The West Atlantic City news. [volume], March 15, 1927, Image 1

About The West Atlantic City news. [volume] (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1927-1928

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FROM THE WORLD’S PLAYGROUND JUST A STEP TO HOME
GATEWAY
TO THE WORLD’S
PLAYGROUND
The West Atlantic City News
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF WEST ATLANTIC CITY
GATEWAY
TO THE WORLD'S
PLAYGROUND
VoL 1. No. 9 THE WEST ATLANTIC CITY NEWS, WEST ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1927 PRICE THREE CENTS
Period of Greatest Growth and Prosperity is Opening
8
H
i
NeW Type
House For West
Atlantic City
‘Air Light, Day Light Houses’
With' Windows On One
Side That All Open Out
BUILT IN TWINS
AT MODERATE PRICES
Benjamin R. Tox Adopts Ar
chitect Brooks’ Unique
Ideas to Supply Houses to
Meet Popular Demand in
Features and Price
Mr, A. L, Brooks, the architect
who Is responsible for most of the
unique features In the houses being
built in West Atlantic City, Is work
ing on plans for an entirely new
type house for this vicinity. These
house are known as the "Air Light,
Day Light Houses" because of the
fact that all windows open out di
rectly from one of the four sides of
the house.
These houses will be built in
twins and will * be sold at prices
within the means of the modest
buyer. As demands have become so
Insistent for a home of this type
that Benjamin H. Fox has decided
to include in the new construction
of 40 houses under way* 8 more of
this-type.
These houses will be about 36 x
21, have: front - porches or sun
parlors, living _rgom, diping room,
kitchen on the first floor, 3 bed
rooms and bath oh the second floor.
.Mr.' fox expects to beable to sell
houses to h.omft,bpyerji, frt .a, prige
that'will make the'Chf tying charges
- actually less than rental would be'
on houses ol this character.
Blue prints showing the floor
plans, and any other information
can be had by inquiring at the main
ofllce of Benjamin R. Fox, 1102
Atlantic ave. or West Atlantic City
Ofllce Casino, on the boulevard.
D. S. LeCOMPTE~~
BUILDS BIRD HOUSE
Others Follow His Example
' In West Atlantic
City
I). S. LeCompte has built, adjoin
ing. his home on Florence avenue,
an eight-room bird bouse. Mr. Le
Compte hopes to make this the cen
ter for migrating birds, especially
the martins, of which he is an ar
dent admirer.
The purple martin of America is
a favorite in, Canada and the Uni
ted States. As it breeds in hollow
trees, it readily adapts itself to the
nest boxes which are commonly set
up for it, and usually broods about
three times during Its stay north.
The male Is of a glossy blue,
while the female is of a duller color
above, ond beneath of a brownish
-grey. The brood consists of from
four to seven eggs, which develop
into young chirping martins such
as Mr. LeCompte anticipates.
John Clark, or Bay Drive, has fol
lowed the example set by Mr. Le
Compte apd several othor residents
also arc building nest boxes.
INVESTORS TO
_DOMINATE
Speculatort Will Not Fig
ure So Promi
nently
The investor will decide the
trend of the real estate market
this year. The speculator, while he
will be a factor, will not be so dom
inant as he was last year or the
year previous.
The numDer and types of new
buildings this year will be subject
to the activities of the buyer. Op
‘ portunitles for profitable invest
ment In homo sites and in new
construction ore numerous and no
doubt the investment buyer will
not regret any step ho may take
into the market provided he is
guided by good judgement of close
in property In the path of develop
ment. s'h'f’ ,.i '
SENATOR EMERSON RICHARDS
Was greatly impressed by tour of
Florida that this is year of heavy
travel.
Anticipates
Big Year Here
State Senator Emerson Rich
ards Says Public Is Taking
Interest in Travel
BANNER SEASON
FOR ATLANTIC CITY
Heavy winter travel to Florida
argues well for a banner summer
season in Atlantic City, according
to State Senator Emerson Richards
who returned greatly impressed by
his tour through the southern
states.
