Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-27
MANY ACRES OF PARK
Palisades Purchased by New
York and New Jersey.
WEST BANK OF HUDSON
Outing Place With Beautiful Boule'
ward Driveway.
STATES PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Ground Cost 1927 900 and Comprises
''LittIe World Of Almost
Virgin Nature
WEST BANK OF HUDSON
STATES PLAN DEVELOPMENT

NEW YORK, September 27.-Fourteen
years of unremitting efforts to save the
beautiful palisades of the west bank of
| the Hudson river from destruction by
| blasting were crowned with success to-
day when the completion of the purchase
of the entire strip of palisades from Fort
Lee, \. j., to Piermont. n. Y, was an
| nounced This strip of land and pre-
cipitous cliff, fourteen miles long, consti-
tutes one of the most picturesque bits of
scenery in the state, and under the plan
by which the work of redemption has
been accomplished it will become the Pail
sades Interstate Park.
1t comprises TOO acres of level land, Civ
ing opportunity for beautiful boule-
ward drive along the base of the cliff and
splendid opportunities for camping and
other recreation to the millions of per-
sons huddled in the tenements of New
York and nearby cities. One of the
achievements remaining to be accom-
pliShed Is the building of this proposed
drive along the river ledge at the base of
the cliff. connecting New York by the
Fort Lee ferry with the good roads Of
the west bank of the Hudson.
Park Cost 1927 900.
The cost of the park is about $627 .OOO,
of which 500, 600 was paid by the states
of New York and New Jersey and $125 900
by contribution of J. Pierpont Morgan.
The acquisition of the property compos-
ing the park and the discontinuance of
the work of destruction by blasting. which
was rapidly in progress, have been ac-
George W. Perkins of New York was
president Mr.. Perkins today, in making
his report, says the first tangible at
tempt to save the palisades was made
in 1895, when the United States govern
ment was asked to take them for mill
| tary purposes. This plan failed, but the
| New Jersey State Federation Of Women S
Clubs took up the fight with enthusiasm,
and the result of its active campaign
| ing was the appointment of committees
| by Cows Roosevelt of New York and
voorhees, of New Jersey to investigate the
opportunities of protecting the palisades.
These committees recommended and
| the legislatures of New York and New
Jersey authorized, in 1860. a permanent in
tertstate park commission. AS appointed
| by the governors named the commission
was composed of George w. Perkins, j.
Du Pratt White. Ralph Trautmann, ID.
McNeely Stauffer and Nathan F. Barrett,
| representing New York. and Abram S.
Hewitt Edwin A. Stevens, Franklin w.
| Hopkins, William A. Linn and Abram De
Ronde, representing New Jersey. The
places left vacant by the deaths of Mr..
Hewitt and Mr. Trautman were filled by
the appointment of William B. Dana and
William H. Porter.
Expense Fund Provided.
For expenses the two states gave the
commission when first appointed $1,000.
The commissioners found its most diff
ficult problem at the outset was to stop
the work of destruction. Wisely. it de-
| termined to pay $4,000 Of it's expense
| fund for options on the quarries which
were destroying the beauty of the pail
sades, and then to attempt to purchase
$4,000. This sum was to be raised
by popular subscription, and after that
the commission estimated that the 700
acres of level land at the base of the
cliffs could be purchased at an eXpendi-
ture by the two states Of soO0,9OO. Today
the commission had the pleasure of re-
porting that it had accomplished its OBJ
ject within the estimated sum.
With the payment of the option all
blasting ceased on Christmas eve of 1900
The S]25,OOO necessary to buy the quar-
rfes was offered voluntary contribu-
ton by j. Pierpont Morgan, and CRATE
fully accepted. The legislature of New
York appropriated S4JO,OOO and that of
New Jersey $4,000 FOR the purchase of
the land. Since then New York has given
for expenses 10000, and New Jersey ST.
OOOO. This has been spent in the actual
work of acquiring and improving tine
property. The personal expenses of the
commissioners have amounted to s437.
Mr.. Twombly's Contribution.
The commission, however, would not
have been able to announce the compile
ton Of the purchase at this time had 1t
not been for the gift by Mr. Hamilton
NICK. Twombly of sixty acres of land
and riparian rights valued at $4,000,
which had been used as a recreation spot
for the poor of New York, which use
Will continue, under the agreement of the
commission. Valuable gifts of land and
| money were also made by Mrs Lydia
G: Lawrence and Cleveland Fl. Dodge.
In commemoratDn of the work for
palisades preservation accomplished b..
the Federation of Womens Clubs of New
Jersey and in honor of the public spirit
ed men and women Of both states in this
cause reservation has been preserved on
a commanding bluff for the erection OF a
monument from funds contributed by
their friends.
During the years which have elapsed
while the property was. being acquired
the increasing value of the palisades park
as a recreation ground for the people OF
New York and neighboring cities has been
shown by the growing number OF permits
to camp on the park lands issued by the
commissioners. Last summer about 5000
campers enjoyed tneSe privileges.
Development Plans.
Mr.. Perkins, in summing up the work
of the commission today said: Now that
the task of saving and acquiring the pail
sades has been accomplished the commits
sioners intend to devote their efforts, with
the permission Of their respective states
and the public, to fuller development of
the park. There are now driveways down
the cliffs at Englewood and Alpine. There
should be driveway the entire length
Of the base of the cliffs, from Fort Lee
to Piermont.
This would make the park accessible
from all points for all classes and would
make the most natural and perfect out
let from the city OF New York to the
good roads that are being laid out in the
state Of New York.
THE surveys and sketches which the
commission has had made in this connec-
ton show that a driveway of this kind
could be built that, for picturesaueness,
could scarcely be equaled anywhere in
the world.
Bit Of Nature Wild.
Here within actual sight of our great