if ever there was a happy congregation it was the one that worshipped for the first time in that incompleted building. Dr. Dyer was compelled to resign on account of ill health. Under his pastorate the membership increased to fifty-five. After three months the church called Rev. William E. Boyle to the pastorate. March 4. 1885. He remained pastor until the close of 1890. Under his care the membership was increased, but no special work was accomplished, except organizing the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, the first society formed in the city. The present pastor, Rev. T. J. Cross, began supplying the church in 1891. He was then a student. In June of that year he became regular supply for four months, at the expiration of which time he was elected pastor. Under his care the church has had its most successful period. The congregation > grew till the building became too small and it was enlarged. There is no debt upon the church, and at the present time it is united and harmonious, and has alwavs been so. Bethany Baptist Chapel, a flourishing' mission, at present located on Atlantic near Florida Avenue, is the healthy child of this church. St. Paul ni\ E. Cburcb. The St. Paul M. E. Church was organized from the small begnning known as the Union Sunday School in October. 1879. by Rev. E. C. Hill, presiding elder of the Bridgtou district, who appointed John M. Hartley as pastor. The following were members of the quarterly conference: J. H. Hart- ley, pastor: Thomas Sovereign, superintendent; Ehvood M. Hadley, local preacher; Solomon Mason, exhorter; Obadiah Reed. James Ireland. John Brown, William Eldredge and John A. Jeffries. The services were held in Union Chapel, corner of Baltic and Michigan Avenues. Mr. Hartlex served as pastor until March. 1881. when Rev. Z. T. Dugan was appointed by the Bishop presiding over the Xew Jersey 86 Conference of that year. The Union Chapel soon became too small for the growing congregation under Mr. Dugan's pastorate, and it was decided to build a new church. Accordingly, a lot was purchased at < >hi<> and Arctic Avenues, and the church erected. The basement story only was completed under the pastorate of Mr. Dugan, who served the church faith- fully for three years. In the spring of 1884 Rev. George S. Meseroll was appointed pastor. During the three years of .Mr. Meseroll's pastorate the audience room was completed and the membership increased largely. In the spring of [887 C. K. Fleming was appointed as pastor. He served the church faithfully and with great success for three years, when Rev. S. S. Weatherby was sent to succeed him. During his three years the parsonage adjoining the old church was built. To Mr. Weatherby is due the credit of suggesting and frequently urging a new church on Pacific Avenue. Rev. J. Ward Gamble followed Mr. Weatherby and remained two years in the pastorate. He did much to create a sentiment and zeal in favor of a new church. At the close of his second year the Central Church of this city was organized, when about twenty of the St. Paul members left and joined that. In the spring of 1895 Rev. George L. Dobbins was appointed. After nearly four years of united and hard toil of pastor and congregation they were able to occupy their new stone edifice, which represents an invest- ment of $45,000. It is Gothic architecture. The frontage on Pacific Avenue is sixty-five feet and the Ohio Avenue portion one hundred and twenty feet. The building is of Holmesbnrg granite with trimming's of Indiana stone. The main entrances are on Pacific Avenue, two in number, and both are reached by a high flight of stone steps, over which a hood is placed, which adds tc the appearance of the structure. It was designed by Architect J. Gather Newsome, and was dedicated Sunday, November 20, 1898. The New Jersey Conference held its annual session in this handsome edifice in March, 1899. Rev. J. Morgan Reed succeeded Mr. Dobbins as pastor at this conference. Episcopal Gburcb of tbc ascension. A movement to establish all the year round religious ministrations gained headway among the Episcopalians of Atlantic City during the later Seventies and resulted in the purchase of a lot at 2015 Pacific Avenue. 