New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-30
SUMNER LEISURE.
N MOUNTAINS AN HOUR AWAY.


WASHINGTON Rock. DUNELLEN. n. j.. July %
The summer visitor who stands at this spot 500
feet above the sea. and looks ont upon the magnii-
cent landscape he ore him. finds it hard to realize
that he Is little more than an hours ride from the
New York City Hall There certainly are few scenes
In the Middle States that in extent and beauty can
be compared with this. Washington Rock, so
called is at one of the highest points of that pecu-
liar ridge of mountains that darling out from the
Blue Ridge range near the Delaware Water Gap,
runs nearly 10 the eastern shore OF New-Jersey Ihe
New Yorker who seeks out this spot leaves the rail-
road at Dunellen and is driven mp the mountain by
q circuitous but easy ascent until he hnds himself
more than 400 feet above the broad plain he has left
behind Even the most matter-Of-fact New-fork
business man feels hlmaelf rewarded by what he
sees from the top. standing upon the huge boulder
to which the place owes its name, he hnds the noun
tain running almost sheer down 10 the PLAIN linen,
bv an almost mpercepubr ascent, the fields stretch
away to the horizon twenty or thirty miles east,
west and south. Here and there in the
expanse Of rich farm lands are towns and
villages while still further to the east the sea can
dimly be seen. Standing now upon tins rock, with
the help of a feld-glass take the whole prospect
in three circles beginning with the outer one. AT
the left and nearly to he your glass shows the
piers of the Brook yn Bridge the tops of THE
TRIBUNE. the Western Union and the other highest
structures of New-York. Sweeping around to tue
right yOu See in order the hills of Staten Island
and the Kill Won Ku.l, Port Richmond, Menlo PARK
Tottenville and nth Amboy almost hidden behind
low hills the vessels the ocean beyond. the High
lands of Navesink and the Raritan River gradually
receding INTO the hills. The second circle shows
YOU the spires Of Westfeld on your left. then the
outskirts of Elizabeth. then IN full view on your
right the village Of Netuchen and still further on
Brunswick. with the buildings Of Rutgers
College standing out in full relief Except for
jut of the mountain Princeton too couid be seen
The third circle would take III the pretty town of
Plained less than four miles away, and the streets
of Dunellen almost at your feet.
Apart from is natural attractions, the spot is not
without historic interest II was from this spot that
Washington, IN l777. watched General Howes re-
treat from New-Brunswlck, and the encounter OF
his forces with those CT General Stirring Afterward
standing here he watched the British feet as 1t set
sail from Amboy and disappeared at sea. 1t was IN
fact a favorte spot with Washington from which
to watch all military movements in that part of
New-Jersev As long ago as 1866 ex-Judge Run
yon of Plainfield while in the New-Jersey Legisla-
ture, secured the passage of act authorizing tue
erection of a monument upon this summit TO COM
memorate these historic events. The association
having in charge the project continued the raising
of funds and for a number of years held an annual
mass-Inectng IN the grove IN 'front.' OF the Washing
ION Rock Mountain House. the only large hotel al
this point The scheme was allowed. however To
sleep for several years until last spring. when adse
Ruuvon purchased The hotel property and revived
the associations work. II is the intention now TO
prosecute he work 10 speedy completion. The mon
ument will be of light stone hexagonal IN shape
and viii rise for seventy feet above the base already
prepared Tor {. When completed it will bea slightly
obi. for many miles.
The CHESTS of the motel are for the most part New
York people, WHO make it their summer home, and
who find one of he chief charms OF the place In the
fact that It's beauties and attractions have not be-
come sufi ienty known 10 attract new visitors in
foo oreat numbers 1T IS surprising thing TO me-,
sad the manager Of one of the most prominent New
York hotels ~ he stood on the Rock
one dav last week, that tins place has
not become known to more New York men.
Don't Won know that what the average
i, man is most anxious to find ar md-sum-
r j. i,,st tbi,-a cool healthtul spot in the coun-
try with beautiful surroundings, that l-nt so lar
from Newly ur that be has 10 spend The beS part 81
fine dav in golnl 10 and from III Now. now many
such aces are there You can count them on
your hngc - And the most oil them are 10y the W4tt
side Long Branch. and Asbury Iarh' ana IsIlp
and BsbylOu are very pleasant Wneh you are lhclr'
Iut how many men who have 90 he al business tY-
erv day are prevented from gong 20 such aces De-
cause they have 10 lose three or ionr hours every
dav On the road hey ike their families 10 be IN
nIeasaut places during the day but they want 10
i,in them III he evening. Now. what more can ms
banker or lawyer or merchant ask than ne couiu
0ei here If he only knew of itT few minutes rue
DOWN The mountain takes him 10 the jersey Central
d-pnt An hour more and he Is III Ms New
Ynrl, office lie gets back at night 10
md hs family in cool spot where breezes
are always Blowing, where MOSQUITOES arc
9i'nost unknown and in the midst of seem
rv tbat of il. kind s. scarcely 10 be equaled any
where All this has been waiting Tor nm al the%
wears and lac is just beginning 10 INA IL out Nhen
he does learn o. Do and and bis neghbors begin to
nonr I'm herr. yon will hear him often wondering
whv II didn't happen before,
Tvs ven so said all-st. broker at his ell
how. who had recently returned nom tIlp 10 the
Rocky Mountains, and Is now set led here for the
summer even so; but when that time comes
sha'i't he here Tor TO bring the multitude with a
fashionable atmosphere into this spot would destr
for me the EMO ment II all that nature has done
Tor 1t -
And that is 4 not uncommon sentiment here.