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To the People of Cape May The proposition of the Palace Theatr^Company to the City of i Cape May for the leasing of a portion of the Beach front property, which was open to all and published in these columns, seems easily *- understood. However, since letters, which we feel are misleading, ^ Jiave been mailed to the citizens by the Commissioners opposing this ^ matter, we desire to submit the following in answer. o Article 1. The construction of this building entails an expendi- a tore of from $35,000 to $50,000. Gould anyone with good business v _ Judgment consider spending this amount of money upon leased j. ground for a shorter term than ten years, as article two provides! ^ This -is not tying the Commissioners hands for twenty-five years as 0 wtated in their communication. « Article 2. It is true, as stated in article two, the city would e have received five thousand dollars in rental alone and possibly that ® much more in taxes for the ten year period. This would be one-half * the amount that the entire beach .frontage of four hundred and thirty- t five feet cost the city. We cannot conceive, however, why it is re- p presented that. this building, which would conform architecturally o •with the present city pier building, should be torn down any more than ^ the Convention fffnil itself should be demolished. So, instead of in- ^ earring a loss of forty thousand to forty-five thousand dollars, the 4 eity would acquire a very valuable asset should they desire to take t advantage of the two terms of article two. Article 3. Referring to article three where the rental per front ® foot is compared to that of Washington street, it evidently has not been fptn»n into consideration that the beach front business is of two and t h a half months' duration while that of Washington street covers the B entire twelve months of the year. Also that the Company is required t to keep the building in repair despite the hazard from the storm tides. ® Article 4. (It is the legal fact that the taxes can be collected. " The building itself will stand as a surety for this. r Article 5. The interpretation of article five of our proposition i has been entirely misconstrued. The intention being to protect the v present tenants of the City Pier from competition in their lines as has 6 been the custom in all leases between the city and tenants up to this * t time. 4 j Article 6. Our proposition plainly states that we will begin work c immediately upon the execution of the lease. s Article 7. Article seven hardly requires an answer. Anyone * with this large amount of money involved in an enterprise would ^ scarcely close their doors to revenue. Article 9. When this proposition was first presented it was the t Commissioners fear that the present city pier theatre would become j untenanted should the new theatre building be erected. To overcome s this objection we agreed to take over and operate the present theatre £ during the term of the new lease. This matter is entirely optional to # the Commissioners. Article 11. The Palace Theatre Company does not desire to con- s trol any business except as stated for "Moving Picture Exhibition or t other Theatrical Amusement Purposes." This is certainly only fair £ I since this protection is extended to all present tenants without even tiie expenditure of one cent on their part for a building. It is cer- c tainly not the desire of the Company to have any control of dances, t orchestra music, or any occasional entertainment not conducted for r I individual profit which might take place in the Convention Hall. | 1 It is difficult to understand how a seventy foot front building 1 could cut off "The entire Ocean View from the Stockton House j K Property"; if this is the only matter to be considered, why not tear i down Convention Hall and have the ocean view complete! The proposed building would not extend sufficiently far ocean- * ward so as to interfere in any way or "limit the light and air on the j promenade of the Convention Hall! The building would be located { At least fifty feet away from any part of the Convention Hall and chould not increase the fire risk and rate of insurance on adjacent t property. J K: • In this matter we have tried for the past four months to offer ( the city a fair business proposition that would amply protect both ( parties concerned. We have reason to believe that the great majority | of the citizens of Cape May are anxious to see this improvement made tinder the above conditions. 1 We have been anxious to get together with the Commissioners in J •n agreement but have received from thein no encouragement of co- f operation that we feel a proposition of this kind deserves. THE PALACE THEATRE COMPANY. 