87 The late Mrs. E. G. Taylor was chiefly instrumental in the erection of a frame chapel, which was formally opened by Bishop Scarborough, August 10. [879. Rev. J. Rice Taylor, the first rector, began regular services in June. 1880, which have been maintained without intermission ever since. Under his direction, the parish was duly incorporated January 3, 1881, entering legally and canonical]}' into possession of the church property. Rev. Win. H. Avery succeeded to the Rectorship in February, 1882, and continued in charge for some years. In 1886, the vestry, seeking a more central and convenient location, bought ground at Pacific and Kentucky Avenues, and with the advice and consent of the canonical authorities removed the frame chapel thither, adding an annex for Sunday School purposes. Rev. J. H. Townsend became rector December 1. 1891. and laid the corner stone of the present edifice April 27, 1893, which was completed by the liberal offerings of resident and transient worshippers and opened for use May 13, 1894. This structure was designed by Mr. Lindley Johnson, is in the Spanish Renaissance style, and is a good example of a commodious, yet inexpensive hard material building, well adapted to the varying needs of this population and climate. 1M Olivet lprcsbptcrian Cburcb. ( hi April 27, 1896. seventy-four members of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic City withdrew from that church, and at their request the Presbytery of West Jersey organized the Olivet Presbyterian Church, of Atlantic City, and installed Rev. F. J. Mundy, D.D., pastor. At the same time three persons united with the church by letter from other churches. At that time they had neither a Bible or a Hymn-book, nor an abiding place. Soon thereafter Odd Fellows' Hall was engaged in which to hold services, and the lecture room of the German Presbvterian Church, in which to hold prayer meetings. In the summer of 1897 services were held iii the Academy of Music on the Boardwalk. On November 6, 1896. the lot at the southeast corner of Pacific and Tennessee Avenues was purchased and the following September members and friends assembled and broke ground for the foundation of a new church home. Contributions and assistance were liberally made for the handsome stone structure which, on Sunday March 2j. and April 3. 1898, was duly dedicated. Following are the names of the charter members of Olivet Presbyterian Church: 88 MARY II. PORTER, HANNAH C. PORTER, ELIZABETH II. PORTER, SALLIE 1). FARTHING, LIZZIE BOSTLE, S. MARIE JOHNSON, SARAH A. JOHNSON, LILA It. WOODRUFF, JESSIE MAUDE BENDER, MALVINA TOWNSEND, JESSE I.. TOWNSEND, EVA V. ARMSTRONG, HATTIE II. ARMSTRONG, GEORGE P. EINWECHTER, MRS. GEO. P. EINWECHTER, GEO. EINWECHTER, .li:.. ARTHUB KNAUER, JOS. L. KNAUER, HELEN C. FAIRBAIRN, JOSEPH R. WOODRUFF, JULIA C. KEFFER, MRS C. li. WHITNEY, i . B. WHITNEY, MARTHA B. FAIRBAIRN, JAMES C. FAIRBAIRN, HENRY I.. FAIRBAIRN, NELLIE M. LIPPINCOTT, C. K. LIPPINCOTT, MARTHA L1ITI \i OT I . HELEN II. LONG, HOWARD MARY LOGAN REILEY, PHILIP (,. SMALLWOOD, LULU S. SMALLWOOD. LILLIAN R. MILLER, HARRIET A. DONNELLY, ELIZA A. MESSICK, IDA E. KNAUER, JENNIE s. MALONEY, NINA E. SHANER, SALLIE .1. FREEMAN, JEMIMA M< INTYRE, JAMES McINTYRE, SARAH N. WEIDEMER, HENRIETTA EILER, BENJIE E. BOWM \\. VALERIA MARSH, C. R. RAITH, I). I). S., CORA s. I; \| til LOTTIE C. WOODRUFF, Mrs. F. .1. Ml XI IV. JOSEPH S. STINSON, WILLIAM N. MILLER, EMMA E. BOW1I VN, MARTHA M. MARSH. ESTELLE M. Lll>l\.*< (ITT. SALLIE J. RAITH, E. A. RKILEY. M. I).. MIRTIE R. NORRIS, MARIAN MUNDY, MRS. MARY A. WILLITS, STOUT. FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE 8g (Serman lpicslnncnan Cburcb. The German Presbyterian Church, at Pacific and Ocean Avenues, was built in [884. The congregation then numbering forty or fifty, had been organized two years before. Rev. Arnold \\ . Fismer, now pastor of the Hopkins Street Church in Brooklyn, X. Y.. was the first pastor. The lot, 60 1>\ [20 Feet, was purchased For 84.000 and the church built for S3 .000 before he left in November, 1885. The corner stone was laid February 28, 1SS4. After him came Rev. P. 11. Schnatz, who labored acceptably four years, till 1890, the membership steadily increasing. Rev. 11. Hortsch was pastor for a short time after Mr. Schnatz was called to the Martha Memorial Church of Xew York City. On the fourth Sunday of advent, 1891, Rev. A. K. Staiger came to be in charge of the little church, where he was installed as pastor June. iSoj. and has served faithfully up to the present writing. During the pastorate of Mr. Schnatz. a portion of the lot was sold for S500 and the mortgage reduced to $1,500. This has been paid oft since Mr. Staiger came, the church enlarged, a parsonage added at a cost for all of So. 000. There is at present a debt of $3,500 against the property which is worth St 5.000. The membership of the church has grown to 100 and the