The West Atlantic City news. [volume], March 22, 1927, Image 1

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

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FROM THE WORLDS 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. 10.
THE WEST ATLANTIC CITY NEWS. WEST ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., TUESDAY. MARCH 22. 1927
PRICE THREE CENTS
Double Effort To Meet Demand of Record Year
1 Decision
Gives Little
Surprise
Organization Interested in
Big Events Next Year
Are Getting Busy
WORK ON CONVENTION
HALL RESUMED
Courts Dismiss Fraud Charge
and Uphold Markland Con
^ tract — Will Be Completed
About on Time
The 18,000,000 Convention Hall;
the largest In the world under roof,
Will be completed In 1928, nearly
as soon as was planned, and the
several organizations Interested In
big events for next year are al
work to close arrangements for
' them. Among the events called off
was the General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Steps
f will be taken to bring the confer
ence here, as well as other meet
ings, now mat the ha|| troubles
appear settled. i!
, Work on tho hall .halted since
March 7 on account of certiorari
•proceedings attacking the contract,
has been resumed as a result of a
decision of the New Jersey Su
preme Court sustaining the con
tract.
The contract held by M. B. Mark
land Corporation, Atlantic City, for
$4,694,000, was attacked by Brown
Brothers, real estate dealors, on the
ground that the price had been II
< legally raised from $4,00*0,694 to
$4,694,000 by M. B. Markland. It
was charged he wrote the word
"thousand;' , before’ the word "dol
lars” in the written amount of the
contract.
In addition to declarlhg ilib Mark
laud contract legal, the court In a
decision also sustained the award
of $609,000 to Riggs, Bletler and
' Company, heating contractors,
which also had been attacked.
Little Surprise Over Oecislon
* While business men and residents
dire glad to see work on the con
ivenlion hall resumed, little sur
Iprlse was manifested in tho court's
Sdecision. Most rosidents appeared
-to agree with the court that the
'original figure of $4,000,694 in the
Markland contract was a clerical
5 error.
In its decision tho Court held that
the change in the nmotiht of the
contract was not made surrepti
tiously—Markland made the change
in the Office of the city clerk—and
was not an attempted fraud, but
merely a correction of a clerical
error, and that it was well known
the company’s bid was for the lar
( ger amount.
§ (Continued on Tage A-l)
I NEARBY PROPERTY
VALUES SOAR
Convention Hall Helps To
Raise Prices and
Revenues
f -
A $100,000 arcade building is In
course of construction near the
«new municipal convention ball. A
'ibig influence prompting tba in
Svesiment was the proximity of
Kthe big civic enterprise. Since
jStlie convention hall was decided
§ upon, property values in its
4 neighborhood have been soaring.
L A number of the owners have
W been consulting architects, it is
■ the current report, in regard to
5 building costs and profits in
propositions they are entertain
ing.
The $8,000,000 operation, before
its foundations wore laid, began to
turn In extra tax income , to the
[city through the rise In land values
[due to its expected presence, and
[this new source of revenue Is
[going to increase to a point, it is
| anticipated, that will eventually be
‘great enough to meet the bonded
debt created to pay for the hail as
lit matures.
If the convention hall is leased
iio private management, as is dls
cussed, at a price that will liqui
iate the investment, besides its up
teep, it will prove as good a busi
ness Investment as could have
sen made by the city. .,
Records Favor
Albany Av. Blvd.
Demand For Apartments,!
Homes and Certain Com
mercial Buildings
DUE TO POPULATION
INCREASE
Investment in class of property
such as the Albany Avenue Boule
vard, with tts adaptability for
home sites, apartments and com
mercial buildings, is encouraged by
Lhe records and activities in con
struction of those types.
The ever-growing demand due to
population increase, to better liv
ing conditions, to the desire for
better business quarters, coupled
with a more plentiful supply of
tvailable money, will keep the con
struction industry operations at a
high rate for soma time to come.
Signs point to a building volume
well up toward the totals of the
last three years. This in spite of
warnings to retrench and reports
)f over building in some branches
rhere is still a sharp demand for
:he moderate-priced apartment and
Records Favor
Albany Av. Blvd.