1 Advertisement By J. P. Cox 1 < WHO ARE THESE "OBJECTORS"? |] i Former Attorney-General John W. West cot t, of Camden, wrote a < letter to our City Commissioners in which he announced that he had ; beep retained as attorney for the "objectors" to the theatre on the ' beach proposition. Who are these objectors! Eight hundred ad- J vocatee have signed their name to a document announcing that they are for the proposition. Let these objectors come to the front and , sign a paper that they are opposed and state their reasons. The citi- j sens of this city have a right to know who these people are. fet l NOT A CONTRACT, BUT A PROPOSAL ! < ■7- ' 1 K/ j. In considering the proposal for the erection of a theatre upon the "j beach front land owned by the city, remember that it is a "proposal" i B Apt' a contract. It has been published before and circulated broad- i I ' i-east in order that all of the people could consider it for themselves. 1 If there are objectionable features this has afforded an opportunity \ •o everybody to state their views about them and to secure corrections. j Furthermore, City Solicitor Stevens, whose familiarity with the laws < j which govern and apply to this city is second to none of those attorneys « who so far have appeared in this case and conjured up so many ' phantoms, has the final analysis and will miss no point of needed pro- . t taction for the city's interests. Do not kwe sight of the fact that J F. what we have before u is a "proposal", not a contract, and it can and \ will be amended and altered to fairly and properly protect the interests < <f each. When all of thia ia accomplished the contract will be drawn. 1 ■• — <

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afternoon, December 21*. 1920, by Rsv. Gsorgs T. Hillman. I Was Ruth Swaia eras bridesmaid I end Albert Smith sewed as hast man > Mm. George T. Hit lama and Mias 1 » Aannlmlft ware ski jsiimt,

THE PROPOSITION AS PRESENT- >, ED BT THE PALACE THEATRE COMPANY Cape May, N. J., October 28th. 1920. \ To the Board of Commiseionem of the s City of Cape May, N. J. c Gentlemen: c We are desirous of leasing from the f city, all. of that certain lot or piece of ( belonging to it, situate on the 0 side of the boardwalk, on Beach ( avenue, and described as follows, to c wit: Beginning on the southerly side j of the boardwalk at a point ten ( feet eastward! y from the intersection r of the said tauriwalk line with the easterly side tine of Guerney street, 0 extended, and running from thence t eastward! y, along said boardwalk line, t seventy fee t: thence extending in a s southerly direction and atwigfat angles ; the said boardwalk line, between j. parallel lines, and Of the said width | ^ of seventy feet, one hundred and t, feet Containing nine u thousand four hundred "tod fifty (square feet; for the purpose of erect- j. ing thereon -a theatre building, con- E taining two stores abutting on the r boardwalk, and for that purpose here- s with submit the following proposi- g tion: , , j (1) We desire the lease for the t of twenty-five years from Jan- c 1st, 1921; its execution, however, j. occur immediately upon the accept- j of our proposition as herein t made. c (2) At any time subsequent to a , period of ten years from Januay 1st, , 1921, and on six months' notice in •] writing, the city may purchase the s said theatre building and its equip- t ment. The price to be paid shall be j arrived at and determined by five ap- % praisers; two to, pe nominated by the j city; Ywo by us, and the four thus selected to select a fifth. The deter- j mine tion of the appraisers shall be j binding and oonclusnve upon the city | j and upon us. r (3) As rental of said premises we ( to pay the city the sum of $500 t annum for the first ten years of \ said term: $700 per anrifim for the € succeeding ten years and $1,000 psr j annum for the remaining five years of"' < said term. % I j (4) The buildings on the said lp>d c shall be assessed for the purpose of t taxation in accordance with the f statute, and we agree to pay the tax i upon the same. f (5) The stores proposed to be to- , cated on the boardwalk aide of said f theatre building shall not be used for ( that would conflict with the j j for which the stores located j c the City Pier are now' used. | , (6) The proposed theatre will seat j ( between 1200 and 1400 persons. It i j intended to commence the erection j [ of said theatre immediately upon the ' , execution of the lease, and have it i ready for use about June 1st, 1921. t cost as near as can be ascertained j ] at this time, will approximate $35,000. ( (7) We agree to operate the | . theatre from July 1st, to September ; 15th, in each year, and present no en- j j tertainment of any nature that is not i - of high grade. The buildings them- ' , selves shall be maintained and kept as ( presentable as the City Pier. (8) The sale of said buildings, or the assignment of the lease for said ground, shall not be effective until 1 approved by the Board of Commis- ' sioners. j 1 (9) With the consent of J. P. Cox, | j the present lessee, which consent is ! | hereby signified by the affixing of his j \ I signature hereto, the city may cancel ! i his present lease for the City Pier , Theatre, and, in lieu thereof, execute ; , and deliver to the Palace Theatre j Company for a period of twenty-five ! , from January 1st, 1921, a new ' for said City Pier Theatre, at . the annual rental of $1350.00. Said i ' lease, if executed, may be cancelled by 1 1 us if the city makes purchase of the 1 1 pioposed theatre building as set out | Article 2. ! 