New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-14

PREVENTING NATURAL SCENERY
Massachusetts has body of citizens known
nc the Trustees of Public Reservations, who
arc engaged in a public spirited work which is
ant Ia he neglected They aim to preserve ana
IMPROVE the natural scenery of the state, ana
10 secure as many commanding points IN IL az
they can for the enjoyment OF everybody. WIN
these laudablc objects in view they have 'ssueu
q circular copies of which have beel distributed
broadcast over the commonwealth, calling ior
information which may be useful to them in
the prosecution of their labOrs. In this circular
tbase salient questions are asked :" In your
mart OF Massachusetts are there any beautiful
beaches, bluffs hilltops. ravines' groves, nver-
hanks or roadsdes? Would il not be well ~
secure for the public the most interesting OF
these places before their beauty Is destroyed
or they become fenced in for private gam or
nlcosurop'' Growing out OF these general IN
oujries comes the particular concrete hint that
Il ,vould no well for some son or daughter OF
Gloucester TO keep the approaching two-hun-
drod and fftieth anniversary of the settlement
If that quaint and inviting place by giving 1t
a boon which at present it lacks-a public park.
Thi, is n. practical rs it Is admirable, and
could DO initiated TO their advantage by alassa-
chusettss sister States. TIE TRIBUNE has
more than once directed the attention OF whom
il might corceIn 10 the good work performed
by the village improvement societies OF the
country. Ii would seem that these societies
could readily enlarge the scope OF their opera
tions as scnsibly TO serve the good cause OF
nub,ic rcscrvations In our own State there is
no organization we believe, which exactly
corresponds TO the one in question Ncver'he-
less Ncw-York has by no means neglected her
scenery. Some years ago she demonstrated her
love for the beautiful in Nature by establishing
n noble reservation ut Niagara Falls. littc
earlier her Legislature passed bill, which be-
camc n law. TO prevent tho DETACHMENT OF natu-
raj scenery. This law-which is not as rigldly
enforced as II ought TO be in somo sections OF
the Statc-reads AZ follows:
ANY person who shall msNciously or wantooy ~
fur, or deflce any monument work OF art, building
feme or other Structure, or destroy or wlure NS
ornamental tree shrub or plant whether SITUATE on
ony private ground or on any street, puDhc place.
public OF private way or cemetery. or VINO sbail p"ht
or print upon IN any other manner pnce upon "
aftx 90 any stone rock not part OF building or
npon or 10 any bridge tree any word letter, char
acer or device stating, referring 10 or advertising T
intended 10 advertise the sale ~ manufacture Of any
property article, profession. business eAh'o'ooh'
Amusement place Of amusement or other tmhs :
shall be guilty OF misdcmeanor and upon CONVECTION
shall FOR each and every such offence he punished W
a ane not exceeding $3.50 or By imprisonment not
exceeding six months o. by both such fine and I'M
pasonm0t. 49,
But. although New York has done something
substantial for her natural scenery, and al
though the number of her parks and other
Measure grounds has steadily increased, she
has by 10 means done her whole duty in this
respect. The condition OF the Adlrondacks IL
an indictment Of her public spirit She has an
opportunity in these forests such as few Of the
older States possess for administering to the
health and enjoyment of her people. She de-
! termined long ago TO save the AdlrOndacks but
the unpleasant fact RENAME that the Adiron-
dacks are not yet saved. As for beautiful
beaches. bluffs, hilltops, rayines, groves, river
! hanks and roadsdes for which the Massnchu-
sets circular inquiries, NcwYork abounds with
them. Why should it not oftener occur to
! Newly orers who desire tosdo something for
the common veal which will cause their names
! 10 be spoken with affection and honor for all
time. to present some of the enchanting scenery
of Nev~York 20 tho public? Ours is an age
when the moral, intellectual and political in
terests of the State are receiving great atten-
ton. There is room, however for more so,
cieties having for their unselfsh purpose to
look after the physical New-York, and en-
courage the generous hearted to build them
selves monuments Of reservations. Who can
over-estimatc the value of the blessing which
one confers upon a community by giving it an
ample anG. attractive park?