New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
THE PALISADES.

An article printed in The Tribune this morn
ing describes the continuing destruction OF the
Palisades and the present status OF the scnenc
for preserving what is left of them. II Is eVi-
dent that the Commissioners appointed by the
Governors of Ncw-York and \cw-JerSey. unde'
instructions unanimously approved hy the Legs
latureS of the two States. have prosecuted their
task intelligently and diligently. and Will not De
responsible for the consequences If Congress
fails to take favorable action in the case. 1T Is
plain also that public sentiment was not aroused
too soon to the necessity of interfering with the
operations of quarrymen. Since the agitation
began an immense amount of harm has been
done and every argument in support Of the plan
for protecting the picturesque and noble ram
part of the Hudson has been strengthened.
Nature cannot repair the ravages of man in this
ease, but she can and will conceal them 10 a
great extent if permitted TO. so that what has
been lost may in time be forgotten. But there
ought To be as little delay as possible.
The bill now awaiting the attention Of Con
gress provides that a commission of six mem
bers. to be appointed by the President. shall de-
fine the boundaries of reservation within lin
its extending from Fort Lee to point twelve
miles north. and that within the territory so
ACQUIRE by purchase or condemnation proceed
jncs such lands as he shall consider available
for the public uses of the United States. II Is
believed that possession by the Government OF
this commanding plateau with the river front
age below il would prove To he 50 lnablc-an
element Of security as amply 10 justify the cost
of acquisition and maintenance. without refer
cnce to the original purpose of protecting it from
a ti..n n fn
their sovereignty over this fair and fine domain
the States of Ncw-York and Ncw-Icrsey have
done all that it is apparently practicable for them
to do That their citizens are deeply Interested
in the matter Is undeniablc The acts under
which their Commissioners have proceeded wer"
unanimously passed and the expression of pub
lie opinion has been conclusive. Moreover. The
whole country has shown great concern for the
preservation of a famous work of Nature. Ihe
Commissioners have collected more than thou
sand comments from newspapers representing
local sentiment in all parts Of the United States.
and of these only about n score have more or
less decidedly opposed the reservation project.
This fact would seem to justify Congress III
treating the proposal as one having Il National
character and strong National support.
The short session is not usually a favorable
time for the consideration of bills OF less than
the first magnitude. But this proposition. il not
in the class Of measures which must be acted on.
is certainly not Of small Importance Nor is il a
novelty. Long discussion has already made n
pretty familiar to Senators and Representatives.
The delegations from NewYOrk and New-jcrsey
are solidly behind it, and we are not without hope
that it may be adopted notwithstanding the fact
that Congressional proceedings from the first
Monday in December until the ifh Of March will
be a race against time.