"My outstanding Impression was:
that the traveling public are go- j
ing - to tauieLMUa^tesi^^aiaube i
Senator, “and •'with favorable
weather conditions Atlantic City
should enjoy an exceptionally big
year. A forerunner of this is indi
cated by the unusually large
crowd on the Boardwalk for this
time of the year.
"The main fact is that people
are traveling, which should be an
incentive for more hotels and gen
eral improvements to attract the
people. We have 30,000,000 people
within a radius of 100 miles from
this city, while it is nearly 1,500
miles for the same people to
reach Florida. Pleasure-seekers are
only three hours away from Atlan
tic City, while it takes thirty
three hours to reach Palm Beach.”
Another thing that struck Mr.
Richards forcibly was the harbor
developments in Florida. He said
(Continued on Page A-l)
-<$*$•
PLANS TO
CURB SPEEDING
Spring Preparations For
Handling Traffic—Traf
fic' Signals
The most important step in
changes and improvements in
handling traffic will be the instal
lation of traffic signal lights on
Baltic avenue.
In announcing the proposed ex
tension of the signal system to
Baltic avenue, Commissioner Cuth
bert declares he will make it as
safe as the other three longitudi
nal streets, where the light system
regulates travel. He proposes to
.station police on Baltic avenue, as
was done last summer, prior to
the inauguration of the signal ser
vice. Supplies have been ordered
and the Commissioner expects the
lights to be up 'and ih operation
before summer.
The section of Baltic avenue to
be protected from Rhode Island
avenue to Ohio avenue. When
these lights are installed there will
be a slight change made in the
length of time pedestrians are
given to cross the street .In Cutb
bert’s . opinion, ten seconds is
entirely too short a period for the
amber light to show. Under the
existing regulations, the motorists
have the best of it. People who
have to cross the street do so at
the risk of their lives in the
crowded sections.
The commissioner has realised
the danger of this condition for
months, but until he assumed
charge of the police department he
could do nothing to remedy it.
The building of new safety
. • fchdilnwed on Page A-l)
NO REAL REASON
FOR PESSIMISM
By BENJAMIN R. FOX.
There are many reasons why
1927 should be a quite satisfac
tory year In construction.
In the first place, both skilled
and unskilled labor is receiving
a larger Income than at any
time in our history, making a
spread of resources into more
channels than ever before, and
by the same token, opening up
new avenues for development in
the way of comfortable homes
and the luxuries that follow.
This factor in itself has helped
tremendously in maintaining the
momentum which has existed
during the past two or three
years. There is nothing on the
surface to indicate a radical
change in this respect.
Another favorable situation is
in the amount of available cap
ital at reasonable rates. This
situation is even better than it
was a year ago. And finally, a
survey of the field at present
finds little surplus Btocks of ma
terials on band. This in itself
under ordinary conditions would
give assurance of a satisfactory
flow of business throughout the
year.
ATLANTIC CITY
ONE OF TEN CITIES
Shows Real Interest in
Apartment Houses—Not
Overdevelpped
Atlantic City la one of the ten
cities ot the country which report
permits, {or apartment houses
■eOTttngr: In :<»f Jrtfi&SWI each
for the month of February, accord
ing to the survey by O. W. Straus
& Co., prominent New York bank
ing concern.
Atlantic City Is one ot the tew
cities among GOO leading towns and
cities which shoWB real interest in
apartment houses at this time.
This indicates that apartment
house construction is not over de
veloped in growing Atlantic City.
More homes, and better ones, are
being built in the United States,
while the construction ot office
buildings, hotels, apartment hotels,
and apartment houses is practical
ly at a standstill except in Atlan
tic City. ' .
-~*>j^—■ ■ ■■■■
GAS COMPANY
PROVIDES SERVICE
Many Thousand Dollars
Expended in New Mains
in West Atlantic City
In anticipation ot further and
iiuiiii.ernifneu increase in me
population of West Atlantic City,
which means the construction of
many more homes, apartments, a
hotel, stores and other buildings
incidental to city growth, the
Atlantic City Gas company is
rapidly extending gas mains on ail
developed streeta.
, The extension will provide for
the immediate future, and further
extension of thd mains, in
volving miles of service pipe, along
Albany Boulevard and connecting
streets will cover the needs to be
met in West Atlantic City growth
for years to come.
