New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-15
King Otdone Mahomet Brings Mountain His Flat Estate

than a mile. receives Us supply Of vatsr.
From there the water Is sent down over
Dukes Niagara into large lake. and sue
cessiyely into the other lakes and ponds.
As the water system cuts through The
entire park an opportunity was afforded
Dir. Duke 70 set up few marks 10 his
costly IDEAS ~ what rustic bridges should
be Tho smaller cs-and there are eight
OF thcm-werc made OF field stone, after
designs carefully planned 10 produce an
harmonious effect -g.tE tho many structures
OF similar material that have been erecten
IN the park TWO large bridges have been
built Of huge concrete blocks, and each or
them has two dfty-foot arches and one OF
ninety feet The halustrades and ram
parts are deliberately decorated and display
many colored exotic plants.
No detail has been let out to produce tho
effects desired Ly Mr. Duke. powders and
rocks brought from distant places have
been placed with great caro- along the oanks
Of artificial brooks 70 give them the ap-
pearance OF mountain torrents, huge caVe
Invites the exploring spirit Of the mountain
climber who has enough energy left after
scaling the Rockies OF Somcrvle, and the
hunter can stalk deer and moose IN tho
Duke preserves and perhaps catch them
with his bare hands. for they are made OK
cast iron.
Til, residence that Mr.. Duke built tor
himself shortly after hr bought the estate
stands IN the finished part OF the park. GA
ground at Ieas, o hundred feet lower than
his new palace VIII be-. II Is a large and
pretentious structure. but the tobacco mag
the sweeping view that viii be afforded
from the top Of hts mountain ana 50 AZ
soon as the new structure 81 ready tho
"old" residence viii Dor turned into ciuD-
house OF perhaps torn down
Practically al the other buildings Oh the
estate have been completed. They are all
in most careful keeping with the genera
plans Of Mr.. Duke. aud none 81 them has
been designed on an ordinary scale. EYery
thing &. large. imposing. expensive All
BUILDINGS are Of rough field stone. and th~
house OF the superintendent can favoraoly
compare with some Of the cottages N
Newport The COW barn is as imposing an
an armory and The hay barn and othef
farm buildings are monumental structures
Tn&two main roads leading 20 the es-
tate. one from Somerville, the other from
Raritau. pass between stone walls that ara
covered with Crimson Ramoers. The placs
seems ablazc with color. and 10 Is not IN
iii the large, beautifully green lawns coms
/ into view that the whole IS toned down into
/ less barbaric effect.
/ The work is being pressed toward IN
completion az rapidly as Mr. Dukes ire
duent and unexpected changes viii allow.
/ 4 force Of nearly four hundred men viii -
kept busy constantly TO keep the park IN
proper .hape after il BE- completed. InH
I most conservative estimates 0bta!nable put
the cost Of keeping up the finished scheme
AZ $4,000 a year and neighbors are 2'-
ready specializing what VIII happen 10 TO
park after Mr.. Duke ceases 20 be its mas
ter.
The park is TOO far away lrom crowded
centres of population ever 90 become =
nopular place for excursions, and even n
he state og New Jersey should become ii'
owner The cost Of keeping IL UP would 10
almost prohibltve only man ~ 4''
Dukes vast means could really continue
tho Mace Yet Co Mr. Duke his park I'
worth all the money he has put into t. iC
,- bis recreation, hts chief pleasure, an M
anite relief from the worry Of how 10 spend
some OF the surplus millions that the popu-
Iaritv OF tobacco and his grip upon inc m
. dustrv bring annually into his fortune.