The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-23
RUIN OF THE
PALISADES.
OLD Landmarks Along the Hud-
son Being Destroyed
To Make Paving Material For
New YOrk's Streets.
WASHINGTON'S HEAD
Has Been Blown Off by a Charge
of Dynamite.
Three Blasts a Day Are Made
in the Work.
WAsHINGTON'S HEAD

New York, Oct. 28.-Three times a day
-at O. o'clock in the morning. at noon and
at 6 in the evening" roar as of cannon
sounds across the Hudson from the rock
crowned Jersey shore to Washington
Heights opposite. Then quickly follows
a loud rumbling noise, as of a landslide
People living on either side of the river
know what that roar and rumble mean.
1t is the work of destruction of the fam
Gus Palisades, going on slowly, but sure
ly while the citizens of New Jersey and
the United States authorities view the
act of vandalism with apparent uncon-
Germ.
Boatmen say that whenever the dyna-
mite is exploded it sounds as if the Pal
isades were tumbling down. Big rocks
are sent away up into the air and far
out into the river. Craft are afraid to
pass up or down stream at the times set
for the blasts.
One hundred and fifty men are steadily
employed at this work by Carpenter Bro
Tiers who bought the property seven
years ago, and have been taking rock
from it ever since at the rate of about
500 cubic yards a day. The laborers are
mostly Italians, Huns. Poles and Rus
sians and they sleep in shanties near the
blasts and in a broken down old ferry
boat moored to the pier.
when the blasting was first begun the
crest of the Palisades at this point was
covered with trees. Now it is bare. The
trees have been cut down and used for
frewood by the Iaborers. The blastings,
which take place thrice daily, are in the
base of the rocky prominence. A hole
about a foot or eighteen inches long is
dug and a 1O0-pound charge of dynamite
exploded. Every once in awhile the Pal
isades are attacked higher up, and then
the dynamite charge is much heavier. On
Saturday last $50 pounds of dynamite
were exploded in a tunnel Is feet long
and just high enough to admit a man on
his knees. One thousand yards of rock
were obtained from this blast.
The biggest blast that has been made
since Carpenter Brothers bought the prop
erty occurred September last. Then
2.0oO-pound charge of dynamite was set
off and 10000 yards of rock were obtained.
This was the blast that destroyed the
historic landmark kown as Washington
Head" Carpenter Brothers claim that
''Washington's Head" is the only import
ant part of the Palisades they have de-
stroyed, and they say that if they hadn't
blown it to pieces it would have fallen
itself. They say it was a fssure caused
by the rainwater running down the cliffs,
and that it was so cut up that it was like
ly to tumble down at any moment.
Three big scows were tied to the pier
yesterday waiting for a load of rock.
Each seow holds about 500 cubic yards of
rock A scow is loaded every day. Two
crushers are kept busy ten hours a day.
Saturdays blast took place just south of
'sWashington's Head" and at the base of
the top cliffs. September's big blast bad
ly damaged the appearance of this part
of the Palisades. Besides blowing to
pieces the Head itself, it tore an i'm
1nense hole in the main rock. Alongside
this hole is an immense rock that has
been split in several places. It is quite
likely that in some future blast near by
this great rock will tumble down. In
deed it may fall at any moment of its
own accord. All around what was Wash
ington's Head lie tons of blasted rock.
1t is a pitiful sight to the lover of nat
llraI scenery. But the blasters resent the
name of vandal
We've not destroyed the beauty of the
Palisades one bit. said the man in charge
of the work yesterday. THAT is, if you
except 'Washington's Head which
wouldn't have lasted long even if we
would have let it alone. That is the only
blasting at the top we have done. All the
other work has been done at the base of
the ridge. We have no occasion to blast
at the top when there is so much good
hundred years at the base we would still
have enough rock to answer all purposes.
Not in my lifetime nor in yours will we
be called upon to attack the top of the
Palisades"
But the fact that this has already been
done in the case of ''Washington's Head
4s the best proof that Carpenter Brothers
will not allow any sentimental feeling to
interfere with their many working prof.
ects. In inclement weather the laborers
cannot well do any work on the hillside.
It is then that the blastings are trans
ferred to the top of the Palisades. 1t is
said that an unusually large charge Of
dynamite is to be exploded within the
next two months If so, this part OF the
Palisades viii be completely despoiled-
There are three other quarries on the
New Jersey side further up the river, and
all are busily engaged in the work of de-
struction. Unless the state or national
1avnalzers awake soon to action, this
SPLENDID landmark viii be ruined ire
trievably.