New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-31
WATKINS GLEN IN POLITICS.
Democrats Needed 1t in Their Business
Hence a New Special Commission.

on the last dav Of the recent session the
Legislature passed bill. which the Cover
nor signed, creating a special commission
for the care OF Watkins Glen. Hitherto the
Glen has been In the custody OF the Amer
lean Scenic and Historic Preservation So
ciety. It's committee in charge consisting OF
Dean Liberty II. Bailey. Of Cornell Unive~-
sity, Ithaca; Dr.. Charles Delamater Vail,
OF Hobart College. Geneva; James b. Rath-
bone Of Elmira: Charles NJ Woodward and
John A Clute. Of Watkins, and Colonel
Henry ". Sackett, Of New York, chairman.
The Watkins Express Of August l6 throws
light on the change in the following article:
The Watkins Glen state Reservation.
comprising some hundred acres of land and
embracing the world famous Glen named
in the utle, was purchased in 1906 and
placed under the jurisdiction of the Amer
lean Scenic and Historic Preservation so
Cietv, as are most OF the state parks and
reservations. Under the efficient manage
ment Of the society, and especially through
the untiring efforts of Colonel Henry W.
Sackett. OF New York chairman Of The
Glen Reservation committee, Attorney
G.. " Woodward. secretary, john J..
Van Pelt, architect, and John r.. Frost,
superintendent the Glen has become among
the first OF the world scenic wonders
When purchased by the state It's one-time
y
ny nortgaged and practically abandoned
Everything was iu a tumble down COndi-
ton bridges were rotten ana unsafe ana
the paths covered with debris Daring the
five years the Glen has been under the So
cietV's mana gement no less than twenty
difficult engineering teats nave Jeen sue
cessfullv completed, besides innImerable
small improvements. Among tile most
difficult of the problems 10 be solved was
the construction of the two main tunnels.
the first a the entrance, the Otner at CAV
ern Cascade. just completed this spring
The completion Of the latter has established
without a doubt the fact of Superintendent
Frosts efficiency. When bids we're adNer-
tsed for the work no contractor would
ACCEPT the Job within the appropriation AZ
lowed Mr. Frost was then ordered to
build the tunnel. and has completed II Tor
less than the original figures.
The society has ever been dppreGauNe OF
the work OF its superintendent. ana the
neOule of the state have been ably mi .ni-
nartiaIv served by both No breath Of
suspicion has ever attached 10 the acts OF
emplOVe or employer No one mas ever
questioned the wisdom Of manag ment IN
either The entire work Of reconstruction
has been practically completed. and AT no
time has politics been factor or political
patronage been considered, until the Mur-
uhv-Gurnett bill was passed IN the Legs
lature and signed by the Governor taxing
tho stIDervision Of the Glen from the hands
~ tho American Scenic and Historic So
ciety and placing In I'm the hands 1f local
commission, who make no claim 20 2
stronger interest I'm the Glen than political
nstronage. Assemblvmau Gurnett boasts
10 his friends that the passage OF the oll
is his greatest personal triumph. ana
nroof that he gets from Murphy anything
he asks for The best interests m hoth
bouses both Democratic and Republican,
vyere strongly in opposition 20 the bill only
after IL had been made a strictly party meas
ure were a sufficient number OF woes Sc
cured for it's passage. To ID" Elct0r De
LONGS the suoils' seems the only Demo
80. slogan. and they have the courage
~ their convictions Put fl seems unjust
70 the men who have made watkins Flen
rrbat A. is who have wrought perfection
rom rtin. and 10 whom The work mas nor nor
boen inst lob but profession. 10 when
-, b,,iId and beautifv has been tho first
consideration. II mismanagement was even Yen
charged: n the results accompnshe.a n par.
80 been beyond tho highest expectation
then there might be an excuse Tor "a Gna1 nl.i
r2ut I'VE need 70 In our business rs me on.
a,c,,se offered by Assemblyman Gurnett
and his political allies ...i-,,,,,
The loss IS not 90 those VINO are IrtiI me
b,1+ n the people who pay the taxes ana
patrOniZc the Glen.