Sunday School to 110 pupils and u teachers. There is a very active Ladies Aid Society, under the leadership of Mrs. Matilda Stadler, and an excellent choir of young voices, under the direction of Robert Kirscht. The present officers are: President of the Hoard of Elders. Ferd Stadler; Secretary. Emil Werner: August Steuber, Jacob Scherer, Charles Speidel and Henry Obergfell. St. "Nicholas Cburcb. In 1856 Rev. Father Michael Gallagher, ( >. S. A., built St. Nicholas R. C. Church on ground given by the late Col. Daniel Morris to the Order of St. Augustine. Religious services on this island at that time had but few scattering people to attend them. But the zeal of the few provided for the many and the little Gothic chapel of St. Nicholas of Tolentine was the ottering to Cod of his poor people. A view of it appears on another page. It stood on Atlantic Avenue below Tennessee. The Rev. John Joseph Fedigan was the first settled pastor of St. Nicholas Church, coming here from Villanova College in August, 1SS0. to benefit his health ami for the benefit of his people. Both were happily accomplished: till not less than fifty thousand dollars were invested in the large and convenient church and residence at Pacific and Tennessee Avenues. Father Fedigan endeared himself to his people and continued his labors here till July. [898, when his brothers called him to preside over the province of St. Thomas, with residence at Bryn Mawr. Pa. 00 (Bieat Hbvance in IRcal Estate THE increase in the values of real estate in this city has been mar- velous. Fifty feet lots fronting on Atlantic Avenue which sold thirty years ago for $500 each are now sold and held for $500, $800 and more per front foot. This is on land which in the early Fifties was purchased by the Camden and Atlantic Land Company for $17.50 per acre. Land along the beach which was considered almost value- less in 1878 is now valued at $1,000 per foot fronting on the Boardwalk. When John L. Young, in 1885. purchased the old Victoria rink, at the foot of South Carolina avenue, he paid $6,000 for the rink property; $4,500 for three lots adjoining and $10,000 for several lots in front to low water. He sold one fifty-foot lot on South Carolina Avenue for $12,000. which left $8,500 as the net cost of all the rest. Seven years later this property, containing the rink and merry-go-round was sold to the Somers Casino Company for $150,000 and in 1898 was bought hack by Air. Young and his associates for $200,000. The lot is 150 feet front by 400 feet deep. The old Chester County House property on New York Avenue was bought by Mr. Young for $65,000 in 1891 or 1892. He sold off the hotel section to Westminster Avenue for $33,000 and disposed of other lots at $100 per front foot till he got all his money back, leaving him 90 feet of beach front clear, worth $1,000 per front foot. Another lucky purchase was in front of the Hotel Luray at the ocean end of Kentucky Avenue. This lot fronting 150 feet on the Boardwalk and extending hack 200 feet, cost Mr. Young in 1893 875.000. John Hagan, three years before, had offered to sell it for $6,000. After holding it three years Mr. Young sold it to Mr. White of the Luray for $115,000. and it is worth $175,000 any day. Another fortunate speculation was at the foot of Maryland Avenue. This block. 175 feet front by 300 feet deep was purchased in 1892 by Mr. Young for $25,000. He soon sold a part of it to James Bew for $10,000; another lot was sold to the Rutter Bros, for $16,000: a third lot to Llotel Islesworth for $12,000. and a fourth lot for $4,000: total. S42.000. leaving the corner lot. J^ feet front by 300 deep, worth $75,000. which Mr. Young still holds. 91 About 1894 Mr. Young, with four others, purchased at public sale a full square of land near the ocean end of Atlantic Avenue for $650. Two years later the land was sold for $21,000 and in October, 1898, it was sold again for $63,000, which is much less than its selling price to-day. CHALFONTE AND HADDON HALL. FROM THE BEACH IN 1874. UNITED STATES HOTEL AND LIGHTHOUSE THE BEACH ABOUT 1874 1 VIEW FROM LIGHTHOUSE 1870. VIEWS OF LONG AGO. 92 VIEW FROM LIGHTHOUSE. 1870. George \V. Jackson purchased property fronting on the Boardwalk for $4,500. He paid John F. Starr $20,000 for lands in front to the water's edge. About fifteen years later Mr. Jackson sold the whole to the Steel Pier Company for $150,000. The old Opera House lot on Atlantic Avenue near Tennessee. 