New-York tribune., 1909-07-18
TENTTNG ON THE HUDSON.
Campers Under Palisades Find Com
missions Rules Beneficial.


Of toast from the patent toastcr on the oil stove
and set a plate Of fried eggs the end of the
table. He beckoned TO his visitor 10 take
seat on the end Of the neghbOrInE cot. The
oldest inhabitant" suggested Achilles in o'-e
respect at least. He in a tent. He was
unlike him in another. however in that he was
not sulking. On the contrary, his eyes fairly
beamed as he glanced through his gold trimmed
glasses. He did not look like the traditional
oldest iahabitant" as he glanced out the
tumbled waters OF the Hudson, and would not
ordinarily have been taken for such, for he
could not have been more than twenty-four OF
twenty-five years old. He was simply the oldest
inhabitant of the colony of campers at the foot
Of the Palisades upon which the visitor had
CHANGED to drop in his search for information
regarding the opportunities for the camper on
the west bank Of the Hudson Having first
visited the shelving beach five or six years ago,
before 1t became so popular. he was looked upon
the wellspring Of information regarding its
history. and the visitor had been conducted TO
his tent Immediately upon landing and making
his desires known.
The oldest inhabitant" apologized for eating
in the presence of visitors by explaining that il
was his first meal for the day I'VE get
time from the boats going up and down the
river, and the day boats don't go up until after
o'clock, It's stricter here than it used TO be-"
he continued THE newspapers have said
much about camping here that the Palisades
Interstate Park Commission has had limit the
length Of time a camper can stay. No can
camp now without a permit from the commits
sion The permit limits him in the things he
can do. He cannot keep a dog or firearms,
is he permitted TO sell anything He cannot
place his tent within one hundred yards Of
occupied house. and tent occupied by women
OF children must be at least twenty-five feet
from any other tent. The camper must keep
his place sanitary and neat in appearance. He
must be careful about fires. and he is not al
lowed 20 deface the scenery. The permit is good
for four weeks only. that the number Of those
who can enjoy the privilege is much larger than
ii used 10 be. There are five six hundred
tents along the shore Of the park now"
Does the camper always go when his permit
has expired? Is there any effort to enforce the
regulations?"
THE camper who tries 70 overstav his time is
hooded" replied the oldest inhabitant." TAX
ing slice Of toast There are several patrol
men under the direction Of the marshal. who go
UP and down the shore three times a day The
marshal knows when a permit has expired. II
the camper does not go the tent is pulled down
on top OF him We call 1t hoodling' He's
hooted out, TO speak. The patrolrnen are
strict They look over the tents when they go
past on their first round IF they see paper
empty bottles lying around they warn the Of
fender. Il they find the debris on the second
round they take more forcible measures. From
time to time the marshal orders inspection
That means that the camper has 10 show
whether he is complying with the regulations
regarding sanitation or not. It's all TO the good,
though: it's a good deal better than it was last
year, when the whole waterfront Uttered
with garbage glass; tin cans and other stuff. and
the springs we're in bad condition This year
barrels have been sunk in the springs. and the
patroImen clean them out frequently"
Where do you get your supplies?"
"A good many get their stuff at the grocery
stores on DycI1nan street, in Manhattan. but il
any one runs short he walk back to Engle-
wood OF Coytesville. They only about TWEEN
tv minutes walk from here When campers
coDId stay all summer there were more families
than now Then they used to como over and
live all summer. About three-quarters Of the
campers now are men, largely unmarried men
There are q number Of college boys, young busi-
ness men and young surveyors employed by the
city. Up at Hermit's Point are a good many
members Of canoe clubs
How do you get permit TO camp?"