The expenditures, which are
voluntary on the part of the Atlan
tic City Cas Co., involves many
thousands of dollars. The work of
laying the mains has been going
forward steadily in the winter
months in the face of adverse
weather conditions and Indicates
the confidence the corporation has
in the future of West Atlantic City.
--
ALBANY AVENUE PROTECTED
Fire Apparatua Now Located at
Bader Athletic Field.
Albany avenue now has its fire
department, apparatus and head
quarters. Fire apparatus has been
moved into a station at the Bader
Athletic Field to provide protect
ion while the work of building the
new bridge is going on.
■ v.
fi*
Possibilities Of
Air Considered
Aircraft Will Greatly Facili
tate Quick Movement To
and From Seashore
100 MILES AN HOUR
INSTEAD OF 35
By BENJAMIN R. FOX.
Out of the whirlwind of real es- j
tate activity one fact stands out
sharply—the Increasing tendency
to spread out from the city or town
farther into the open country, and
to the seashore.
This is a country-wide tendency.
There is more than one underlying
cause for this movement, but the
one condition which makes such a
movement possible Is increased mo
bility. This recent marked increase
in mobility is not due solely to the
automobile in itself (that we have
had for twenty years), but to the j
fact that the automobile is now
within the purchasing power of
multitudes of people who could not ,
heretofore afford such a convey
ance. The prices of automobiles
are lower and the prosperity of the
people greater than ever before.
We have about reached the peak
of mobility on the ground. Any
faster travel than wo may now
adopt on the ground would be and
is now dangerous to human life.
But we are just starting in the air.
With airplane landing fields dotting :
the suburban countryside and sea- :
shore, and immense beacon lights
erected to show the way for night
mail planes, any man with little
(Continued on Page A-l)
----
FEBRUARY BUILDING
INCREASED IN VALUE
First Gain in Eleven Months
Is Reported—This Sec
tion Leads
After ten successive declines in
monthly totals of building permits
Bradslreet’s report for construct
j ion in February shows a gain when
compared with the figure# of
February, 1926.
Two explanations of the increase
are offered. One is that February
of 1926 showed a rather marked
decrease after a long period of
gains and that, in comparison
with February, 1925, two years
ago, a decrease is still shown. The
other explanation is that the bulk
of the gain shown is due to ex
pansion in New York, some of this
expansion being not unconnected
with largo supplies of building
materials offerefi and some of the
continued large supply of money
available for investment.
The Middle Atlantic States
showed the greatest activity of
any part of the country. The total
was $105,674,769. The Central
Western section was second with
$68,433,732.
ALBANY BLVD.
BUSINESS GROWS
Ace Motor Corp. Complete
New StructurtTo Meet
Demands
The increasing volume in busi
ness on Albany Boulevard is ap
| parent in the preparations just com
pleted by the Ace Motor Corp., of
406 North Albany Boulevard.
Construction of a two-story buil
ding at 410-16 N. Trenton avenue
for the Ace Motor Corp. has just
been completed by Eugene Parsons,
local builder, at a cost of $25,000.
The structure occupies a lot 90 feet
by 90 feet, in the rear of their Al
bany Boulevard sales room, and
will be used to house the activities
of the used car department and the
repair service departments.
The building is of semi-fireproof
construction of brick and concrete
block, and was designed by A. B.
Steelman. It has been completely
equipped. The first floor will con
tain ample space for displaying
used' cars, besides an estimate of
fice. The parts department will
occupy a space 20 feet by 90 feet
on the second floor, with repair and
service departments taking up the
I remaining area.
MARCH MAKING
A LARGE RECORD
Since the first of the month,
realty business deals have been
reported consummated amount
ing to about $900,000, of which
$450,000 has been in the straight
sale of properties, about $200,000
in mortgages, and $250,000 in
trade deals. For the period be
ginning Jan. 1 and ending March
12, realty deals were reported
totaling nearly $5,000,000, of
which $3,000,000 was in sales,
$1,500,000 in mortgages and
$500,000 in trade transactions.