1 ( 10} The above mentioned lease, if ' executed, may be assigned or trans- ; > ferred with the consent of the Board ' of Commissioners. ' (11) It ia understood that the city 1 will not, without our written approval, 1 lease~6T-sell- any of its present hold- 1 of beach front property for mov- i picture Exhibitions or any other ' theatrical amusement purposes; nor i conduct the same for its own benefit. 1 This restriction however, shall not 1 apply to occasional entertainments for I charitable or beneficial purposes or the i entetainment oi conventions meeting in the Convention Hall. I (12) The proposed theatre* build- ! ing shall conform architecturally to i the present City Pier and the plans ! for its construction shall not be pro- 1 ceeded with until submitted to and approved by the Board of Commission- j i Respectfully submitted. i The Palace Theatre Company. 1 By J . P. Cox. i 1 — USED TYPWRTTERS I »

CITIZENS 4*$^ J»4X^|S 1 We, the undersigned, having been 1 criticized by our local paper and ac- < cosed of being prejudiced aad not desirous of serving the interests of our * citizens, desire to make dear to you t our views regarding the proposition 1 presented by Hie Palace Theatre ' 1 for the erection of a theatre i the CSty property adjoining the t Convention Hall, and our reaeons for i opposing toe same. c We cannot see the proposition as r presented an advantageous one to the i of Cape May for toe following t reasons: Article One: — The proposition sets t out that the thearte company desires t lease the property for the term of < twenty-five years, commencing Janu- < ary 1, 192L We think that the term t too long. We do not feel that we t the moral or legal right to tie up 1 I the property and to tie the hands of t the succeeding Commissioners in its i for so long a term. > Article Two:— The proposition is;t that after the lapse of ten years, upon I six months' notice in writing, the City j * purchase toe theatre buildings at | > such sum as may be agreed upon by it a commission to be appointed by Ijoth v parties. It would seem to us that iff* this should be done by the City the i only reason that the city would proba- < have for doing it would be for the ' of getting clear of a long- « privilege which they had injudic- i ously given. The City would have 1 received during the ten years, iq the 1 of rental, Five Thousand Dollars. < ! purchase tfie buildings and pos- < sibly remove them .would probably cost" ^ the City ten times this amount, mak- < a dead loss to the City, if this 1 were done, of the sum of $40,000 or 1 for their mistake. • Article Three. — The rental which it 1 1 proposed to pay is Five Hundred 1 1 Dollars per annum for the first ten j * i years, Seven Hundred Dollars per an- 1 ' num for the succeeding ten years and , * Thousand Dollars per annum for ! f toe remaining five years of said term, i * consider the rental entirely inad- j equate and out of proportion for like I * privileges in less desirable portions of j « our City. If the Palace Theatre |< Company will take the trouble to in- j J quire we think they will find that on ; J the business, portions of Washington i street where the lessees own the j 1 buildings and pay ground rent, they 5 are paying at the rate of about $20 < front foot, with a depth of only | c about 80 feet, per annum. This is f only for a one-year option, or from ; c to year. The theatre company | i ; offers Five Hundred Dollars per an- | 1 for 70 feet frontage and 135 feet | ! ! depth for a long-term lease on pro- ' ; perty located in the very best summer 1 j section of the City and ' where rents are higher than are on < j Washington street. *n comparison, 1 | this property should rent for Fourteen 1 Dollars per annum, with a 1 depth of only about 80 feet, and with ' j a short-term lease. > I Article Four: — The proposition pro- 1 1 ! poses to pay the tax on the buildings. ' | of cou se. they ought to do, as ' ail owners should pa taxes on what ' they own, out in their failure to s<f do, ' as a legal proposition, we doubt if the City could collect taxes on its own property, the buildings, after being ( placed there, really becoming a part ( | of the real estate. j , j Article Five: — The proposition pro- ( I that the stores located in the i , ; ! proposed amusement building shall ' , i not be used for purposes that would ' i : conflict with the purposes for w-hicH^] 1 the stores located upon the City Pier 1 1 NOW used. In other words, the i ' | stores on the City Pier would have ' : to be used for the entire term for the | 1 I identical purpose for which they are j ' , used. There could be no change ! , | of business. I Article Six: — The theatre building j : proposed to he erected is to seat 1200 j • to 1400 people and is to be ready for i used by the first of June, 1921, and the | I cost, as near as can be ascertained, j will approximate $35,000. There been many propositions put up to the City that if privileges were given j individuals and corporations cer- j tain improvements would be made. - improvements, in nearly every : have not materialized. We ( think, to protect the City's interest, [ that there should be some guarantee ; that the proposal in this item shall be i carried out. j i Article Seven: — There should also ; some guarantee to the City that the 1 Article, namely, the ope rat- j of the theatre building fom July ' ] 1st to September 15th each year, will 1 fulfilled. Article Nine: — The Ninth Article 1 proposes that Mr. J. P. Cox, the preseat lesaee of the City Pier Theatre, shall cancel Ma lease and take a new i leaee for the term of twenty-fire yekra at Ma present annual rental. We . think if this privilege is to he granted Mr. Cox it efceeld ha ffranted to all ! ether toaeaee ec the Pier, Jreatine

