New-York tribune., 1901-08-25
HIS MONUMENT A CLIFF.
zADOC PRATT HAS HIS PROFILE CARVED
OK THE FACE OF THE SOLID ROCK

ZADOC PRATT HAS HIS PROFILE CAh'hD
on THE FACE OF THE SOLID ROCK.
Prattsville. y Y. Aug "a Cspec3aD.-This quaint
and beautiful most village of Greene County in the
western Catskills. has taken the appearance OF
a favorite summer resting place for Newly orkers
desiring mountain air and scenery The alttuue
of the village Is over eleven hundred feet and the
mountain roads TO Stamford. Grand Gorge, LeA;ns-
ton and Windham are not surpassed by more pre-
tentious neighbors in the character OF laho anu
water scenery. Wealthy New-YoTk business men
and their wives sons and daughters may be seen IN
the early morning climbing the mountains "lich
tower on an average 500 feet above the roao"ays'
visiting the creamery established and controHeo oy
the farmers OF the surrounding country, OF casuhs
1he line in the many streams stocked Win HOui
rjclerel or black bass which flow at the FOOT OF
the mountains Here and there along the ROADS
,be soiourner finds a tiny stream Of clear water
issuing from the rocks squirting from their base
coming apparently, from nowhere. and kept IN
subjecion by the sturdy, grim rocks through "hlch
il flows. the rusty tin dipper ready Tor service
alongside From the roadway one may see far up
on the mountainside the cattle grazing wateheo
by the shepherd dogs, which the PrattsVlle
farmers place high value cattle and dogs looking
like small moving figures a field Of many co!ors
The farmers Of Greene County show many evil
dences OF their thrifty natures in the model farm
houses well kept and well stocked barns. and sleek
cattle which are seen throughout the country. The
prices received for the products Of the creamery
butter two 10 three cents pound more than the
prices quoted.
Prattsville has a history. One Zadoc Pratt
early in the last century settled in the neighboF-
hood, which was thicsly wooded. wild, and pos
eesSed no natural advantages. To travel TO Grand
Gorge a distance Of five and a half miles, and Al
the time a wilderness, would have consumed more
time and patience than the ordinary mortal pos
eessed. II was road rising and falling htty 10
one hundred feet the mile. and the traveller re-
H., sr-11S~ro 0F Z SHY
country Pratt farsghted Yankee that he was.
saw possibilities IN the heavy growth OF hemIocH
with which the country abounded and conceived
the idea OF establishing tannery, with IT'S klndFeu
trades. He interested some Of the natives and one
outsider who afterward became a hnancal power
Law Gould in the history Of whom Zadoc Pratt is
mentioned lightly, for reasons diplomatic, as one
of Pratts relatives says.
However the tannery was established many
.ren were employed the product carted 20 Al
lanv. and from there TO New-York. over country
,osds surveyed and cut by Pratt and his friends
and TIE wilderness became thriving country
town with many shopkeepers. among them seven
,niIliners" as the surviving old lady OF the seven
now verglng eighty years tells Win a slsH-
Pratt with Addison J. Churchill, now OF Newly ork
C,,+,- blisred 4 mail stage route 10 Kaaters-
XIII and received from the government 'he con-
7ract FOR carrying the mails from that point to
surrounding towns and villages IN Inc mountain
,,,rtr,, Ninety horses were used, with relays
,,,,icb ,ta stages passed. Pratt's ventures pros
,oered lie bought many acres OF the rlch iarm
land procured markets for the farm procuclS anu
fecarne wealthy. The only thing necessary 10
continuance of the prosperity OF PTatlsNl4le N3S
,ha incoming of the railroad and this the founaer
=, ,ba town strove -or unsuccessfully because OF
she apathy Of his neighbors, who were sausned
with the conditions then existing. and Worla hot
rive financial aid the building OF me FaIlroau
through Prattsvile.
ANN lnT
,er was started in localities nearer the railroao'
freightage was far below the cost Of carting the
leather over the mountains TO a market IN me
dealer and retailer paid less and the consumer had
price almost in half Pratt tahneIy Wen Wen
under and with it died his hopes that FIatIso @ s
would increase and multiply and become one OF
the manufacturing centrts res oI - ue 1ressed 20 IN ~
other towns in which the business was carried on
proud and for the time forlorn possessors. with
Zadoc Pratt still the central figure -- ---
Of Whom are alive to-day hearken TO the counsel
Had they done so the lovely village in the heart of
the Western Catskils might now be in the race for
tired New-Yorkers health and recreation that they
might the better struggle in the race for the elusive
Zadoc Pratt died over forty years ago and his
monument and that Of his brother. George Pratt.
who fought in the Civil War and was Congressman
from the district. may be seen from the roadway
between Prattsville and Lexington. Far the
face OF huge projecting rock: $50 feet above the
~ . wandering sculptor whom Pratt aided when
in distress the profles OF Pratt and his brother
and on one side the striking arm OF 4 workman
with hammer in hand. Underneath the profile OF
Congressman Pratt are the dates OF his birth and
death and words commendatory OF his worth a
and his valOr soldier. He killed in
the battle OF Malvern Hin. Here and there up the
narrow path leading to Pratt's monument are
seats for the weary cut IN the solid rock. and di-
rectly under the shelving rock which the profiles
cut is a small chamber also cut IN the rock.
Zadoc Pratt did not forget his animal friends
bis horses. COWS and dogs. Twenty feet down from
the base OF the monument, and in the face OF the
mountain. Is a huge mound. surrounded by four
teen large trees which he planted In this mound
his pet animals buried End fits top a tablet
telling the names of the horses dogs and COWS
which his favorites.
A sum Of money and the tract Of land on which
the monument stands. about one hundred and fifty
acres left the town Of Prattsville. the in
terest accruing on the money 10 he used by the
town authorities 10 keep the face of the mountain
in order 10 protect the trees from being cut down
and to whitewash when necessary the profes of
his brother and himself and the uplifted arm and
the scroll work around the of the State of
NeW-York. which cut adjoining rock
Prattsvile people and the descendants of Grand
mother HOtang. old friend of Pratt whose
house has been changed into a select hotel and
stands n reminder OF prosperous Prattsvie.
speak his name with endearment.
n7T N N M nm