These figures only take in a lim
ited number of the Atlantic City
offices and would probably reach
much more impressive propor
tions were statements available
from every broker on the island.
Construction authorized by the
building department for the first
two weeks of the month am
ounts to $213,090.
’0NT00N BRIDGE
FOR PLEASURE CARS
Completed at Albany Ave
nue at Cost of
$36,000
County Engineer Nelson, has
ilaced the final stamp of approval
ipon the new pontoon bridge ovei
he Thoroughfare at Albany ave
me. Only pleasure cars will be pter
nltted to uso it, heavier vehicles
>eing detoured through Ventnoi
>ver the Dorset avenue boulevard
The pontoon bridge, supported
>n floating barges, was built at f
:ost of $"16,000. It will serve during
he period of the reconstruction o
he Albany avenue bridge. S.' S
rhompson Co., of Red Bank, hai
he contract for the reconstruct
on of the Albany avenue bridge
[he job will cost. $482,185.
Greenhouse Combines Promenade and Palm Room
Very Rare Specimens of Tropical Plants Will be Grown in New Greenhouse
of Benjamin R. Fox.
WILL GROW RARE
FLOWERS HERl
Unusual Features of Green
house in West Atlan
tic City
A green house that is a promen
ide and has a palm room or ai
inclosed garden which may be on
ioyed at all limes ot the year, 1
he newest feature in West Atlar
ic City development. This green
itnise has been built in connectioi
vith the home of Benjamin R
fox by the King Greenhouse Co
>f Tonawanda, N. Y.
To accomplish the result aimei
it, it has been necessary to tale
•lie best of three different type
>f greenhouses. Any suggestioi
)f the commercial greenhouse ha
aeen avoided, but the great effic
ency of the best type of com
nercial greenhouse has been em
tloyed.
Special appliances have beei
nstalied for ventilating and heat
ng, while the center glass over th<
>alm room is glazed on one side ti
teep the rays of the sun unde
control. Ordinarily, this glass i
iprayed with lime.
There are four distlnc
intrances. Entering at either end
(Continued on Page A-l)
ANTHONY M. RUFFU, JR.
Atlantic City’s New Mayor. Who Has Notable Record of Achievements
In Building the World’s ^Playground.
Some Of The Outstanding
Facts Which Influence
Atlantic City’s Prosperity
At no time in history have people of an entire nation enjoyed
the prosperity prevalent in the United States today.
At no time have people d'eamed of the universal use of luxuries
which we accept as our birthright. At no time have the people been
better able to enjoy to the fullest extent all the opportunities and
advantages of a commuting residence, or a season, or a visit to the
World’s Playground, which is today better equipped than it has ever
been to interest, hold and entertain them.
The material prosperity of the country is so astounding and so
remarkable that business men come from all parts of the world to
study American methods and they always include In their American
tour a sojourn in Atlantic City, thus paying tribute to Ihis city as the
premier center of recreation.
Not in years has there been apparent such concentration of
interest and such manifest desire on the part of resort, business,
financial and transportation interests to cooperate and to obtain for
Atlantic City the most substantial development and improvement.
Mammoth projects already under way involving the expenditure
of approximately $25,000,000 of private and public funds are undertak
ings which afFTibtrto be minimized. • ’~ ;
Atlantic City is the greatest playground in the world, situated
near the bulk of the population of the greatest country in the world,
and with intelligent effort, a feeling of humility and with faith in one
another, nothing is beyond the power of achievement
Resident Of Albany Blvd.
Section Gets Half Million
Under Will of “Sugar King”—Interesting Events and Ac
tivities Which Feature These Days in the
World’s Playground
Mrs. Isabella R. Fishblatt, who
makes her home in a palatial
house on a tract occupying an
entire block o 1 beach front in
the Albany Iloulevard district, at
Richmond avenue received a be
quest of $500,000 under the will of
William W. Harrison, retired
Philadelphia sugar refiner who
died recently. Mrs. Fishblatt ha^
lived here for mare than a score,
of years. The house, a large, ob
long structure, was originally of
frame, but within the last two I
years has been encased In stucco!
and covered with a mansard roof.',
She has a large vegetable garden
on the property and an elaborate
greenhouse filled with rare
flowers. The house has been a
show place for years and its
owner is a familiar figure.