Demand For Apartments,
Homes and Certain Com
mercial Buildings
DUE TO POPULATION
INCREASE
Investment in class of property
such as the Albany Avenue Boule
vard, with tts adaptability for
home sites, apartments and com
mercial buildings, is encouraged by
Lhe records and activities in con
struction of those types.
The ever-growing demand due to
population increase, to better liv
ing conditions, to the desire for
better business quarters, coupled
with a more plentiful supply of
available money, will keep the con
struction industry operations at a
high rate for soma time to come.
Signs point to a building volume
well up toward the totals of the
last three years. This in spite of
warnings to retrench and reports
)!' over building in some branchesf
rhere is still a sharp demand for
:he moderate-priced apartment and
iuum uoii intuit; uuu uci tttiu ijjicn
Df commercial buildings.
The Albany Avenue Boulevard la
i main artery in a system of super
highways and the vast sums appro
priated for the good roads and
bridges of the Albany Avenue Bou
levard system and its connecting
links also stimulates the conslruc
lion of better dwellings nearby,
while all commercial structures
now placed directly facing the
Boulevard are in keeping with the
finest types of construction and
the highest outward attractiveness,
W-—4-- '
The total value of the proper!,
appraised by the Atlantic (:
Real Estate Board in 1926 ex
ceeded that of 1925 by 300 per
cent.
APARTMENTS BUILT BY BENJAMIN R. FOX
Benjamin R. Fox, operating as the Benjamin R. Fox Construction Co., made a splendid
record in the construction of apartments in the northern part of Atlantic City where he
attracted wide attention in the success of his development of the Inlet Section. The
apartment houses he built in Main Avenue h ad seven rooms and two baths each, with hot
and cold sea water in the baths; refrigeratin g plants to manufacture ice; steam laundries,
dryers and other advanced features for Atlantic City apartment houses. One of the most
interesting details was the promenade on the r oof. This promenade afforded a stretch of
800 feet overlooking the Boardwalk and an un interrupted view of the ocean. These were
the first apartments of their kind in Atlantic City and the first to bring a rental of $3,000
or more per year. Mr. Fox, in his plans for West Atlantic City, contemplates the con
struction of modern apartment houses which will have many new advantages and late
features.
NEAR ALBANY BLVD.
$1000 A FRONT FOOT
Three Small Properties
Nearby Brim Price
of $75,000
Another change In ownership is
reported in (ho Albany Boulevard
district at 21-23-25 South Provi
dence avenue. Adolph Bonner, of
Philadelphia, has purchased two
smaU cottages and a raw .of amull
garages at a price said to be $75,
000, and is contemplating the erec
tion of a new business building
thsre. Stanley Baker is the for
mer owner of the property. The
lot is 75x150 feet.
Golden Warmth
Of The Sun
Atlantic City Is Abundantly
Supplied With Rare
• Sunshine
WORLD’S PLAYGROUND
HEALTH SPOT
hr. C. C. Charlton recently
spoke on "Health by the Sea,” lo
the radio audience of municipal
station WPG. It was ono of a series
of addresses being broadcast under
the auspices of the Atlantic County
Medical society.
LOCATION OF WEST
ATLANTIC CITY
Location, as termed by Webs
ter, is a plot,of ground marked
out by boundaries. Superb
location is where environment
or surroundings favorably in
fluence its growth and increase
In values. West Atlantic City is
superbly located. It adjoins
Atlantic City and forms the
most beautiful gateway to the
..World's Playground. The West
Atlantic City-Albany nve. Bl’v’d.
enters Atlantic city at the new
center of the city. West Atlan
tic City is the only development
I lie growth of which has kept
near the pace set by Atlantic
City itself.
NEAR ALBANY BLVD.
$1000 A FRONT FOOT
Three Small Properties
Nearby Bring Price
of $75,000
Another change In ownership In
reported in tho Albany Boulevard
district at 21-23-26 South Provi
dence avenue. Adojph Bonner, of
Philadelphia, has purchased two
small cottages and a row .of wnall
garages at a price said to be $75,
000, and is contemplating the erec
tion of a new business building
there. Stanley Baker is the for
mer owner of the property. The
lot is 75x150 feet.
