New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-27
TIME SOUNDS DOOM
Of OLD FORT HORN
Ledue in MorningSide Park on
Which Fertilization Stands
Is CrumbIing Away.
DATES FROM WAR OF 1872
Columbia Students Helped Build
1t, and Report of Two Profess
sors of That University May
Mean It's Destruction.

Time and not implements Of warfare
bas,siened the doom Of old Fort Horn, at
tie northern end Of Morningside Park
overlooking l2Sd street. 1t was once
part OF the citys Qualifications against
British invasion OF Manhattan island
The stone tower is a counterpart OF the
blockhouse in Central Park and In recent
years has been zealously watched over
by citizens who wanted TO preserve an
other of the objects Of historical signin-
canoe in New York that are gradually
thinning out.
Fort Horn. 10 all intents. must go. so-
cordiuR TO Park Commissioner Slower.
who has no desire TO obliterate II, but IN
the present perilous state OF the ledge on
which II stands the interests OF tho COM
rnunlty demand that II be taken apart
or destroyed entirely.
A few weeks ago the ledge on which tho
fort rests began crumblins away. Com
missioner Slower asked two Of the pro-
fessors OF the department OF geology In
Columbia University TO examine the ledge
Whole Ledge Might Give Way.
'T have Just received the report from
Professors Berkey and Johnson said the
Commissioner yesterday, "and they tell
me that the rock is so badly assured that
the removal OF any part Of the face OF 1t
might loosen all OF IL and the whole ledge
give way. I wanted TO have the best IN
formation obtainable, and so L requested
that these biologists make such an In
vestlgation. II is pity 10 destroy the
fort. but Il looks at the present time as II
that were the only way out Of the mat
ter
Tho Commissioner is now having an en-
rineer survey the ledge TO see how much
Of the fort would have 10 be cut away u
the ledge were shaved off flush with the
sidewalk line.
Il shall await the report OF the en-
glneer before making any further move
IN the matter" declared the Park Com
missioner.
The blasting for the aqueduct under
Morningside Park IL is believed, has had
much TO dc with loosening the rock, and
this IS also thought TO be the cause OF
loosening the rock in the natural stone
bridge over the 18th street transverse
ROAD in Central Park.
Edward Hagaman Hail. Of the Ameri-
can Scenic and Historic Prese walton So
ciety, suggested yesterday that IL II were
really necessary TO demolish the fort the
stones from 81 should be erected in the
form Of monument near the present
site in the park, and the bronze tablet
now attached TO one Of the walls OF the
fort placed on the monument.
Il hope If Il has to broken up that
that viii be the method Of preserving its
identity FOR the future" said Mr.. Hall
81 think Park Commissioner Slower will
do everything he can to preserve II If
possible and that he will find some means
Of saving a part OF II anyway"
Erected During War Of 1912.
Er Hall explained that Fort Horn was
one Of a number Of Notifications erected
during the War Of 1872 The blockhouse
IN Central Park is another one OF the
chain.
While the opinions Of two Of Columbia's
faculty may mean the doom of the old
fort, strange TO say, It was built through
the cooperation of one hundred students
OF Columbia and other persons In this
city. The students marched IN a body
from the campus, then at College Place.
10 l23d street. Others went there by
ferry.
The Committee OF Defence which was
formed here, and which was instrumental
IN having Fort Horn and the other forts
erected for the defence of the city. was
headed by Mayor Dewitt Clinton. Among
his assistants were Nicholas Fish and
Henry Rutgers.
There was danger OF invasion OF the
city from the northern end OF Manhattan