New-York tribune., 1900-01-13
TO KEEP THE PALISADES.
COMMISSIONS REPORT ADVISES PUR-
CHASE BY THE UNITED STATES.

Albany.
Commissioners appointed by Legislative enact
n.ent to confer with like representatives of New
Jersey for the acquisition of the Palisades of
the Hudson River by the United States, and
making an appropriation therefor. has been sub
rnitted to the Governor. who has transmitted II
10 the Legislature. Accompanying the report is
a draft of bill embodying the recommendations
as suggested in the report. After preliminary
recital of the fate of the bill in Congress, which
the Committee on Military Affairs declined TO
consider favorably. the report says in part:
On February II, 1898, the contingency which
your Commissioners had been derided for enter
tanning as possible arrived. The Maine was
blown up in the harbor of Havana, and the coun-
try plunged into a foreign war with no
ground on the Atlantic seaboard for the assem-
bling and drilling of army in advance of its
being shipped for foreign service.
The Palisades Military Park had not been au-
thorized, and this-the best possible site for the
mastering, training and shipping of troops ac-
cessible by all lines of railroad centrng at New
York and all lines of navigation elevated from
300 TO 500 feet above tide level well drained.
easily supplied with water, near to the base OF
supplies, and at the same time capable OF being
readily guarded against intrusion-was not inn
mediately available.
The result that distant points not easily
accessible either by land or water. and in many
respects untitled for the purposes were selected
as the muster grounds for the troops to be sent
out of the country and those returned from the
war.
NEW-4ORkS COOPERATION ASKED.
The failure of Congress to take any action.
and the enforced suspension of the efforts of
the Commission during the tendency Of the war
with Spain, induced citizens of New-Jersey who
are interested in the subject to procure the crea
aion by the Legislature of 1879, in that State,
OF committee to suggest plans for the securing
of those grand cliffs from further mutilatton.
The committee thus created desired the coop
GRAFTON of citizens of New-York, and at their
request the president Of the Society for the
Preservation Of Scenic and Historic Objects and
49, Cn--n 6acfp
mated committee to confer with the New
Jersey committee.
Commission has presented to the committee
maps and photographs and has explained fully
the present status of the plans or your COM
mission and of the movement TO preserve the
Palisades. and has expressed its earnest desire
for the cooperation Of the committee ana all
citizens of both States In forwarding them.
Your Commissioners cannot but feel that their
position and arguments in support Of the ac-
QUESTION OF the Palisades National reserva-
ton for military and other purposes have been
substantiated and justified by the events OF the
last two years. and they respectfully request
that they be authorized and directed to prose-
cute their labors toward the end Of securing the
accomplishment of the object for which they
were appointed. In consideration the means by
which the desired result can best be reached
there is one point which deserves mention
A MONEY TENDER PROPOSED.
While the State Of New-York has vastly
greater material interest in the preservation OF
the natural scenery of the Palisades than mas
o. "
legislation enacted offered TO the National Gov
ernment only unimportant contribution In lts
very limited length Of waterfront on the huo,
son which lies within the limits Of the proposed
legislation while the State of New-Jersey mas
offered to give, free of cost lands under water
and riparian rights valued upward OF SI5oOV-
IT seems equitable that New-York should tender
in money what she lacks in land III is NOT 700
much to say that many millions or dollars
worth of real estate and also large and varied
interests dependent upon the manner EN- ID
which the fifteen miles of the PaIsaoes river
front shall be occupied
In consideration of these facts the Commission
submits a bill which embodes its recommenoa-
lions and which provides that the sum OF
s25O,OOO be appropriated by the State and paid
70 the United States for the purposes of this
act
TEXT OF THE BILL.
The full text of the bill follows
Section Upon the acquisition by the United
states of America of property of the value OF
S25OOOO or any part thereof, within the limits
OF the Palisades National Park, as described IN IN
a certain bill pending before Congress. SUCH
bin having been introduced conformaoly 10 tne
terms of the act of the Legislature OF the state
Of New-York entitled AN act to cede 1urlsolc-
tion TO the United States of America over GER
tain lands in the County of Rockland. TO De oc-
cupied a Military and National FaTk upon
the Palisades of the Hudson and for the pur-
noses herein specified being Chapter 10 OF
the Laws of 1895, and also to an act of the
LEGISLATURE of the State OF NeW-Jersey, passed
fhe same year and to like effect: and upon the
accentance by the United States of America Of
the terms and conditions in such acts con-
tanned and upon the approval of the character
and location of the required property by a
majority OF the Palisades Commissioners of the
State of New-York, and the certifcation by
them OF the fair value thereof, the said sum OF
S250OO0. or such part or parts thereof as shall
from time to time be certified as the fair value
OF property so acquired by the United States,
shall be paid by the State of New-York to the
United States of America in consideration OF
such acquisition and the acceptance Of such
conditions
Sec. 2-The sum of S25OOOO OF as much
thereof as may be necessary, payable out Of any
funds in the treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, is hereby appropriated for the purposes
OF this act.
Sec 3-This act Shall take effect Immediately.
CHANCES FOR AGREEMENT.
The Commission in closing its report says:
With such an equalization of the burden i'm
posed the United States, the State of New
York and the State Of New-Jersey, Ii is deemed
not unlikely that these three parties may be
brought into harmony in the carrying out of the
proposition to preserve and at the same time
utilize for the public welfare the Palisades Of
the Hudson.
Especial attention is called TO the great prfvi-
leges and advantages in the Palisades region
secured 10 the State of New-York and her citi-
gems by the terms Of legislation already enacted
by the States interested. and proposed in
the State Of NewYOrk and in Congress.
The members OF the Commission included
Enoch c. Bell. Waldo G. Morse and ]. ]. R.
Croes.
TRANSATLANTIC TRAVELLERS.
cas1fo T do., tI,z