I
Tented Camp For Shrine
Nobles At The Airport
Imperial Council Meet Here June 12 to June 19—Play and
Entertainment of Visitors In the World’s
Playground
When (he Shriners hold their
fifty-third annual session ot the
Imperial Council in Atlantic City
from June 12 to June 19 efforts
will bo successful, it Is stated, to
make this the most amazing gather
ing ever held under Shrine
auspices. |
If the present plans carry somn j
of the visitors will house them
selves in tents at Bader Athletic
Field, the Airport, on Albany
Boulevard, creating the __atmos
phero of a brilliantly costumed
camp-. Director General: Earl E.
Jeffries and his staff have Just
completed their programme. For
assistants he has Milton S. Lind
say, William J. Houpt, Carroll W.
Brown, Tercy E. Howard, and Wal
ter S. Jeffries.
The Shrine will be here for
eight days. Medina Temple of
Chicago will come to the resort in
Special trains, in seven sections.
The visitors will be welcomed by
Governor Moore and Mayor Ruffu.
Everything in the resort that will
contribute to the enjoyment for the
occasion will be called into play,
and the choristers from the differ
ent temples will sing before the
broadcasting apparatus of WPG.
Boardwalk Parades
With fine and continued warm
spring weather, the famous parades
along the. Boardwalk here have
begun, and each day the turnout:*
become larger as to numbers and
more picturesque as to style.
In the morning the multitude c*
fair visitors appear in smart froc!«i
or golf and riding attire, while in
the afternoon fur trimmed , coats
and wraps over two and three
toned dresses feature the proces
sion..
From the various early announce
ments it is apparent that the
Easter entertainment program will
be an ample one and suited to all
lasts. There wijl be a large attend
anee, especially from Philadelphia
and New York, at. the Easter
Saturday performances of the new
show to be given by the famous
Mask and Wig Club of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. In
addition, all of the big piers,
theatres, "movie1' houses and
other piaces or amusement will be
open, ready to receive a capacity
number. At the same time the
yacht, country and night clubs will
have their functions ,and affairs.
Floating Cabaret
New York promoters are believed
behind a floating pavilion for
general amusements Inside the
Inlet, for which preliminary plans
have been drawn. It is proposed
to operate a cabaret and dance
auditorium under real marine con
ditions. The floating "palace” is lo
be in the form of a hugli house
boat, with stroll decks on all four j
sides, dance floor on the upper [
deck and inside. The craft will j
have power aboard and on moon- j
light nights will swing out through j
(Continued on rage A-l)
SEAL NEAR NEW GRETNA
NEW FISHERMAN’S TALE
Now many folks may not be
lieve this yet it comen from
fishermen whose integrity is be
yond question. Here It 1st
A roal live seal, of the Behring
sea variety, was. observed, at
close range, disporting itself in
the waters of one of the small
trlbu'aries of the Mulllca river,
Just above New Gretna, last
Sunday.
Those who vouch for the epi
sode, are Charles Davenport,
Ed. Klingenberg, and Joe Grillo,
who say they saw the seal while
returning In thnir motorboat,
with a catch of 42 flounders.
Golden Warmth
Of The Sun
Atlantic City Is Abundant!)
Supplied With Rare
• Sunshine
WORLD’S PLAYGROUND
,A HEALTH SPOT
Hr. G. C. Charlton recentl)
spoke on "Health by the Sea,” Ic
the radio audienee of munielpa
station WI'G. It was one of a series
af addresses being broadcast nndei
Lhe auspices of the Atlantic Couni)
Medical society.
Dr. Charlton, v/ho has written f
pamphlet with the same title, con
tensed into the brief time allottee
to hint some very interesting in
formation on the health qualities
af the resort.
He told the radio fans that the
natural location of Absecon Islanc
gave it a southerly exposure, anc
that the p'lne belt protected it t(
the north.
Sanitation and hygiene In Allan
tic City is described as more thai
usually good because of the alert
ness of the health officers, ant
described the resort’s drinking
water as a splendid drink.
