New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-16

GOVERNORS VIEWS ON THE DAVIS
BILL-LEGISLATION URGED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuNB.I


Albany, Feb. Ex-Governor Roosevelt said to-
day, when his attention was called to the criti-
cisms of Assembyman Gherardi Daviss bill
providing for the appointment Of ten commits
sioners with authority to purchase lands along
the Palisades for the creation of the Palisades
interstate park:
There undoubtedly quarry owners along
the Hudson River who are opposed to Assembly
man DaVtS'S BILL and other men who own prop
erty there who will pretend if this bill is passed
that they intended to establish quarries, and
therefore ought to be paid heavy damages by
the State for their prospective gains.
The bill of Assemblyman Davis was sent to
me by William E Dodge, the president Of the
Society for Preserving Scenic Beauty. 1 do most
heartily hope that if this bill be laid aside,
some measure will be passed to preserve the
Palisades, for they are the greatest object of
natural beauty in the State next to Niagara
Falls.
I should regard it as State calamity unless
some bill be passed for the preservation of the
Palisades. Some bill surely can be drawn which
will protect the rights of the property
and yet will not open the door to the payment
Of imaginary damages to persons pretending
that they were about to open quarries.
Assemblyman Demarest. of Rockland County
criticised the bill as follows:
The bill is extremely broad in it's provisions
and will interfere with property rights along the
Hudson River to a large extent. / say this not
attack the measure, for have not had
a chance to examine il closely, but because OBJ
viously it puts cloud on the title of all owners
Of real estate along the Hudson River at the
Palisades. However, shall reserve any further
opinion of the bill until have had a chance to
talk with my constituents about it,
Assemblyman Davis said:
Undoubtedly the bill does cloud the title to
real estate along the Palisades, but do not see
how it can be avoided; the land must be con-
demned in order to learn it's value
COMMISSIONERS REPLY TO OBJECTIONS
In editorial In The Tribune yesterday In re-
gard to the bills before the New-York and
NeW-Jersey Legislatures for the protection of the
Palisades, it pointed that owners of prop
erty near the Palisades object to the consum-
nation of the present scheme and make these
points:
First-This legislation would forever bar from
commercial use eleven miles of waterfront adjacent
5urng property in Bergen County, retarding the
Second-The Commissioners may designate any
property intended park land long before there
Is any money In sight to pay for it. thus cloqding
free use difficult if not impossible.
Members of the Commission who were seen yes
terday expressed the opinion that the objections
not justified They said that If the plan
for the park carried out as has been proposed
1t would be possible to use the waterfront for
mercial purposes. and that the scheme could IN
way affect the value of realty in the neighbor-
hood. 1t will be observed nevertheless that the bill
would operate to cloud the title of a large amount
of property which has been held for long time
by private owners. thus rendering 1t unstable, and
at the same time deferrng indefinitely it's acquis-
ition for public purposes by condemnation proceed
ings This is an important point which members
of the Commission do not in their interviews.
Frederick w. Devoe said:
The Palisades must be preserved now or 1t will
never be done. They are gone forever if the pres
Commission have entered into the subject with
the need in the most satisfactory way cannot see
how any disadvantage TO property holders will
from /
have beneficial effect. If any property is con-
ainly intention interfere with valuable realty.
1t will certainly be advantage to bar out fac
that buildings Of the right kind viii be interfered
ara Park which has resulted so well.
The papers throughout the State and people gen.
ment, and we nave had no end of encouragement
I of the opinion that the money needed be
readily raised by private subscription if necessary
in it does not come from State appropriations
they have entered into the matter with great care
and zeal. The bills should receive popular support
they will
A G. Mills said:
think there is in the the obse
Nam has been carefuliy worked out and we have
every reason to believe that it will prove salts
carried out. will be of immense value to the neigh
There is M no sed fo to e SUPPOSE that the
dustrial purposes even II the park plan goes
out some Objectionable factories from the neighbor
hood. but the advantages to be derived in other
ways will more than compensate.
G. F. Kunz said:
There is no intention to condemn valuable prop
erty and the plan as proposed ought to have
beneficial effect real estate in general in the
neighborhood. There is some property along the
proposed route OF the pathways and boulevards
that nigh. have to be condemned, but nothing
will be done to deprecate values There is no
reason to think that because the Palisades
preserved factories must not be built II will GER
tanly not be disadvantage to them to be
placed in n picturesque environment Piers can
be constructed and general industrial improve
ments carried out If the park becomes a
fact and l cannot that any injury realty
or other interests will result. On the other hand,
there is every believe that 1t will be ad-
vantageous in many ways and from the point of
beauty alone it Is desirable that the plan should
succeed. Many OF the most prominent people in
both States are interested. and look with approval
upon the provisions of the bills. is to be sin
cerely hoped that they will be passed and that
the work may be done