Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-24
HUDSON RIVER PARK
Mrs. Harriman's Gift to the
State of New York.
DONATIONS OF WEALTHY
Subscriptions Obtained for Over
$1,500,O0O.
GOV. HUGHES FOR BOND ISSUE
Urges Location of New State Prison
Upon Other Ground Than the
Proposed Tract.
DONATIONS OF WEALTHY
GOV. HUGHES FOR BOND ISSUE

Proposed Tract.
BY WILLIAM F. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK, January %, 1910.
You have doubtless read I'm the daily
dispatches from this city about the SPLEEN
did gift of Mrs Z. H. Hartman of 10, 600
acres of mountain land on the banks of
the Hudson river for park purposes, and
a million dollars cash to care for it. and
the subscription of more than a million
and half of dollars obtained by George
w. Perkins from seventeen rich men and
women that followed it for purchasing an
adjoining tract. And now l hear that the
family of the late Abram S. Hewitt has
agreed to give 5000 acres adjoining the
Hartman tract to the state of New Jer-
sey for a similar purpose, provided the
legislature will make proper provision to
improve and maintain it, AS soon as
such assurance is received, / understand,
the transfer of title will be made to the
state.
The Hewitt land lies in the northern
part Of Passaic county, In the neighDor-
New Jersey and what are known as the
Ramapo mountains. 1t is a wild and
rugged country. Sparsely settled ana al
most completely covered with forests,
which are broken by innumerable lakes
of cool. pure water. This tract, strange
to say. within sight of the roofs of the
skyscrapers Of New York city, is as wild
as any part of the Rocky mountains ana
rises to elevations of one thousand 10
fourteen hundred feet, with the Erie rail-
oil ifc h0nndArE
and the Hudson river on the right.
Land Fit Only for Parks.
There are said to be 125,OOO acres OF this
wild land in the northern part of New
Jersey which has never been occupied
by settlers because the soil is SO poor
that nothing but pine trees and forest
plants will grow there: but it is admira-
blv. adapted to park purposes. and by
building roads and furnishing other Iaclii-
ties 1t can be made one OF the most at
tractive Fairgrounds in the Worio. DC.
fore the revolution it belonged 10 Loro
Stirling. who opened several I,ol, INN, ,,n.
upon the property, but they proved I'M
profitable. and the land was not cohsio-
cred good for anything else
The late E. H. Hartman purchased
10000 or 10000 acres adjoining ms estate
a. Arden near Tuxedo, and before ms
death had expended many thousands OF
dollars in laying roads. 1t was MS iuea
to establish an interstate park on Doth
sides of the boundary line between New
York and New Jersey Seueral seSan
park purposes IL the state OF New jersey
would obtain the adjoining 1000 acres
which belong to the Hewitt and Haml-
ton estates.
This plan was being worked up oS IN. Tue
Joint commission which has saved the
palisades of the Hudson river, opposite
the upper part Of Manhattan Island on
the New Jersey side, and one or the most
attractive pieces of natural scenery IN
the country.
The death of Mr.. Hartman will not in
terfere with the carrying out of his plans,
as has already been shown. because MS
widow has not only been equally inter
ested in the enterprise. but regards 1t as
a sacred privilege and duty to DO what
he would have done had he lived.
Gov. Hughes Recommendation.
Mrs. Harriman's gift was rendered to
Gov. Hughes shortly before the first of
January and was announced by him in
his message to the legislature, with
recommendation for authority to issue
bonds to the amount of 81 10000 to COM
plete and develop park along the west
bank of the Hudson river the entire dis
lance from the New Jersey boundary line
to the city of NeWburg above West Point.
This strip of land will be more than six
ty miles long and will vary from LOO
feet to twelve miles in width, with an
egg-shaped tract of $1,000 acres or more,
about midway opposite Peeksklll. and
twelve miles south Of West Point. 1t
will be the largest and finest park in the
world within the immediate precincts of
great city, and as Gov. Hughes said in
his recent message:
There will at once be appointed
basis not only for necessary conservation,
but for the development of a public recre-
alton ground in a region OF matchless
beauty, rich in historical associations and
close to the abodes of more than half
the people in the state"
Those who are familiar with the topog-
raphy can appreciate the truth of what
Gov. Hughes said when l explain that it
means a continuous park on the west
bank of the Hudson river from Wee
hawken. opposite 42d street. New York,
nearly half way to Albany. Already has
the state, cooperating with the county
authorities, built splendid boulevard as
far north Highland Falls. This is
done under a good roads law passed sew
eral years ago. providing for a general
overhauling of the highways Of the state
and the construction OF new roads under
the direction of state engineers, one-half
of the expense to be paid from the state
treasury and the other half by the tax
payers of the locality benefited This
road. Wnich lies dltHS the rim or the
cliffs overhanging the Hudson river has
already been finished as far north as
Highland Falls. A section of four miles
between West Point and Cornwall which
involves a tunnel 200 feet long. under
Crows Nest and Storm King mountains
around West Point. is estimated to cost
about 800 900. which Is more than the
county authorities can AFFORD. Therefore,
work has been suspended, but It Is ex-
pected that a new survey will be made
to carry the boulevard around the west
side Of the mountain back Of West
Point. and thus reach Newburg.
Saving the Palisades.
Nine years ago an interstate commits
sion was organized by q few patriotic
men and women for the purpose of saw
ing the palisades Of the Hudson a bit
Of scenery which was being blasted away
rapidly for building stone. George F.
Kunz, president of the American Scenic
and Historic Preservation Society, and
George w. Perkins. formerly of Evans
ton ILL.,, and now member of the firm
of j. P Morgan & Co., have been the
moving spirits, and have accomplished
their purpose in the most complete and
satisfactory manner. The first time Mr..
Morgan ever saw his young and active
partner was one morning when Mr. Per-
kins called upon him for a subscription
to aid in the purchase Of the palisades.
usual generous contribution. and Mr..
Perkins went away gratified. A few
months later Mr.. Morgan sent for him
and offered him a partnership In the
most famous private banking house in
the world. j.