50 by 175 feet deep, was purchased in 1880 by Barclay Lippincott for $4,000. It was puchased to enlarge the City Hall site adjoining in 1897 for $-'5,000. The Mensing lot, in the same square, 40 by 1 10 feet deep, was sold in [867 for $1,100. In March, 1874. the Kuehnle Hotel property was purchased of William Conover, 110 feet on Atlantic Avenue, for $0,200. The lot on which Hotel Shelburne now stands on the westerly side of Michigan Avenue, 150 feet deep and including everything from a point MANSION HOUSE 1876. 450 feet from Pacific Avenue to highwater mark, was purchased !>v Elisha Roberts in 1874 of the Camden and Atlantic Land Company for $1,500. The hotel has been moved nearer the ocean and many thousand dollars worth of cottage lots sold from the original tract. The Shelburne property is probably worth $200,000. The Chalfonte property, which was sold in [898 for $225,000, was purchased by George T. DaCosta in 1868 for $6,500. It then bounded 27934 feet on Pacific Avenue and extended 310 feet more or less to high tide line. It now begins some 1,500 or 2,000 feet from Pacific Avenue, thousands of dollars worth of cottage lots having been sold off during the past twenty years and the hotel moved nearly 2,000 feet nearer the ocean. 93 Da Costa paid only $3,000 for this property in [856, buying it of the land company. The purchase included the St. James Church property and the lot where Dr. Pennington's cottage now stands, all together now worth half a million dollars. A few years ago Mr. Joseph 11. Borton of Hotel Dennis refused S^oo.ooo for that property. It is probably valued at $500,000 to-day. It has been known to clear over $50,000 in one year. When Mr. Borton purchased the property April 11. [867, he paid William and Susan B. 1 >ennis Si 2,500 for it. The I )ennis cottage then stood near Pacific Avenue, and the ocean was not very far away. The lot consisted of three 50-foot lots, making 150 feet on Pacific Avenue, and extending to "low-water mark." The first lot on the corner Dennis bought June 4, [863, of Joseph C. Bye for $800. The next lot of H. D. Gummer cost $150 in [862, and the third of Charles W. Bacon December 1. [862, cost Dennis S304. After holding- this property four or five years Dennis sold for $12,500, the three lots which cost him $1,314, not including a 40-room hoarding- house which he had built and which is shown in an illustration. The next 50-foot lot on Pacific Avenue or the ocean end of it. beginning 300 feet from Pacific Avenue. Mr. Borton purchased of the Charles X. 1'iersoll heirs December 11, [886, for $3,500. This lot from Pacific Avenue cost Piersoll $850 in 1K72. Mr. Borton has sold cottage lots on Pacific Avenue for more than the amount of his original purchase. He has enlarged his hotel several times and moved it perhaps 1,000 feet nearer the ocean, on land which old ocean has so lavishly thrown up at his door during the past 30 years. Fortunate, indeed, were they who purchased land to low-wafer mark 30 years ago. In 1886 Lewis A. Haines, of this city, bought sixty feet of beach front on the easterly side of ( >cean Avenue for $5, 000. It extended back from the Boardwalk over 100 feet and the leach was constantly making- out and new boardwalks were moved out accordingly. In October, 1897. after eleven years, Mr. Haines re- served a sixty-foot lot in the rear and sold to Victor ITeisinger the remainder of the 330 feet on Ocean Avenue, which he then had. for $72,000. The prop- erty has since been sold for Suo.ooo. or $1,500 per front foot for hotel purposes. Every square foot of space in the city has shared in this great advance in value, that along the 1 each dennis cottage. front being especially remarkable. >4 Zhc Htlantic Cft^ Ifoomocopatbic Club. OX the evening of May 17. 1897, in response to an invitation sent to all the homoeopathic physicians of Atlantic County, there met at the office of Dr. M. I). Youngman. the following physicians: Drs. Bull, Bieling, Balliet, Baily. Crosby, Corson, Fleming, Red- man and Sooy, of Atlantic City; and Gardiner, of Absecon; and after discussion, unanimously determined to hand themselves into a club for the JOHN R. FLEMING, M.D. PRESIDENT OF THE ATLANTIC CITY HOMOEOPATHIC MEClCAL CLUB 95 advancement of Homoeopathy and the mutual advantage of each member. A constitution was adopted, name selected, and the following officers elected to serve until the annual meeting in January: President. John R. Fleming; Secretary. John L. Redman; Treasurer, L. D. Balliet. The cluli holds its meetings monthly, except during the months of A. W. BAILY M,D. July and August, at the houses of the various members, at which meetings papers are read and discussed, cases are reported, and prevailing diseases and their treatment brought to the notice of the members. Since the organization of the club Drs. Mary Miller. Lydia H. Crom- well and Alfred W. Westney have been elected to membership, and Drs. 96 97 s 98 s I 99 :oo IOI Redman, Bull and Biding have lost their membership, having remove. 