The sun., 1910-05-23


lature in spite of the opposition Of Odel
Senators and the friends in the Legis.
laiurs of tho trap rock dealerA But
when they went 10 buy up the quArnes
they were asked 10 pay ridiculous prices
The quary-men wanted az first $1,000 on
for their holdings They came down bii
hy bit until finally the commission was
abe 10 buy the holdings for siSSOO. The
10000 appropriated by the State and a
Iift Of Si25.OOO by j. 2. Morgan made up
the amount.
All blasting along the Palisades stopped
on Christmas eve. 1900. New York ap-
propriated 1900 and New Jersey $1,000
for acquiring all title along tho face of
the Palisades, and IN september. 1909.
the joint commission was able to report
that the Palisades from Fort Lee 20 Pier
mont. a distance Of fourteen miles. be-
longed TO the people forever. It's a
thin strip. just wide enough % protect
the face Of the Palisades. hut when the
commission undertook a survey oi the
rock nbbon they were surprised 90 find
that in place oi the Palisades presenting
. perpendicular face. az most people
bad thought there were about SOO acres
Of land suitable for park purposes al the
foot Of tho cliffs and that there were about
q dozen places az the foot which lent
themselves very easily a. landing places
from which the 500 acres could be reached
PERMITS FoR PALISADES CAMPS.
That gave the commissioners a new
idea. The rocky eminences and the
wooded ground al their base seemed such
q, fine place for little journeys into the
wilderness and for camping purposes
that thay began 20 lst people know what
they were missing by not spending a
few days in the region getting a taste Of
outdoor life. The Palisades were rarely
visited and were practically unknown
exoept from a distance ten years ago
when tho commission took up its work.
But after the blasting erased and the
cliffs were made somewhat accessible
psople from New York and New Jeresy
began 20 enjoy the beautiful new park.
In the summer Of 1905 the commission
issued twenty-five permits for people To
camp on the Palisades. The camping
parties were made up usually Of folks
Of small means who wanted 70 live out
doors for a few days in the summer.
rOughing il within an hour OF New York
city or Jersey City.
The next year 22i permits were issued
In 1907 SOS parties were authorized TO
camp on the Palisades. In iSOs there
were 100 permits. while last year the COM
mission issued l.2OO permits and about
5000 people were enabled 70 take advan-
tage Of the privilege.
This year the commission expects 20
issue perhaps 1000 permits. allowing. per-
hars. s.O0O people TO camp. But tho space
is limited comparatively and the COM
mission quickly came TO another new
idea. the necessity for more park ground in
connection with the fourteen miles strip.
ground which would bs even more suta-
bic than the Palisades front. wilder and |
more beautiful even. and where there
would he room for 10000 people or even
more. They began 70 look around and /
20 plan how the nark could he enlarged. |
MRs HARRIMAN's GREAT dIFT.
Mrs. Harrimans offer of 81 .OoO on in |
cash and 1000 acres Of land IN ROckland .
county gave impetus 10 the greater Pali-
tadss Park plan.
up 70 io0o the commission had one sole 4
object. said Mr. Perkins. to preserve .
and acquire the face of the Palisades. |
This has nov been Accomplished. The /
cliffs have been surveyed and made more
accessible. A footpath extending from
Fort Lee 70 Alpine. seven miles. has been
bum. The property has been policed and
protested
In all IT'S parcels of land were acquired. /.
Including twenty-one homesteads or resi-
denoes, which are still occupied for a
normal rental. Good landing places were
secured az the Fort lee dock. Carpenters
quarry dock, Englewood dock. Van
Wagoners dock Lafan A Reeds dock.
Brown 4 Fleming's quarry dock. Huy-
hers landing. Alpine. Pearsalls dock.
Jordans dock. R!vervew Grove. Forest
View dock and Twombv's dock. all ac-
ceWlble 20 campers and picnickers.
The commission has come now % ap- \
prsciats the vast benefits that can
accrue n the millions u people living
10 such close proximity % this absolutely
unique piece Of territory. and now that
The task Of saving and acquiring the Pali-
sades has been accomplished the Com
miasioners intend b devote their eforts.
with the permission uf their respective
States and the public. % a fuller deye-
opuaent II the park There should b. a
driveway tho entire length Of the base
of the cliffs from Fort Lee q Piermont.
7 his would make the park accessible from
ell points 10 everybody and would make a
most natural and perfect outlet from the
city Of New York 10 the good roads that
are being laid out m the State of New Yol
AT the time when the Commissioners
were discussing ways and means for an
e1tsnsiOR that would carry out their ideas
Mrs. Hartman came forward with an
offer % the State through Gov. Hughes
of 81 OO.O0O m money and lO.GGl acres
of forest and mountain land Edward
II. Hartman had been keenIv Interested
N the proposition 20 establish a great
interstate paTk, and Mrs Hartman
Wg4 no eEs q friend Di the project Z hon
Mr.. Morgan offered Si1lOO. John 10
Rockefeller told 10 he was ready 10 ,d.
vance sJ'D.UN more Contributions were
made by Henry Phiprs Mrs Russell
Sage. James StIilman trauk T. Muu4sv
Nniam X Vanderbilt William Rock.
ie1er George : Paker ant uthers-
Mr.. Fer ins vas himself large sub.
scriher. although he iid G1' include lis
mare 20 the llst be recalled Yesterday
afternoon.
NEw JERSEYS CoNDItIoNAL GIFr.
These contributions hs continued