The docior cited a few govern
ment statistics to show tht
quantity of sunshine the city en
joys, and the fact that the tern
porature average is,ever mild.
Of sunshine, Dr. Charlton said
“Statistics prove that Atlantic Cit;
is abundantly supplied with tin
golden warmth of the sun. Tit
annual average of sunshine for tin
last fifty-two years is given as G
percent. In tfie rest of the Unite,
States the average is put at 5
per cent.
"The ultra violet rays of lhe sui
are being utilized in many branche
of medicine. At the. shore they ar
freely distributed. They gain i
power by reflection from the sui
faces of lhe sea and the sand o
the beach. Thus they are mult
plied in strength and number.
"Tho soothing results of th
agreeably tempered and freely cii
culated air cannot be over-cst
mated. Those suffering from th
disorders of the ntucous membrane
of the nose, throat or other part
of the respiratory tract, find
vast natural inhalaiorium at thel
disposal. Some of the country1
foremost specialists are in resit
ence to direct and control the us
of it. Asthma, hay fever, bronchilii
the lingering weakness rcsultin
from the common cold, pneumoni
or influenza are greatly benefite
by the restorative properties of th
atmosphere.”
--
STORE AND APARTMENTS
The construction of a store an
five aparlmenls for Willlai
Malamut is well under way a
1903 Atlantic avenue. The lot i
20x175 'eet. The structure will b
three stories in height, of bricl
steel and concrete.
LOCATION OF WEST
ATLANTIC CITY
Location, as termed by Webs
ter, is a plot,ot ground marked
out by boundaries. Superb '
location Is where environment
or aurroundings favorably in
fluence its growth and Increase
In values. West. Atlantic City is
superbly located. It adjoins
Atlanlic City and forms the
most beautiful gateway to the
_AV.ojdd’s P.I.gj'gronnd. The West
Atlantic Clty-Albany ave. Bl’v’d.
enters Atlantic City at the new
center of the city. West. Atlan
tic City is the only development
the growth of which has kept
near the pace set by Atlantic
City itself.
SALES OF HOTELS
AT A PROFIT
Rise of Property Indicated
In Transactions
Here
Substantial increase in price over
their original cost is reported for
the hotel properties which are fea
tured among the sales of tho week.
The Edgewater hotel, at 123 S.
South Carolina avenue, was report
ed sold to Wesley E. Johnson, also
owner of the Pine Tree Inn, on St.
Janies Place, from George A. and
Helen E. Casteen for the staled
price of $160,000, and the Carnix
hotel, at 130 S. Kentucky avenue,
was sold for the Beach Realty coni
{rnnUnued on Page A-l)
: RESIDENCES WERE
ONCE SHOW PLACES
11 Demand For Growth Near
’ Albany Boulevard Trans
> forms Them I
i -
. Tho steady development of the j
i Albany ave. Boulevard section in
. Atlanlic City is further deni,-. I
f onstrated in the commercialization
- of (lie one remaining block of
Chelsea’s Atlantic avenue resi
> dences. Two stono bungalows of
. English design, of a igroup of
- five, sitnaled on Allantic avenue,
j between Chelsea and Montpelier
r avenues, which were at one time
n considered show-places of the
i city, are being converted, into a
r business building at a cost of
3 $45,000.
Tim work is being done by
1 Hiram Mathis & Son, for Daniel
Blttenger and John Fessler from
’ plans drawn by William S.
i Hewitt, architect. It will consist
1 of a two-story addition, 36 feet by
s 104 feet in size, to the front of
the two bungalows and interior
alterations to the residences.
The new- structure will bo con
structed of concrete, steel and
1 brick, (trimmed with terra-cotta,
i and will contain six stores facing
t on Atlantic avenue, besides four
s apartments of various sizes. The
b plumbing and heating contract
:. has been awarded to David H.
Moore.
Unmarried, '
Never a Model
Or An Actress
Qualifications Necessary to
Enter Competition For Title
of “Miss America”
EVERY COSTUME
REGULATED
ftules More Stringent Than
Ever for the Greatest Pa
geant and American Beauty
Contest—Bar Contracts
1 no young woman who wins the
itle Miss America this year will
lave the most keen competition In
I’ageant history," declares Director
leneral Armand T. NlcholB, active
ixecutive head of the Atlantic City
Pageant., Sept. 6 to ?.
