Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1916-07-15
Henry Hudson
Boulevard Is a
Thing of Beauty

AsttltS VI OCuuly
The completion of a short section
of the Henry Hudson Boulevard along
the west bank of the Hudson river
gives an idea of the great scenic
beauty of that wonderful driveway
when it is finished. At the present
time there is about mile or more
finished north of Englewood Cliffs
ferry, though the layout of the road
way is started some seven miles still
farther north. While it it in no con-
dition for comfortable automobile or
carriage driving, one may go as far
north as opposite Yonkers, nearly to
Alpine.
The engineering complexities of
the driveway down to the ferry in
Englewood Cliffs were remarkable,
but they are as nothing compared
with the difficulties encountered fur,
Their on. This ferry roadway, by the.
way, cost nearly $35O,OO0 If the
Henry Hudson Boulevard is finally
completed beyond Alpine up to New
berg, it will be the most wonderful
piece of scenic roadway in all
America, and one Of the most beauti-
full in all the whole world. The
Palisades rise to tremendous
heights to the north of Coytesville,
and at some points appear to be from
1000 to 1900 feet high. They look
even higher, whether one views them
from directly underneath or from the
very crest. Just north of Yonkers is
perhaps the most intense and pre-
cipitous stretch of the Palisades, and
their rugged and formidable sides
fairly appal one at their majestic
size and appearance. Like some huge,
impossible barricade, they rise above
the river like long continued Glib
raltar, and the eye feasts upon them
in wonderment and admiration.
N II. u. -
l am satisfied in my own mind that
few people really understand and ap-
preciate the Palisades as a great
curiosity in nature for the very rea-
son that there has heretofore been
no adequate way of getting into such
intimate touch with them as at pres
ent. The Henry Hudson Boulevard
is sure to be a revelation to the
world when it is finished. At their
best great regiment of men could
not possibly finish this tremendous
undertaking for several years. The
few miles of rough grading that has
already been done is but 1.-THE of
what is yet to be wrought out of this
winding, circuitous, up-hill-and-down,
roadway that curves around the
shores of the river climbs past great
projecting lodges of rock then
graduates its length on down to the
water again, and once more climbs
up near the precipitous cliffs until
one is not only bewildered at the dis
solving views, but wonderment comes
that such an undertaking should have
been attempted.
Along some portions of the road
way there are entertainments wrought
out of broken stone that eclipse the
greatest feats of railway engineer
ing the world has known. Neither
the Rockies nor the Alps can surpass
or furnish a duplicate of the Henry
Hudson Boulevard in the huge pro-
portions of the project. When one
considers that some of these enbank-
ments of rock are thrown upon the
sides of the Palisades for a distance
of 500 perpendicular feet in order to
get past some impossible obstruction,
the great volume of labor may be
understood. Thousands of tons of
rock have been necessary to cut away
from the base of the cliffs, carved
out of solid rock, in order to get
foundation upon which to finally
build the boulevard. At this time
the roadway is laid out almost. to-
Alpine, and looking down upon it
from either direction, it looks like a
country lane. When finished it will,
present a greater proportion of in
credible feats of engineering than
anything in the road building line
this country knows, if indeed it does
not surpass anything of similar
nature in any part of the world.
1t does not matter who sees the
Henry Hudson Boulevard in its pres
ent shape, it is bound to create great
amazement. The observer has been
compelled heretofore to view the Pail
sades from distance. The new road
way puts him almost in touch with
them. The sensation of looking up
at the Palisades is totally different
from looking down from their tops.
Their picturesque grandeur is Won
derfully appealing when one stands
at their foot and gazes Up. The scene
is spectacle of spectacles.
c. T. L.