New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-13
THE PALISADES.

So many public undertakings of useiul char-
acter. having lost their hold on public atteil-
ton. langulsh and die that it is pleasant to hear
Of the life which is still left in the project for
preserving the Palisades 1t may be remehi-
bered that in consequence OF the HARMONIOUS
action Of the Ncw-Yofk and Ncw-Jersey Legs
latures bill was introduced in the lasi 'oh-
crcss providing for the conversion OF the iar
isodos platcau into a National military reserVa-
,lon This plan aroused considerable interest
and WAS strongly advocated. rather perhaps he
cause il was hoped that something uselui might
como Of II than because of It's genuine merits.
But more than year ago many Intelligent c'''
zens of New-York and New-Jersey became con-
WINGED that there was no reason TO believe the
bill would pass while they feared that lis
pendcncy in Congress might prevent the adop-
ton of a more practicable plan. The fact Is, we
believe. that the bill never had strong support
in Congress. and that an unfavorable report was
withheld from considerations of courtesy. A
memorial was therefore addressed by these citi'
zcns 10 the Military Committee of the House,
representing the great expense and other en-
barrassing features of the scheme proposed II
the bill before Congress. and suggesting as An
alternative scheme the purchase of the strip OF
land lying between the foot Of the Palisades
and the Hudson River. and its conversion into
a National park. Even this proposition. how
ever. was suggested without any strong expccta-
ton that Congress would act favorably upon IT,,
and il now seems to be practically certain tltt
the preservation Of the Palisades will not be
undertaken as National enterprise.
This outcome of a pubc-spirited and highly
comlnendable movement for the protection of
a natural monument Of striking character and
interest has not. as we are glad TO learn, dis
couraged the original promoters. From letter
by Mr. f. p. Albert in the current number of
THE Century Magazine it appears that he and
others who have been Identified with the under
taking intend next winter to urge the Legis-
latlires Of New-York and New-Jersey to take the
matter up again, believing that public opinion
would Justify joint operation by those States
in behalf of the Palisades They propose the
requirement Of the strip of land at the foot Of
the Palisades by condemnation proceedings
which would eXtinguish the shore rights OF
quarrymen. and the construction of a drive
way for distance Of twelve or thirteen miles.
Nearly all Of this strip is in the State Of New
Jersey. but 1t is thought proper that New-York
should bear half Of the expense. 1t Is believed
that the work would not be an expensive one,
for all requisite material for the building Of the
road is easily obtainab'e on the spot. On the
whole. this seems 10 us the most hopeful plan
for the accomplishment of an exceedingly de-
srable object which has yet been proposed. 1t
is amply entitled TO respectful consideration by
the citizens of both States. and the action OF
former Legislatures encourages the belief that
the proposition will inspire sympathetic interest
AT Albany and AT Trenton.