1 from the city. Dr. Gardiner has changed his location from Ahsecon to Atlantic City. At the annual meeting of January, 1898. Dr. Fleming was re-elected President, and Dr. Balliet was re-elected Treasurer, Dr. Corson berhg elected Secretary. In 1899, at the animal meeting, all the old officers were re-elected, and Dr. Cromwell elected Assistant Secretarv. In April, 1897. just one month after the organization of the club, Drs. Baily, Bull, Fleming, Crosby, Munson and Youngman were appointed a committee to attend the meeting of the American Institute of Homoeopathy at Buffalo in June and invite that body to meet in Atlantic City in 1898. The committee did their work, secured a club room at the Genesee Hotel, which they decorated, and had the pleasure of seeing man)- of the Institute members in their room. But the Institute pleaded a previous engagement and went to Omaha. To the Omaha meeting the club sent another invi- tation, which was unanimously accepted; and in June, 1899, the club has the pleasure of entertaining the Institute in Atlantic City. The club now numbers twelve members, and has at its monthlv meetings an average attendance of ten. Of the members, Drs. Fleming, Baily, Balliet, Munson, Sooy, Corson, Gardiner and Westney are graduates of Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia; Drs. Crosby and Young- man of the Xew York Homoeopathic Medical College; Dr. Cromwell of Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago; and Dr. Miller of New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, 1862 TO 1887. IOJ TLhxec 'Rational Banks, T IMS city is we'll provided with financial institutions. It has three National banks, one safe deposit and trust company and half a dozen building and loan associations. The First National Bank was organized March 18. 1881, after several months of persistent canvassing on the part of Robert D. Kent, who became the first cashier. The first Board of Directors were: Joseph A. Carstow. John P>. Champion, George F. Currie, Charles Evans, Richard H. Turner and Elisha Roberts. The officers were: Charles Evans. 1 'resident, and Robert D. Kent, Cashier. The bank was first opened for business on May 23. 1SS1, occupying temporarily a room in the Currie Building, near the corner of South Carolina Avenue. Later the bank moved into the Bartlett Bank Building, which was erected especially for the purpose. Xo dividends were declared the first year but semi-annual three per cent, dividends were paid thereafter, till now the surplus is three times the invested capital of $50,000, and semi-annual dividends of nine per cent, are paid. The following are the present officers and directors: Charles Evans, President: Joseph H. Borton, Vice-President : George Allen. George W. Crosby, Dr. T. K. Reed. J. Haines Lippincott, John B. Champion. Elisha Roberts, Fred Hemsley, Francis P. Quigley, Cashier. The Second National Bank was organized December 18. 1886, with a capital stock of Stoo.oco. and began business January 24. 1887. in its own brick and stone building at the corner of New York Avenue. It has steadily prospered, paying dividends and accumulating a surplus ■ if S50.000. The officers and directors are: George F. Currie. President; Levi C. Albertson. Vice-President; Joseph Thompson, [. G. Adams, E. B. Scull, James H. Mason, Lewis Evans, Louis Kuehnle. Samuel K. Marshall, Warren Somers, Absalom Cordery. and E. V. Corson and L. A. Down, Cashier. In the same building and under the same direction is the Atlantic Safe Deposit and Trust Company with a capital of $100,000. 