New-York tribune., 1909-09-28
STATES RECEIVE PARK
HUGHES And FORT SPEAK
Palisades Turned Over to Ne7v YOrh.
and Ne7u Jersey.

Palisades Interstate Park, tnat picturesque strip
of high bluffs which skirts the west bank of the
Hudson River from Piermont. n. Y, 20 Fort Lee
n. j. formally given over 20 the people OF
New York and New Jersey yesterday by the Joint
commission which for the last nine years has Ia
bored SO hard 10 rescue this beautiful stretch Oi
park land from threatened destruction. The
monies held at Alpine Landing opposite
Yonkers at the house which General CORVALLIS
used as his headquarters in the Revolutionary
War Many members of patriotic societies were in
the big stand Governor Hughes OF New York and
Governor Fort New Jersey formally accepted
the park on behalf of the people of their
spective states. The completion of the plan was
made possible only n week ago. when Mr.. and Mrs
H. Mckay Twombly presented to the commission
sixty acres of land. valued at sl250Io
Governor Hughes reached the landing on the
Gloucester, manned by the New York Naval Re
serve, having his guests Goverr.,r Fort and his
staff and Colonel Edwin Stevens. .airrnan of the
New Jersey commission. George w. Perkins.
chairman of tife New York commission brought
up q number of guests or his yacht. the Watrus,
among them the members OF the joint commission.
Senator Howard r. Boyne. of New York: Senator
Edmund w. Wakelee. OF Bergen County r. j. in
which county the greater part OF the park is sit
uated: Cleveland FL. Dodge and George F. Kunz.
president Of the American Scenic and Historic
Preservation Society. who took the place of Gen
eral Stewart L. Woodford. who unable. be
present.
Colonel Stevens presided at the ceremonies. and
he and all the rest of the speakers had words of
praise for Mr.. Perkins for his diligent efforts TO
bring to successful elimination dream of the
last fourteen years The Rev. Howard c. Robbins
delivered the invocation, and MIR. Perkins gave a
history OF the work from the time the movement
started in 1895 up TO the present time. He
told of the zeal shown by the New Jersey State
Federation of Womens Clubs to keep up interest in
the project. and of the generosity of j. Pierpont
Morgan. who. when s125.0O0 was needed in 1900 20
buy up the quarres In order to stop the blasting.
oprar bura rha er,ffr
The cost OF the park he said. about $780,
900. TO which added donations. aside from the
Twomby gift of Mrs. Lydia G.. Lawrence. of Pali-
sades. n. T.. land and right Of way to the value
of about SO. .500 Cleveland H. Dodge. of New York
City, land and riparian rights the value of about
$4,000: a member of the commission. $4,000.
Mr.. Perkins also made the interesting remark that
the personal expenses OF the commission during the
nine years of it's existence were only S45T %. Mr.
Perkins said that there should be driveway the
entire length of the base of the cliffs. from Fort
Lee to PiermOnt. AT the instance of Senator
wakeee a bill TO bring this about was passed by
! the last New Jersey Legislature. but the New York
| lawmakers did not look so kindly on a similar
measure. introduced by Senator Bayne.
Governor Hughes made strong plea for the
conservation OF all the land on the west bank OF
the Hudson TO be used vast playground for
the increasing population the opposite shore.
He urged that the river so far as possible. should
be kept free from pollution and not permitted 20
| become mere sewer.
Mr.. Kunz spoke In eulogistic terms OF the COM
mission and those who aided H. suggesting that the
proposed road be called Morgan Boulevard and the
different landings be named for the members OF
the commission and their helpers.
Governor Fort said he wanted to commend all
that Governor Hughes had said on the publication
| OF the rivers Of the two states He said:
believe that large sums would have been saved
our no,en S1sss of Oou our rveT az least large PART OF
\ the expense 10 which We are now put.
He also urged the erection of tablets TO COM
menorate historic events and characters.