New-York tribune., 1908-11-09
GATEWAY OF NATIONS
Cdptain j. II. Miller Suggests Great
Permanent Memorial.


The con,nenoration of the discovery Of the Hud-
son River
The celebration Of the application Of steam by
Fulton TO marine purposes
The return OF the North Atlantic feet from Ls
voyage around the world
Three OF the events have had 4 direct bearing
upon the development of sea power The nrst an
indirect effect for BY Lincoln liberty became fact
through our land. and since 1855 the oppressed or
the nations as never before have crossed the ocean
and entered the stream discovered by Henry Hud-
upon steamers propelled by Fultons invention
The immigrants and their sons have increasingly,
year by year. eastward the products of the
West 10 be loaded in vessels from this great port
It remained for France to emphasize this fact by
placing a monument the gateway 10 the Ameri-
can continent, and it is the duty Of New York to
supplement the Statue Of Liberty with another me-
mortal in keeping with the improved condition OF
adopted races To-day, at once without loss Of
time is the opportunity presented to lay the plan
for some noble scheme. worthy of the centennials
before US. Heretofore with narrowness beltttling
our metropolis OUT celebrations have in genera
been passing show Hereafter they should
leave some lasting impression
Out from this developed land Of ours, over the
seven seas sailed a few months ago the great
steam fleet of the United States, manned by the
descendants of those countries which have given
the navy such a royal reception A. what fitting
spot on the shore is New York prepared 10 receive
the returning ships2 or. what is more important
welcome the squadrOnS, which viii undoubtedly
be sent 10 return the visit OF our vessels during
the Hudson Fulton exercises OF next September
With a waterfront Of more than hundred miles
greater New York there IS 1T landing place
where the representatives OF foreign powers accreo-
tied 10 this country during international naval
function could be welcomed. wharves or piers
for the exclusive use Of the crews Of modern men
of-war as a stepping stone from sea to land.
Civic pride-nay. more. patriotism and hospt-
tality demand proper riverside entrance place
#
locality needed for commerce. stn it should be
made Fortunately II does rot The natural SPOT
for what may be termed the official water gate
is the Battery. But the congestion Of lower Man
haitian forbids that locality. The memorial must
be placed where the people young and old, con-
gregate during their hours OF leisure, free from
care, with minds open absorb the ideal and the
beautiful. It's site requires space FOR the
sembly OF large bodies of troops with the least
interference 10 the transaction of business II
must be close TO the man-of-war anchorage while
still near the local arteries Of traffic Il should
combine all the requisite natural features essen
tial to give dignity both from land and water II
should have sufficient undeveloped area for +he
growth Of the design in the future
We have a spot fulfilling all these requirements
uniTnproved, rugged. yet ready small cost 10
be quickly developed into least a beginning
toward the desired end-a spot which IN time
b. made a glory 10 the nation and 70 The city
It is the immediate waterfront on the Hudson
on the upland lies Riverside Park, with IN
rtvaued view Of the Palisades and OF the winding
stretches of stream north and south. Below on
the bank Of the river is a wide, unredeemed strip
Of shore
The right exists to fill this up to the govern
mental waterline. several hundred feet beyond
the present bank. The waste material, now be
ing towed in scows 10 sea at large expense. can
be economically used 10 reclaim the land and ill
the shadows, the only cost 10 the city being
1frf1+ have an
enlargement of the park system of many acres,
giving our people access to the river and all its
acconapa nying pleasures mile in length would
also be added for the occasional reception of our
distinguished guests.
Ornitting for the present the question Of the ut-
mate design. it is manifest that something must
he done at onCe in view OF the present needs Of
the coming year. Therefore. the efforts of the
city and the associations interested in Hudson and
Fulton should first be concentrated upon the
space between 117th and 115th streets. 4 tenn
poraTv retaining wooden wall on the bulkhead line
must be driven. behind which be dumped the
piles OF dirt lying at various points along the
New York Central Railroad and the excavation
material daily Carred to barges az 5th street
Thus by next summer ccnmodIous landing
rreca v,orId he formed while tenporary bridges
and decorations can be quickly put I'D for the
water and land pageant proposed as one Of the
principal features Of the Hudson Fulton centeh-
nfaL
ing no. u
question OF the character and type Of the pern1a-
ren- memorial we find various enthusiastic asso-
Citations al work to-day for their pet schemes. GO
Iur7bia University has an enabling act from ll@
Legislature 10 build q stadium north OF I4oh
,-ea+- the Fulton Monument Associa ton another
- -. . r,a sar gate opposite that thorOughfare,
certain gentlemen prominent in marine affairs are
looking for site for a nautical museum, archltects
are nresenttng plans for beautfyng the neighoof-
hood the school ship Of the city needs perha-
0T
,o,,sA5 at 9Th street old hulk though legally
+t.1a5 70 waterfront arTnory. Yacht clubs. IN
napproachable qua rters. are asking for better IA
ciIi+tss excursion steamers now using WharVes nee
essarv for commerce, have no piers close 10 ll-
aonle waiting in the parks for Whit Of fresh air
on the water: the navy is inquirtng why New YORK
- .r,t INADEQUATE means of approach Here, as
in HaVuort and other cities, the government would
ba generous enough 70 spend moderate amount
70 help abate the local Inconvenience 10 our own
and foreign fleets
The time is therefore ripe TO concentrate ali these
rzrfo,1s agencies and influences upon some well di-
easted comprehensive plan which shall be artis-
+icaIlv and architecturaIy perfect. We have now
fortuna teIv Mayor who possesses the instruction
and taste necessary for such enterprise. as Well
M +r ,ovrer TO carry Il into effect As head Of the
mark dock and other departments. and, ex-ofhcio'
member of the associations which celebrate IN
1909 he has all that is requisite 70 unite these IN
forests and leave a gateway of the nations on the
Iou-er Riverside Drive legacy Of his admins
tratton. our great general lies in his tomb upon
the hilton: near by is the monument 10 bis Sol
diers. 5etweel let us place statue TO him whose
wisdom and patience brought both peace and I'D
ertv Let Lincoln face colossal water gate
through which in the nearer foreground. his eyes
ill forever rest upon the men who added 10
Americas greatness upon the while mis- further
psze Is 4xed upon the West. the land he loved now
become q world power. ]. ". MILLER
New York, Nov. ., 1905