103 104 Interest is paid on deposits and all the usual powers and privileges of such institutions are exercised by this one. The officers are: George F. Currie, President; Louis Kuehnle, Vice President; Lorenzo A. Down, Secretary and Treasurer; and Joseph Thomp- son, Solicitor. The Union National Bank was organized in August, [890, and opened for business October 1 ith of the same year with a capital stock of $100,000. It also occupies its own handsome brick building at the corner of Kentucky Avenue. The Union Bank has progressed steadily, having acquired a surplus of $40,000. The officers and directors are: Hon. Allen B. Endicott, President; Smith Conover, Vice President; C. J. Adams. James D. Southwick, Alfred W. Baily, James Flaherty, Thomas J. Dickerson, Lewis P. Scott, Lucien O. Corson, George W. Jackson, Thompson Irvin, G. Jason Waters and James M. Aikman, Cashier. NEW STORE AND FLATS OF GEORGE ALLEN. I05 .ISr:iiH|fci,**.tth G4LEN HALL. 1 06 Cost of Cit£ Government. A X ordinance to provide for the amount of tax to be levied in Atlantic City in the year (898, to make appropriations and limit the expenditures of Atlantic City for the fiscal year beginning the first Monday in September, [898, and ending the first Monday in September, 1899. Section 1. Be it ordained in the City Council <>l' Atlantic City, Thai Eor the fiscal year beginning the first Monday in September, 1898, and ending the firs! Monday in September, 1899, the follow- ing amounts are hereby appropriated and ordered raised for the respective purposes herein stated, and from any funds in the Treasury, to be used for the respective purposes: County Tax $46,398 7.". State School Tax 36,16] 28 City School Tax 35,300 00 Special District School Ta\... 9,105 00 Sinking Fund 25, 100 Water Department 105,940 00 Floating- Debt 2,5 10 City Notes 25,000 in; Interest on Bonds 10,576 97 Interest on Notes 5,000 00 Lighting 28, I 00 Streets 17,900 00 Police Department 29,500 00 Fire Department 20,000 00 Detective Service 1,000 00 Protection and Improvement of Property 11,200 00 Printing and Stationery 2,500 00 Salaries 18,650 00 Legal Expenses 3,0 10 Poor Fund 4,000 00 Sanitary 14. nun 00 Board of Health 3,00 1 Atlantic City Hospital 4. (inn 00 Election Expenses 1,000 00 Memorial Expenses $ 100 U0 Annul) Renl 100 00 United States Fire Co 2 250 00 Atlantic Fire Co 2,500 00 Xcpt line Hose Co 2,250 08 Good Will Hook and Ladder Co 2,250 uti Beach Pirates Chemical Engine Co sun un Chelsea Fire Co 1,750 00 Rescue Hook and Ladder Co.. . 300 on Deferred Hills 20,303 00 Building Streets and Sidewalks 1m Revising, Compiling and Print- ing Charter and Ordinances. 2,000 un Flower Heds 100 on Total $4!i4.4::r. 00 Sec. 2. And lie it further ordained. That the moneys appropriated by the first section of this ordinance shall be derived from the following sources: Tax Duplicates, 1898 $::14.4:::> on Licenses 93,000 00 Fines ami Costs 1,400 00 Building Permits - 10 Sale of Street dirt - 1,200 nd Registration of Dogs 500 00 Srndry Services 1,543 59 Cash on hand to credit of Water Department, Septem- ber 5th, L898 41,843 :i Unpaid Water Hills, series of August 1st. is'.is 9,320 un I07 Receipts of Water Depart- ment, series of February 1st, 1899 $7,000 00 Sundry account, Water De- partment 1,000 nn Streel Service Account, Water Department 3,500 00 Cash on hand to credit of Gen- eral Fund, September 5th, L898 18,892 70 $494,435 00 Sic-. ::. And be it ordained, That this ordinance shall take effecl immediately. Passed at a regnlar meeting of City i ouncil, September lL'th. 1898. JAMES 1). SOUTHWICK, President. Attest: E. D. LRELAN, City Clerk. Approved September 16, 1S98. JOSEPH THOMPSON, Mayor of Atlantic City. BACHARACH BUILDING. 108 Beautiful longport S a Family Resort, since 1898 incorporated as a New Jersey borough, comprising one or two square miles of the southerly end of the island on whose northerly end Atlantic City is conspicuous. It is nearly ten miles between the extreme points or thirty minutes by trolley cars which nearly span the entire distance. Longport is a lovely family resort with two large boarding houses, the Aberdeen and Devonshire; a dozen or twenty beautiful cottages; a large club house; a Government life saving station and some other buildings. Old ocean pounds ceaselessly upon a charming expanse of shallow beach along the easterly border, while close up to the sandhills or high ground on the westerly side come the waters of the long port or large expanse of sheltered bays and navigable thoroughfares. From the railroad terminus or pavilion sail and steamboats ply to Ocean City and Somers Point, on the mainland, several miles distant. Not till August 31, iSy4. did the first railroad train enter Longport where now convenient trolley cars make frequent trips. M. Simpson McCullough the first and present Mayor, in 1882, pur- chased of James Long the large tract of land on which Longport is built. The first cottages were built the following year by congenial spirits who appreciated the ideal surroundings and knew that developments must speedily follow the plans and enterprise of Mr. McCullough to make Longport a very desirable, reasonably restricted family resort. Building lots have met with a ready sale to a very