TtrtwrR wtsr^ BTSYTSS aw* holdings an thq beach for that length of time. Article Eleven: — The imposition is the CSty will not, without toe written approval of the theatre company, lease or sell any of its present holdings of beach front property for moving picture exhfijitions or any other theatrical emnaement purposes, conduct toe same for its own benefit. This restriction however, shall not apply to occasional entertainments charitable or beneficial pmpoees or the entertainment of convention meeting in the Convention Hall." It seems us this would practically give Hie theatre company the entire charge and control of all of the City's holdings, ' at least to such an extent as might seriously hamper the City in the uses 1 to which toey might desire to put it. ! article would not allow them, if they so desired, to use their remainportioiuof toe beach front for any ^ : kind of amusement purposes, even ; though they might be more to the | benefit of the City than Hie amusement proposed by the lessee. It ' would also restrict them in the use of ! toe Convention Hall. It is a question whether, under this article, they coukj ; allow the use of the Convention Hall the purpose for which it is now ! oft times used; namely, for entertainments by the High School, Boy Scouts and such other organizations as have and heretofore been given its use. is also a part of vaudeville and theatrical entertainment, and under this agreement it anight be a ] question whether the dances which i 'seem to have been so popular in the , Convention Hall could be held without the consent of the theatre company. ; the strict construction of this section the City might be even debarred , engaging an orchestra for toe or conducting these dances ; and 'other amusements. In other words, we think that this section practically puts the City "out of it" am) ; I gives the amusement company the entire controL We have stated these objections as ; | see them. We have the city's inter- j j est at heart and wjll try to the best ' of our ability to protect it. We are | anxious for its success as any citiI zen can be. We do not want to stand ; the way of any improvement that . will be a benefit to it, but we cannot . in the proposition as it is presented that the City's interests are ade- ( quately guarded. We do not object ; so much to an amusement of this J character no the beach front — although j might be under any conditions detrimental to the City's interest to have I - j such a building placed there — as we j do to the fact that if would cut off j . the entire Ocean view from the Stock- I , house property, which is a very I desirable location for a hotel which | the City greatly needs, and might be j the means of discouraging a proposi- j tion en those lines. I It also, being a 135 feet in depth, j would extend beyond the entrance of ! the Convention Hall, obstructing the ; view and limiting the light and air on ! the promenade around the same; and j the visitors who so greatly enjoy . watching the ocean and the bathers . would be looking into a probably un- 1 sightly wall. We cannot see that either from a j financial standpoint or otherwise the City will be benefitted by the proposii tion as it now stands. The erection | of such a building would geatly in- ' crease the fire risk and the rate of in- i su ranee on the Convention Hall, and I • is questionable whether the rental $ paid by toe theatre company would be i • sufficient to meet this increase. We are desirous of doing the will i , cf our people and are only making , I these statements in order that our , ! citizens may look on both sides and I consider for themselves as to the ad- • (usability of accepting the proposition ! as presented. F. J. MELVIN, WM. R. SHEPPARD, Direttor of Finance. • | l2-25-20-pf$24.20-2520 • ABOUT THAT NEW i THEATRE BUILDING Why is it that we are being barred ' . from having the new thearre building ( i on the beach front? There is certain- , ly a great need of more amusements • | for our city's summer visitors. A : theatre building to seat between twelve and fourteen hundred persons, | producing high grade vaudeville, • j light operas, such as Atlantic City and grand opera such as M. Alt- I ' bouse would bring, will surely be a t I thing for Cape May. j That beach front property was , • by the city for just this purpose; to have a place for amusements. It has been suggested that perhaps ' the eity isn't "getting enough out of i it." Are we to always figure in tarms of cold cash? Shouldn't we consider I the value this would he in helping to I nHwrMiti » tea.

