The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1921-11-04

~
~ kers and Alpine, roadway
IN n for automobiles and foot
AVN way for pedestrians strung
across forty or fifty large
ships for nearly mile, is apt to be
the latest new thing Of the nation. 1t
will be new thing only in the United
States. For the pOntoon bridge Is
centuries old and is in common use
now in Europe.
This pontoon bridge across the Hud-
son Is proposed for these reasons: 1t is
badly needed to relieve congestion; 1t
Is entirely feasible; it can be built in
year; 1t will cost only $2,OOO,0OO;
ships that can serve as pontoons are
already in existence.
There is no question as to the need
Of the bridge. The automobile con-
gestion is notorious; the New York
ferries are inadequate to handle the
traffic. One Of the great sufferers is
the Palisades Interstate park. So 1t
is natural that the first suggestion of
the pontoon bridge came from Maj.
wa. Welch, engineer Of the park
commission.
This Palisades Interstate park it
should be noted, is one Of the great
public Fairgrounds of the United
States. The original park was estab-
hshed by New York and New Jersey
to save the Palisades of the Hudson
from Quarrymen who were blasting
them for stone. Curiously enough it
was the federated club women of the
two states who succeeded in getting
the park established. After all efforts
by men had failed they induced the
legislatures of the two states to take
the necessary action and to make ap-
preparations. The park was opened in
1909 Mrs. e. III. Hartman extended
the area to 10000 acres in 1910 by
gift of land. That year there were
q few thousand visitors, many Of them
campers. The possibilities of the park
were seen. Since then everything that
has been done for this park. More
than $8OOO,O0O have been expended on
1t. OF this large sum 55 per cent has
come from gifts by public-spirited citi-
zens. 1t now contains about 10000
acres, with improvements to fill every
need. The bulk of the attendance
comes from New York city. Children |
are sent by thousands on river boats. |
Boy scouts, Camp Fire girls and hum
dreds of organizations camp there.
drive there. There are res /
taurants for every purse; facilities for
every kind Of recreation. The aggre
gate of the summers attendance is
enormous.
Moreover, this PARK enjoys the po-
sltion Of an object lesson of efficiency
In public Fairgrounds. A capable engi-
neer with free hand has secured his
worth in the improvements.
The management is pointed out as
model. The management is vested in
4 permanent commission of FIVE mem
Ders from each state. They serve
without pay and the post is one Of
honor. The late George w. Perkins,
who was for many years leading
spirit of the commission, once said
hat the biggest thing the commission
lad accomplished was to keep politics
tut of the park.
As to the ships that can serve as
)ontoons, they're ready. AS everyone {
Inows, the shipping board slightly {
it's hand in the matter Of
'uilding wooden ships during the
World war. There we're 81 Of these
wooden ships constructed. Only 296 /
ave been sold. 1t has been costing {
he government $4,000 a month to I
axe care Of the other 275. These
hips cost on an average 100000
ach. For time 1t seemed impossible
0 sell them at any price. Indeed,
representative Wood Of Indiana re- Il
emily said on the floor of the house: i
I'VE have 275 of these wooden YES t
els down here in the mouth of the a
ames river, tied up in units of seven a
ach, with 40 men to the unit, each Of P
hem receiving 500 month and his v
eep, costing the government $4,000 t
month, or 100000 year, for lot
{ boats that are not worth sinking, c