Connecticut western news., 1907-12-26
BIG PARK ON HUDSON.
Movement For Creating National
Reserve Along the Highlands.
SCENIC AND HISTORIC SITE.

Tract Suggested Would Include 122
Square Miles on Both Sides of the
River-Government to Be Urged to
Acquire Rugged Mountain Region.
A movement has been started in New
York for the creation of a national
park in the highlands of the Hudson.
says the New York Globe. Heretofore
such parks have been brought into ex-
istence either for scenic or historic rea-
sons, but it is pointed out that both ar
guments are equally applicable to the
plan for the preservation under ma
tional control of the region in question,
inasmuch as it is not only the ground
of some of the most dramatic incidents
of the Revolution, but it is pronounced
by world travellers one of the most
beautiful pieces of river scenery in ex-
istence, The project contemplates set
ting aside as government preserve
about 100 square miles of the most
rugged portion of the mountain region
of the middle Hudson, extending from
Cornwall to Jones Point on the west
bank of the river and from Fishkill to
Peekskill on the east side.
Within this territory is included at
present large amount of land belong
ing to the government, comprising the
West Point reservation and Iona is
land, which Is station Of the navy
department. Most of the land is still
in virgin condition, being heavily
wooded, and practically none of it is
adapted to cultivation. The estates of
several well known men lie within the
territory, among them those of j. Pier
pont Morgan and James Stillman on
the west shore of the river and Stuy-
vesant Fish on the other side. Other
prominent residents of the section are
General Charles f. Roe, John Bigelow
and Professor III. f. Osborn. Only
three villages-Highland Falls, Garri-
son and Cold Spring-lie within the
area which it is proposed to form into
a preserve, and less number of per-
sons would be affected by the adoption
of the plan than by the setting aside
of any similar area almost, anywhere
In the eastern states.
While q considerable amount of mon
Cy NOdl0 DC lCpullCo W Ouy UP Oil thC
land to be included within the pro-
posed park, it would not be necessary
to make the purchase outright, in the
opinion Of DR.. L. L. Partridge of New
York city, one of the men most prom
inently identified with the plan. In
an article which appeared in the Out
look presenting plan for the creation
of a national preserve on the Hudson
DR.. Partridge points out the method
by which this might be accomplished.
1.-The government should obtain" he
says, through condemnation proceed
ings rights or easements in order to
preserve the essentials of park while
diminishing as little as possible the
value of land for villa, private park or
small farm purposes. A highland pre-
serve commission should be created
along the lines of similar bodies, and
to the engineer and proper officers of
this commission there should be given
full authority to prevent the ruthless
cutting of timber which is liable to be
of a character to affect the beauty of
the preserve, and throughout that part
of the region which can be seen by
travellers on the river the officers Of the
commission should have power to pre-
vent the establishment of disfguring
and offensive industries, such as quar-
rying as a business, iron works or
chemical works.
1.-The control of the forestry should
be intelligent, but reasonable. IL Of
proper character, destructive forest
fires would be prevented and the pos
sible future advantage of this region
as watershed would be preserved"
In the past most of the national
parks have been created in the west,
and it is felt by the men behind the
present movement that the west will
be willing to cooperate in securing
this one at least for the east. AS the
Hudson valley is one of the greatest
highways of travel in the country, it
Is pointed out that the preservation Of
the highlands would be to the advan-
tage of the whole country and not
merely to small class or a restricted
locality #-..