Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15

face and beach IS luxuriantly wooded. and
on the beach the evergreens and other trees
are so thick that 1t is impossible TO catch
glimpse of the moss-carpeted soil IN
which they grow. Here the tree tops are
approximately on n level but elsewhere
they form tier upon tier OF swaying green
TO the very top OF the palisades themselves.
Camping Out Beneath the Palisades.
Within the shelter of the beach's pines
hundreds of lovers OF outdoor life camp
during hot weather. Their white tents dot
the beach; the blue smoke of their camp
fires curl up above the trees; the laughter
OF men and women rings out clearly 900
feet above: boating parties make from
camp TO camp; mothers and daughters
WASH the dishes of dinner at the rivers
cage. and father and brother plunge into
the water from an anchored skin for an
lnVlgorating swim. And all through the
Gay from some one another OF the
camps, there floats upward to the strollers
on the palisades top the music OF instrli-
holiday song
Ihese campers are multiplying rapidly.
ana many New Workers.. who used 10 be
III the habit OF spending their vacation PEI
RODS under canvas along the New Jersey
shore of lower New York bay now spread
their tents under the lee of the palisades.
HOW much longer they will be able TO 90
SO Is doubtful. In 1900 the legislatures OF
New York and New Jersey In order 10
Keep the palisades from being blasted away
Tor ballast, appointed a Joint commission TO
acquire the face OF the palisades and the
strip OF beach at the base from Fort Lee
north TO Piermont, and to turn both into
an Interstate park. Since that time the
commission has gradually come into pos
session OF the cliffs face, the beach and all
riparian rights. and is planning to estab-
lish system of driyeways along the full
length of the strip of horizontal land.
When the work of laying out the mark
a dav pf ~
der the shadow OF the palisades will be
numbered to the regret of those who have
already spent many pleasant days there.
A Modest Suggestion.
II will be noted that the interstate park
does not include the top of the palisades,
which properly extends back from the up-
per edge of the face to the Hudson county
boulevard, distance of about fourth OF
mile on an average. In the ghborhood
OF Alpine this surface IL owned by promi-
nent natureloving New Workers., who here
have their summer homes. situated IN ex-
tensive grounds. Several such estates Dor
der the palisades in the vicinity OF Engle-
wood; but the greater part of the surface
between Fort Lee and Englewood is unoc-
cupied, except for a few small, uninclosed
houses here and there and a summer hotel.
1t is this stretch which has lately become
such popular playground with thousands
of New Workers, well with the resi-
dents of the New Jersey towns a mile
so back from the river.
In order to keep at least this portion Of
the top of the palisades free to the people
OF both states and from private eXploita-
ton the legislatures of the two states
would necessarily have TO enlarge the pow
ers of the New York and New Jersey pail
sades commission. But would not this be
wise step? Not only because interstate
control would insure to the people gen.
orally an opportunity to come in touch with
nature in one of her most picturesque
moods, but would preserve beyond perad-
venture the trees of the surface. which sup
ply an harmonious skyline to the wonder
working picture of the palisades as viewed
from the bosom of the Hudson.