"Not only beauty but charm of
lersonallty and high standard of
character at home are demanded
'or entry. The Atlantic City Page
mt Is too important and much too
ligh in regard of the people of
America to allow any but girls of
lie finest character and demean
or to enter the competition for
what has become the most coveted
lward possible to bestow on an
American Beauty.
“For that reason the rules are/
nore stringent this year than ever
oefore. In my visits to communi
ies engaged in selecting candi
iates for Beauty Tournament
honors I am making it plain that
Atlantic City and its officials and
the Pageant Committee neither
need nor desire any 'axle-grease’
bathing suit publicity or any taint
of professionalism among the girls
entered in the amateur Inter-City
Contest.
"Under the regulations adopted
it is specified that only girls be
tween 16 and 26 years of age, and
only those who have never been
married will be allowed to com
pete. Not only must each entry
prove that she !?as not been en
gaged as a model, or oa screen or
stage, but a special rule bars any
girl whose too enthusiastic friends
nr sponsors secure for her any
professional contxact iduhlng the
competition.
“In the matter of costuming we
have reserved the right to regulate
every outfit including those worn
In contests for bathing beauties.
Bathing suits should enhance at
(Continued on Page A-l)
READING STATION
HEARING MARCH 31
Opponents and Proponents
Marshall Their Forces
Opponents and proponents of the
Reading station enabling ordinance,
passed on first reading by City
Commissioners are marshalling
their forces for the public hearing
March St. The crux Of the matter,
as far as opponents of the station
Iilan are concerned, was said to resl
in the provision for detouring Bal
tic avenue.
The clause covering this in the
ordinance embodying the city's
agreement with the Reading Rail
way reads as follows:
“Tho company proposes to
relocate and reconstruct its
railroad and terminal station
so as to eliminate the exist
ing grade crossings on Arctic
and Baltic avenues by remov
ing the (fucks from Arctic ave
nue and detouring Baltic ave
nue around the front of tho
new station, located on the
north side of Arctic avenue, as
widened to a width of 110 feet.’’
Another clause touching on the
Baltic avenue issue follows stipu
lations for the widening of Arkan
sas. Missouri and Arctic avenues,
and reads as follows:
"The city shall, by proper or
dinance, duly passed and adop
ted, vacate as a public high
way that part of Baltic avenue
between the east side of Mis
souri avenue, as widened, and
• the west side of Arkansas ave
nue, as widened.”
The ordinance then goes on to
provide protection for utilities and
drainage systems In the section to
be vacated.
ARMAND T. NICHOLS
Director General Atlantic City |
Pageant, ,
Diversity A '
Strong Asset'
West Atlantic City Offers
Much for Attraction to Resi
dents and Visitors •
FULL PROGRAMME
OF ENTERTAINMENT
What does West Atlantic City
offer for attraction? Plenty, ac
cording to those who live there.
These days much attention is de
voted to lawns and shrubbery so
that in a short time every home
will have its settiug among blooms
and greenery and the interest
shown in preparations for floral
effects is one of the finest demon
strations possible upon the part of
i these happy home ow'ners.
It is only a short time to the
days when the bathing beach will
be populated. The tennis courts
will be an added feature this sea
son. Many sails are to be seen
moving daily over Lakes Bay while
several sloops are already in the
Bay or on their way.
With the best theatres and the
latest productions to be reached
by only a short ride it is never pos
sible to exhaust one’s programme
of entertainment, while the varie
ties and diversities of the Board
walk vie with golf courses, country
club and motor route for full share
of one’s time and attention.
PROGRESS ON
VENTNOR PIER
Will Be Ready in July It
Is Expected — So
cial Center
It i8 expected that Ventnor's new
pier will be ready in July. The old
Municipal pier at Cornwall avenue
has been demolished preparatory
to the erection of a set of new
piers. These will consist of three
separate buildings 10 occupy the
entire beachfront between! Corn
wall and Cambridge avenue. Two
small structures of the pavilion
type will be situated at. each end
of the location with the main pier
building in the center. The inter
vening space will be taken up by
attractive flower gardens set in
stone bases.