If the son of the late sugar king
dies without issue then Mrs. Fish
man will receive another $50(t,
)00 ot the estate which is valued
It $4,000,000.
SPRIiiG FASHION SHOW
With warm and sunshinj
weather the resort, particularlj
Iho boardwalk and beach, has beer
!li ronged all during the week, anc
an the famous wooden way there
has been a spring fashion shov
twice a day.
On the boardwalk an outstand
ing feature of the style paradei
has been the smallness ot hat;
worn by women. They are o:
.arious pastel shades and fit th<
lead so tightly that they seem t(
rave been greased and slipped on
Weather Seers in " riumph
Coastal weather seers who pre
licted an early spring are now en
ioying their triumph. Largi
locks of wild fowl have been ft"
ng north and the pioneer fisher
non are hooking quite a numbei
Ruffu Seeks 4 /
To Carry Out;
Bader’s Ideas
The Mayor Desires to Get
Great Convention Hall
Built Speedily
IS PRESIDENT"OF 1
DOZEN ENTERPRISES
Ruffu Is One of the Most In
dustrious Men in World’s
Playground fend Has Great g
Interests in Banking, Real
Estate and Insurance
Declaring that there U no politics
in the building of the great coit
ventlon hall and that the interest
of the City Commission, the late
Mayor Bader and himself has been
and continues to be to get the great
hall built with the least amount of
litigation or delay, Mayor Ruffu
has made a'statement in which he
ume aiune nguereo in any ei*
forts at seeking to avoid law suits
It appears that Mayor Ruffu and
Senator Richards made similar
propositions to Mr. Markland.
Mayor Ruffu acted on behalf of
Mayor Bader, who believed that the
work could be speeded up and
brought to a conclusion on schedule
time if the Markland Company
would join with the Consolidated
engineering Company, because the
Baltimore firm had the organization
and equipment with which to push
along such a great operation.
Anthony M. Ruffu, Jr.,' Mayor of
Atlantic City, is a man of many
business activities, and the son
of the first Italian to settle in this
resort. Prom Premier Mussolini
he received the decoration • of.,
Chevalier of the Order of the
Crown of Italy.
Politics, banking, real estate,
insurance—in all of these affairs
he holds numerous and prominent
positions. He is president of a
dozen enterprises.
And in his younger days, as an
enthusiastic volunteer fireman, he
nearly lost his life at the Baltimore
fire when he went there with 100
other Atlantic City firemen and
their apparatus.
Has Amassed Much Wealth
Mayor Ruffu, who added con
siderably to the wealth amassed by
his father, is considered one of the
most industrious men in the
World’s Playground, which he and
his father played a prominent part
in building up and popularizing.
As a financier he has been a
factor in financing some of the
most important of the resort’s
enterprises, and he earned an en
viable reputation as City Treas
urer and Director of Finances.
For his work among the Italians
of this city Mr. Ruffu earned his
decoration from the band of
personal representative direct to
Mayor Ruffu with the decoration.
He is the first person in New Jer
sey to have received that high
honor from Mussolini.
Prior to becoming a City Com
missioner last year, Mr. Ruffu was
president of the Board of Tax
Assessors.
He Had Close Call Years Ago
Mr. Ruffu’s career nearly came
to a close years ago when Atlan
tic City sent 100 volunteers to aid
(Continued on Page A-l)
of flBh which journey to temperate
waters at this tims.
The many signs of spring also
extend inland from the boardwalk.
Nearly every man visitor carrier
a kit of golf clubs and matches ou
the several links here are numer
ous. Touring motorists have also
resumed their places of interer/
and profit to the many in this
section who cater to that tralK
Big Easter Throng Expected
In the hotels there is a great)
bustle for Easter and its holiday
throngs, which are expected to be
unusually large this year. A num
ber of the best known hosteiries
have already announced that they
are booked up about to the limit
for the two weeks before and
after the Easter holiday, and' >
number of the side avenue hotels,
opened their doors.
The crowds here for Easter wilt
(Continued on Page A-l)