The Ordway new era., 1921-09-30
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JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN.


<PONTOON bridge across
the Hudson! 1t sounds
odd, but it seems likely. A
year or so from now a pom
n toon bridge between Yon-
kers and Alpine, n roadway
a for automobiles and foot
way for pedestrians strung
across forty or fifty large
rs for nearly mile, is apt to be
latest new thing of the nation. 1t
be a new thing only in the United
tes. For the pontoon. bridge Is
hturies old and Is in common use
in Europe.
rhls pontoon bridge across the Hud-
is proposed for these reasons: 1t Is
jly needed to relieve congestion 1t
entirely feasible; it can be built in
sear. it will cost only, $2,0O0,0O0 !;
ps that can serve as pontoons are
tady in existence.
There is no question as to the need
4 II the bridge. The automobile con.
Estion is notorious; the New York
ferries are inadequate to handle the
fnfic one of the great sufferers is
1k Palisades Interstate park. So it
b natural that the first suggestion of
lte pontoon bridge came from Mai.
W A. Welch, engineer of the park
<ommisslon.
This Palisades Interstate park Ii
LIQUID he noted, is one of the great
Rblc Fairgrounds of the United
ntes. The original park was estab-
he'd by New York and New Jersey
save the Palisades of the Hudson
4m quarrymen who were blasting
m for stone. Curlously enough 1t
the federated club women of the
states who succeeded In getting
park established. After all efforts
men had failed they induced the
slatures Of the two states to take
necessary action and to make ap-
priations. The park was opened In
Mrs. Il. II. Hartman extended
area to 10000 acres in 1910 by
of land. That year there were
" thousand visitors, many Of them
pers. The possibilities of the park
seen. Since then everything that
ley and good management can do
been done for this park. More
SSUO,OO have been expended on
OF this large sum So per cent has
e from gifts by public-spirited citi-
1t now contains about 10000
:, with improvements to fill every
The bully of
es from New York city. Children
sent by thousands on river boats.
scouts, Camp Fire girls and hun
Of organizations camp there.
osands drive there. There are res
ants for every purse; facilities for
KIND Of recreation. The aggre-
OF the summers attendance Is
nous.
preoVer, this park enjoys the po-
OF an object lesson Of efficiency
pphc Fairgrounds. A capable engI
With free hand has secured his
eys worth in the improvements.
management is pointed out as Il
~ Inc management Is vested in
rmanent commission of five mem
from each state. They serve
put pay and the post is one of
= The late George w. Perkins.
was for many years leading
OF the commission, once said
'he biggest thing the commission
accomplished was to keep politics
f the park.
10 the shiDs that can soryo nc
'ohs they're ready. AS everyone
I, the shipping board slightly
,ayed Its hand In the matter of
he wooden ships during the
war, There were 571 Of these
'h ships constructed. Only 298
oeeh sold. 1t has been costing
government $4,000 month to
care of the other 275. These
rost on an average S5OO.OOO
for time 1t seemed impossible
= them at any price. Indeed,
sentative Wood of Indiana re-
sala on the floor of the house:
haVe 275 Of these wooden yes,
roMh here In the mouth of the
river tied up In units of seven
WIN 4o men to the unit, each Of
receiving 500 month and his
costing the government $4,000
W. or 100000 year, for a lot
70 mat are not worth sinking.