desirable class of purchasers and the character of the improvements are of the most attrac- tive kind. Mr. A. H. Philips, the well known real estate agent, is one of the most progressive pioneers of this young borough. Longport is well lighted and has an ample supply of pure artesian water. Every summer season the capacity of the place is tested to the utmost for several weeks at a time. The building of the substantial stone drive or speedway direct from Atlantic City, which is now in progress, will make Longport a favorite point for driving and cycling. This new road will he brilliantly lighted at night and be one of the most novel and charming drives in the country, close along the ocean's edge and in the near din of its roar. 109 no <3olf at the County Club. THE Country Club, composed of prominent citizens lias provided handsomely for the lovers of golf, who visit this resort. On a beautiful rise of ground on the mainland six miles away a model club house has been built and eighteen-link grounds laid out that are much enjoyed by golfers. All conveniences are provided and the soil is of such a character that wet seasons hardly interfere with this health-giving game. The grounds are easily accessible by rail, bicycle or carriage over good roads and are greatly appreciated. From the perfectly appointed club house, a fine example of colonial architecture, one may look over miles of cultivated fields that slope to vast and picturesque areas of bay and meadow land, and beyond all ocean- ward. .Atlantic City. Ventnor, South Atlantic and Longport, with the prominent buildings rising and vibrating as in a mirage along the horizon line. Golf (in its older forms golf, gouff, gowff. the latter of which gives the genuine old pronunciation), is an amusement formerly so peculiar to Scotland, that it was well ami truly termed the national game of that country. Not many years ago. however, the game was taken up in England, where it at once became immensely popular; finally it was 1 in night over to America, and to-day throughout this country, and in England a- well, it is the most popular, a- well as one of the most healthful of all open air games, and the fact that it brings all the muscles of the human body into healthy action commends it to all and makes it a really desirable game. though there are those who look upon it unjustly as a senseless pastime. ■A THE SEASIDE HOUSE. 112 ftcigftbormg brigantine* BRIGANTINE BEACH has been known since the earliest times chiefly in giving a name to the famous Brigantine shoals or shallows on the coast where many a vessel has struck bottom and become a total wreck. In these later days this shoal beach has become famed for its excellent surf bathing, its fishing grounds and as a rendezvous for sportsmen and others who here find the retirement, solitude, relaxation and that peace which passeth all understanding. BELL BUOY. The resident population of Brigantine enables this coast village to be incorporated as one of Xew Jersey's smallest cities, containing two wards, a Mayor and City Council. Three hotels and fifteen or twenty cottage homes for city sojourners, several miles of graded streets, frequent trolley cars, connecting with steamboats across the bay, have during the past few years converted bleak and lonely sandhills into a very promising young sister "3 of the Queen of ocean resorts, Atlantic City. Brigantine possesses advan- tages which are regarded as blessings to those in quest of a quiet, luxuriant retreat, far from the madding crowd. It lias all the advantages of a great city and inland town together with the features that make Atlantic City famous without any of the disadvantages of these places. There is a restful, slumbrous air brooding over Brigantine that creates insensibly a feeling of subdued pleasure that makes life one long holiday while the view of the ocean and the consciousness that each respiration of health-invigorating ozone, contributes to the general feeling of elasticity. Brigantine is exclusive unto itself. Its limits have been carefully maintained and those who look upon it as a paradise in which to escape the annoyances of the heated, bustling cities are numbered among the prominent of the nation. lion. M. S. Quay, who is credited with being a judge of what is pleasing, visits Brigantine frequently and there finds solace for the haras- sing cares of state by catching drumlish. and Congressman llarmer, of Philadelphia, also has a lovely cottage there. Artesian wells furnish water as pure as the air in which ( )ld Glory floats above the highest building, while electric lights of many horse power make night as brilliant as the brightest day. Graveled streets that invite driving and cycling have been built through and across the island. Brigantine has recently awakened from long time conservatism and inspired by well-directed enterprise is taking on new life and is making commendable progress. Its nearness to Atlantic City, its moderate cost of living, its elegant hotel accommodations make its natural features especially delightful to thousands of people. OLD RYAN ADAMS HOUSE. 