i ""j1 ' y? . m ' At I "recollect, the dty paid HBV J , ***<* 1 , at a rate of $48 per front foot. ■ - EMk ; Palace Theatre Con**ny are aaUAj to lease a frontage of 70 fe«V S I which they erect a building ' cost toe dty $8220. TtM therefore would be slightly to eoMlf l ' of 21 Mr cent on toe investment. Mdfc' Sj , to mention the taxes to be reeefnll 9 from toe Company's building. . Imnraffl : that "getting enough out of it?" What would you think of a landlord | who would charge you a rental of 21 3 cent on his investment? It seems to me thst any other mm B j side resort would wekonme, yes (nfi, 'B a fair dean -cut proposition audi as 'j I has been offered to Cape May, and . :"1 our Commissioners should certainly j lose no time in getting the Palace Theatre Company on « 1 agreement equitable to both aides., This can be done. Show a spirit of co-operation. Don't use every effort 3 ! to drive the proposition away. IT* vjj theatre would be a big asset to us in ' summer time and would help our , 1 workmen out over a dull winter, la a there any REAL reason why we can't have ty? A Citizen. 3 COMMISSIONERS MEETING At the regular meeting of toe Com- *j misskmers Tuesday, 21«t., all being /- 1 present. The Collector was instruct- ' «d to proceed to collect Personal « 1 Taxes for the years 1919 and 1920. Final settlement was ordered made v ' with Sutton & Corson on bulkhead. ' A basket ball cage was authorized to be obtained for the Convention HaB ' and presented to the Higu School [ Athletic Association. A delegation •( of citizens through Irving H.'Eldredge "i J presented a petition signed by up- 5 wards of eight hundred persons requesting toat acceptance of the preposition of the Palace Theatre Company for the proposed theatre on the beach front. No action taken Com- ' missioners Melvin and Sheppard pre1 sented a signed statement setting ' forth the reasons for voting ageing the proposition at previous-meetings, ' which was ordered "Received, filed, recorded in the minutes, published." Resolutions passed to renew notes of $5,000.00 at each local bank. IN MEMORLAM In memory of my dear mother, iHattie D. Smith, died Decmber 25th, ; 1 1910. -*• j recalls a loved one gone to rest, j Those who think of her today are those who love her best. ^ t ■, £ Daughter Mary. ' i 12-25-20-lt-2509 ■I ™ i I On Wednesday night the Cape May ; Legion defeated Wild wood by a score of 28-24. Little starred for the Cape 1 ! May team. On Tuesday next Wild- ' wood will play at the Convention ' Hail. A good game is expected as the rivalry is strong between these ; two teams. SHERIFFS SALE By virtue of a writ of Fieri Facias, . for sale of mortgaged premises, to me , ' directed, issued out of the Court of ' ; Chancerv of New Jersey, on the 2nd day of December, A. D. 1920, in a cer- • j tain cause where Weisbrod & Hess 1 ! Brewing Company is complainant, and I Belton Cannon, et als., are defendants, I shall expose to sale at public vendue, j °n MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1921 1 ! between the hours of twelve and five , | o'clock, p. m., to wit, at one o'clock in the afternoon of said day at the. ' sheriff's office, in Cape May Court ' House, Cape May County, New Jersey. All that certain mortgaged prem- , ises, with the appurtenances, in the bill of complaint in the said cause ' particularly set forth and described, 1 I that is to say: — 1 All the following tract or parcel of I land and premises hereinafter particularly described, situate, lying and I being in the city of Wildwood (formerly Holly Beach) in the county of Cape May and state of New Jersey, j Beginning at a point in the southI westerly side of Garfield avenue at the distance of 300 feet southeaet- ! wardly from the point of intersection J of the southeasterly side of Artie 'avenue with the said southwesterly .1 side of Garfield avenue and running thence along the said side of Garfield avenue, South thirty-eight degrees -.5 East forty feet to a point and at right angles to said Garfield avenue between parallel lines(with a width of forty feet) southwestwaidly in length ' ~A or depth a distance of one hgpdred feet to the rear line of lot fronting on Spicer avenue, being lot No. 24 on block No. 134 as shown on the recorded map of Holly Beach City being the • same land and premises which the Continental Hotel and Reality Company by deed bearing even date here- | with and intended to be forthwith re- j corded, granted and conveyed to the 1 said Belton Cannon in fee. Amount due under decree is J $3,357.32, with interest awl Sheriff". 1 foes to be added. MEAD TQMUN. Sheriff. Dated December 22, 1M». s. a. „ u „ J - jJH