According to the plans drawn by
Seward C,. Dobbins, local architect*
the project has been designed in
the Spanish Mission style of archi
tecture of stucco and tile construct
ion. A large auditorium, 70 feet by
120 feet In size, will be laid out in
the main pier building with a
stage at one end. Entertainments,
moving picture shows, dances,
card parties, and other social
affairs will be held In this build
ing.
BARRED FROM SEA DERBY.
Mrs Lottie Schoemmel, interna
tionally famous swimmer, who
sought, through her manager ,to
compete in the Atlantic City sea
derby here on June 25, will not be
permitted to enter the race because
it is a strictly amateur affair. In
stead of monetary prizes, which
have been give# in. the recent
long distance races, there will be
trophies. Dn M. Francois
IYEliscu’s bronze plaque valued
at $200 is the first prize.
Preparing For
New Population i
In Growing City
Iou.se Building and Home
Buying Will Surpass High
Record of Last Year
)EMAND IN WEST
ATLANTIC CITY
Jnder Fox Plan of Building It
Is Possible to Own House
Worth 33 1-3 Per Cent.
More Than It Cost
House building and home buying
n West Atlantic City this spring
nd summer will pass the high '
ecord of last year, according to
'resent Indications revealed from
urveys by prominent New York
nd Philadelphia realtors.
Evidence that the demand for
tomes is not confined to any single
lassiflcation but ranges from bun
galow to the highest class of
Iwelling, fifty of which are now
inder construction, in West Allan
ic City, is presented by the siif
■eys.
Realtors, for example, have sold
iver a dozen beautiful homes in
he Benjamin R. Fox development
tince January ], and confidently
iredlct that the spring will bring
m increased activity of 50 per cent
iver a year ago in this class of
lousing. Far-seeing and pnbllc
ipirited men predict a West Allan- -
ic City of over 500 homes within
i years. , c,
Bay Drive Activities
Demand for vacant land In the
rtcinlty of the Bay Shore Drive, by
Guilders of bungalows and houses
s showing a decided increase,
vlillo nearby on the Pleasantville
llbany ave. Boulevard land shows
lecided promises of jumping from
he present price of $300 per front
dot to $1,000 per front foot within •
lie year. This is probable because
and at the Pleasantville end, less
(ban bite-half hiile distant-; had ,
Drought $1,400, while at the Atlan
ic City end it Is valued at $3,400.
Die building program on the tract,
ncludlng the construction of ten
ds courts and a swimming pool, to
ae completed next summer, aggre
gates over a half million dollars.
Through the Fox plan of building
in which the purchaser saves one
ihird the cost of the building, it is
[lossible to own a house worth
13 1-3 more than it cost. Thus pur
chasers who invest $15,000 are
obtaining homes that would cost
$20,000 elsewhere. It may seem
i hat West Atlantic City otters ex
cellent investment possibilities
which augment Its desirability as
a home site.
program increased
Due to the approach ot spring
and summer and the fact that ap
proximately three million people
will visit this section each week
during the long vacation season,
activities in West Atlantic City
have doubled in an effort to theet
the demand that is sure to follow.
Streets are being filled to grade,
dredges are working overtime to
meet contracts to fill in the re
maining acreage of meadowland.
Contractors are busily engaged In
finishing up fifty houses now near- ijS
ing completion, and laying foun
dations for more. Work is to login
within a few weeks on the new1
swimming pool and tennis courts,
which together with other improve
ments, will Involve an expenditure
of $500,000.
ASKS FOR NEW
SCHOOL IN CHELSEA
Superintendent Says Section Is
Growing Rapidly.
Superintendent Charles B. Boyer
has asked the Board of Education
to provide a new school building
in Chelsea Heights as the section
is growing rapidly and that the
distance to either the Brighton or
Richmond avenue schools is too
far for small children. Supeiln- g;
tendant Boyer recommends that
plans be made to complete one
section ot the building in the
immediate future. He also says the
city should have new schools at
Inlet and Venice Park.