14 COn 13nij nnCi (Ocenn. ft r no point along the New Jersey coast can so many yachts and sailing craft be found as here. While the shifting sands and bars at the Inlet channel make this harbor inaccessible to large vessels, many private pleasure yachts come here during the summer and the Inlet wharves present a scene of unusual animation at all times. Since 1883 a Yachtsmens' Association has maintained an organization and a large active membership. Stringent rules are enforced to maintain suitable wharves and permit 011I3 experienced, capable seamen to engage in the business. A fleet of one hundred or more pleasure yachts, some of them large and handsomely furnished, handle thousands of people daily in summer time at very reasonable rates. As many more smaller craft are owned by cottagers and citizens. Fishing in the bays or on the ocean is one of the exhilarating pastimes of visitors. Cabin yachts are available during winter months in which those who wish may spend a week or more at a time, gunning about the bays. -it* •>*!**- 11: HOTEL TRAYMORE. 116 Atlantic CUij (Officials. 1899-1900 Mayor— J( )SEPH THOMPSON. Recorder— JOHN S. WESTCOTT. Alderman— JAMES D. SOUTHWICK. Treasurer— JOHN A. JEFFRIES. City Clerk— EMERY I). I R ELAN. Tax Collector— WILLIAM LOWRY, Jr. Solicitor— C.\ RLTON GODFREY. City Comptroller— A. M. HESTON. Chief of Police— HARRY C. ELDRIDGE. Overseer of Poor— DA XI EL L. ALBERTSOX. Mercantile Appraiser— J. \\". PARSOXS. Supervisor of Streets— S. B. ROSE. Building Inspector— S. L. WESTCOAT. Electrician— C. WESLEY BRUBAKER. City Marshal— CORNELIUS S. FORT. Assessors— STEWART II. SHIXN. SERAPH F. LILLIG, AX- DREW J. WTTHROW. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. President— JAMES D. SOUTHWICK. BAETON, SAMUEL, [RELAND, WM. A., BARRETT, DAVID R., KELLEY, SAMUEL II., BEYER, ALBERT, KNAUER, DANIEL, CLKMKXT. .lusKI'll ( '., LEE, EDWARDS., DOUGHTY, S. L., LEEDS, HENRY \\\. FLEMING, JOHN R., LINGERMAN, JOS. E., GARNICH, HUGO, LONG, GEORGE IT., HANN, ENOS P., PARKER, EDWIN A. 117 The assets of the city government amount to a total of. . . . $1,674,144 Including: Water Plant $887,000 City Hall Property 75,000 Steel Boardwalk 1 57, 1 55 Sinking Fund 7 l -777 Tax Duplicate of 1898 314,435 Personal and Other Property li ^-777 The total liabilities of the city aggregate ■. . $1,207,831 Consisting of: City Ponds $9,831 Improvement Bonds 187,000 Paving Bonds 100,000 City Hall Bonds 24,000 Water Bonds 887,000 The story of Atlantic City's wonderful growth and prosperity is told in the following figures: Voters 1854 (First Election) .... 18 i*57 77 [860 119 [865 126 1870 173 i875 458 1880 962 1SX5 1.071, 1890 2.S40 [895 3,600 1899 ( Estimated) 5,680 Population Assessed Valuation IOO 4OO 687 746 I -043 2,009 880.02 5 5-477 1.707,760 7-94-' 2/i02,3I2 13,037 4.415.896 18,329 12,172,646 25.000 i5.OOO.OOO 118 The assets of the city government amount to a total of. . . . Including: Water Plant $887,000 $1,674,144 City Hall Property Steel Boardwalk Sinking Fund Tax Duplicate of 1898 Personal and Other Property 75.000 ■5/.155 71-777 314435 The total liabilities of the city aggregate ■. . $1,207,831 Consisting of: City Bonds Improvement Bonds Paving Bonds City Hall Bonds . . . Water Bonds $9,831 187,000 100,000 24,000 887,000 The story of Atlantic City's wonderful growth and prosperity is told in the following figures: [854 1857 [860 1 8( .5 1S70 1X75 1880 [885 1890 [895 i8< (First Election) Voters Population Assessed Valuation l8 IOO 77 400 119 687 12') 746 173 i.o43 458 2,009 880,025 962 5477 1,707,760 1.676 7.942 2,602,312 2,840 i3. 37 4>4I5, 8q 6 3,600 18.329 12.172,646 Estimated) 5.680 25,000 15.000,000 118 m A TLANT/C O CEA/V MAP OF ATLANTIC CITY SHOW/NG /O AI/LE BEACH FROM INLET to LONGPORT. PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR Tttg tmeLT tumour ms,Tot*Y •1899- o"?+ 5ca Ic of Feei- \ BEAC ^* 5eff/on jy i S31LI raponnpp 1 i'Q^3?»c^i-crTr5r | _) E V QQDQDnUDQ Hm EBSEQX "331 iQQ a JE>fc>Q ^ /l T L A N T / C =1 D ! o c zr JSDC3I ^\ toa&Dt