Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-12
GREATER PARK
ON PALISADES

There is an eve increasing move-
ment among patriotic and historical
societies directed toward the event.
ual taking up by this state of a work
which the federal government has not
yet performed, namely. that Of pre-
serving, fer the benefit Of ~p6sterlty;
the euuntry's Revolutionary battle
felds and the great scenic attractions
of the state. The federal govern
ment left Pennsylvania to acquire
the site of Valley Forge and convert
1t into a Revolutionary memorial
bark, What Pennsylvania did for
Valley Forge must eventually be
done, for the Revolutionary battle
grounds in New York state at the in
stance of private enterprise and with
the assistance of legislative author
ity,'' said 4 member of the Interstate
Palisades Park Commission yester-
day.
when the Palisades Park moves
ment began nearly ten years ago, a
tremendous impetus was given to the
interest which was then already
grpwins In our Revolutionary relics
and historic landmarks. This feel
ing is Increasing now faster h
ever, but as yet it is not sunk very
deep into the hearts of our legisla-
tors. Only by the most strenuous
efforts was the Palisades Park Com
ihissi0n enabled to secure tie BASS
age last spring of the Hook Noun
tain bill AUTHORIZING, it to preserve
that landmark. Had this bill been
sa w5raed as to efHp9wsf the, com
mission to acquire the fteek Msun-
tain land at once, it is extremely
doubtful that it would have passed.
Only by the omission of such a clause
was the passage of the bill secured.
The night For this bill created so
much public interest in the subject
of a Hudson River park that the dis
cussion of the project still continues
and the e3mfhissi6n Ia assured of
support FRAN d considerable part of
the public in its efforts to stop blast
ing on Hook Mountain. Condemna-
ton proceedings for the aequifement
of these lands will be begun in the
courts OF Orange county not later
than next January, but 1t Is doubtful
that the duatries can be closed Before
the late spring owing to the diificul-
ties attending the requirement OF
titles after the conclusion of the con-
domination proceedings.
Representatives of the several
organizations interested in our his
toric relics, have for sorl6 time past
been discussing ways and means for
the creation of a Hudson river reser-
yation to include the Palisades,
Stony Point, Hook Mountain, Little
Tor, High Tor, and the many spots
along the river shores where Revolu-
tlonary battles were fought and
where stand today the remains of the
fartifcations erected during that
war. This is too comprehensive a
plan to be realized at onc e There is
on precedent upon which to base
hope that the federal government can
he induced to take the initiative and
by legislation aff6rd means for the
requirement of the lands necessary
for this object. There is almost no
hope that the state legislation will
be willing at an early date to pass
laws to this end and practically the
only hope for immediate action lies
in voluntary aid from private sources,
which will enable those interested
to appeal to the state without de-
mandinR an Appropriation.
ut should not be forgotten that
the Interstate Palisades Park Com
mission and the American Historic
and Scenic Preservation Society have
accomplished a great deal already in
this direction, as well as some of the
patriotic societies which have been
engaged for some ten years in mark
ing with tablets historic sites and
buildings. This work has been of
educational value to the public, and
its real worth is being realized more
fully all the time.
Investigation shows that even
after the duarrymen have been GUST
ed from Hook Mountain they will
have abundant opportunities for
further defacing the beauty of the
Hudson in and about the highlands
district because there is much land
available for quarrying purposes
which they a purchase and which
is not protected by private ownership
or by legislative acts. This reason
alone in the opinion of all interested
In this movement furnishes a suf1-
cient reason for immediate action to
be taken in order to prevent quarry
men on the river. shores for all time.
Let the public take to heart the les
son taught by the destruction of In
dian Head, and bear In mind the fact
that private individuals have already
contributed I'VE half a million dol
lars for the Interstate Palisades Park
project, and that further support will
be given to a greater movement when
it is proved that there is sufficient
ehterprising behind 1t to continue 1t
to. a conclusion. Fol- this purpose
the state legislature is by no means
the helpless. Neither is congress,
for that matter, but | think we all
agree that we New Workers would
rather do ourselves what is to be
done in our own state than to appeal
to the federal government to go out
of its way to make our parks for us"