New-York tribune., 1909-09-22
HOLIDAY CROWDS HERE
TURONG RTVERSIDE DRIVE
Pie5c Foreign WarShips and the Cify
in Gala Dress.

Advance crowds OF the thousands q visitors that
VIII view the Hudson Fulton celebration poured
into Manhattan in greater numbers yesterday and
by their sightseeing and holiday making almost
gave the impression that the 'bg show had start
ed. New York itself is contributing toward the
same impression by its decorations. both on city
and county public buildings and private places
Of business and homes
Revised "spies'' the order among the mega
phone men the sightseeing automobiles. In
stead Of the familiar ION your left you the
tomb or General Grant the attention Of the visi-
tors is directed to the cty's preparations for its
festal week Extra excursion trains on all the rail
roads coming into the city bringing bigger
crowds daily and baggage and express shipments
are keeping busy the double shifts of
Practically all the public decorations have been
completed ON such structures the City Hall,
the Brooklyn Bridge. the Riverside Drive viaduct
and even the still uncumpleted Manhattan Bridge.
flags and bunting and electric lights have been
strung and tested. Private buildings trihe
backward In blossoming out in their colors, some
holding back TIL the last minute. account of
the possibility Of bad weather before the gala
day, although many others have already put their
decoratio on display.
Above most Of the hotels flags of various foreign
nations are TO he seen. indicating the presence of
some Of the delegates to the celebration from for
eign shores. over the Hotel Astor the Governors
nag announces that Governor Hughes and his family
have taken their quarters and are ready for the
opening ceremonies.
Riverside Drive and Park. with Fifth avenue are
the meccas OF the advance visitors. Owing to the
rush of work going forward the latter thor
oughfare, the crowds larger the West Side
show place. At the Fifth avenue court OF honor
the scaffoldng is coming down frcm the south end
and work is being pushed fast possible tow
ard the 42d street end.
Also. along Fifth avenue other crowds of work
demanding space and thereby sending these
early visitors toward other sections of the city.
These the workmen recently engaged In the
street widening there who arc endeavOring 10
sidewalk and roadway before the immense throngs
of the three great land parades arrive.
To the Riverside Drive and Park OF the
early visitors brought field glasses and cameras.
The fortunate possessor of the former is hourly
becoming OF moro importance, the great
ships swing anchor I'm the river. Along the
Drive yesterday Mr. Know-It-All carrying =
pair OF field glasses, was continual source ot
amusement and entertainment to passersby. lie
would study a hattleship through his glass and
then. being well instructed by previous careful
perusal of his official progrs mme. would announce
with conviction the name, nationality and tonnage
Of the boat, together with the name Of the com
mander, whom he would invariably see tho
bridge.
Policemen are appearing along the Drive in in
cressiug numbers Yesterday they We're so thick
n bA each in sight of the next from
I'D street north 10 145th street Signal stations
with small platforms the roofs have been
built frequen, intervals along that section also
for the Of the signal corps of the national
FUaUd. which via cooperate with the police the
Drive the day Of the naval parade.
Al The 10th street pier the official reviewing
stand for the features Of the celebration Is
being rushed n completion. and with the exception
Of the two tall white columns, almost ready
yesterday.
Shore parties of sailors from the French and
Dutch ships, now anchored in nidstream of River
side Park, interested the crowds greatly. The
French sailors, il noticed did not go much
further than Broadway and 72d street but the
exploration that characterized Henry Hudson, for
they We're 10 be found in small groups. and even
slngly, al through tbs lower part of the business
sections, though they came ashore at the
dock, At 18th street, did the French jacSies-
Brooklyn's preparations for the celebration were
announced completed yesterday They include
among other features the decoration and illumina-
ton Of the Crescent Athletic Club, where the Half
Moon and the Clermont will be officially received
by the borough. and the lighting of two miles of
the Shore Drive by powerful calciums placed AT
intervals Of $50 feet
Sixteen thousand free seats on the park property
along Shore Drive form a notable feature OF the
Brooklyn preparations. From these. which will he
for the public, come first served the repet;-
tons Of the Manhattan land and water parades wiz
be viewed. Preparations have also been completed
for the international reception and ball to foreign
diEnitaries and officers Of the American fleet which
viii be held the Brooklyn Academy of Music on
September 90