During the past year, the sentiment alluded to in our last report in favor of some legislation, either State or National, which will secure the perpetuation of the natural beauty of the Highlands of the Hudson has largely increased and has appeared in various propositions looking to that end. This movement has largely been increased by the approach of the tercentenary of the exploration of the Hudson river by the great navigator whose name it bears and the preparations being made for its celebration next year. Out of the various suggestions for State or National control, we have been endeavoring to evolve some plan which will accomplish the purpose most effectively without entailing too great expense. It has seemed to our committee that the desired end could best be attained by National legislation, thus relieving the State of any financial burden in connection with it, and a bill for that purpose is now being framed.

The area which it is proposed to include within the boundaries of this park is about sixty-five square miles on the east side of the river and about fifty-seven square miles on the west side of the river between Peekskill bay on the south and Newburgh bay on the north. The wild and mountainous nature of this region, known as the Highlands, and the general absence of cultivation and improvement, make the acquisition of a larger portion of this area by purchase not beyond the bounds of a reasonable appropriation. We have reason to believe that certain owners of large wild tracts would sell them to the government for the actual stumpage value of the timber standing thereon. Others, it is hoped, will, for a small compensation, be willing to give the government easements in their property, by which they will agree not to destroy their forests, or blast their rocks, or erect unsightly structures, or establish nuisances which will offend the senses or defile the waters of the river, but retain and in all other respects enjoy the free use of their property.

There are four strong motives impelling to the creation of this reservation: First, the extraordinary natural beauty of the region included; second, the preservation of many landmarks intimately connected with the history of the country; third, the prevention of the further pollution of the river, from the waters of which the native inhabitants have already nearly been driven by the poisons injected into it; and, fourth, the perpetuation of the forest covering with all that it means in the way of watershed protection and timber supply.

Under these heads we may quote a few of the words of a member of our committee, Dr. Edward L. Partridge, in an article in "The Outlook" for November 9, 1907:

"The scenic consideration of the Highlands brings us to a statement which cannot be challenged that the Hudson river presents, throughout the fifteen or twenty miles of its course in the Highlands, its most picturesque and boldly beautiful section. Every American, from near or remote parts of these United States, is influenced to visit the great Hudson, and here his eye is pleased and his patriotic feeling is strengthened as he realizes the difficulties, hardships, and courage of the founders of this great Republic. The fame of the Hudson is such that every foreign visitor to the United States comes with the purpose of seeing the most beautiful river of North America, and the Niagara Falls whether his traveling is to be extensive or restricted — and rarely departs until he has visited these two natural objects of attraction.

66

'During the War of the Revolution the Highlands of the Hudson were continuously a region of the greatest importance, so recognized by both sides to the warfare, especially from a strategic point of view, and in the Highlands most important and daring military and engineering movements were commanded and led by all the distinguished patriot officers. This region, created into a National preserve, would serve as a most suitable memorial of the war which yielded to us our National independence.

"The officers of the Commission should have the power to prevent the establishment of disfiguring and offensive industries, such

*

as all quarrying as a business, iron works, chemical works, etc. * * The absence of unpleasant industries on the shores of the Hudson would aid its cleanliness and purity.

"The control of the forestry should be intelligent, but reasonable, and look toward the creation of a Forest. If of a proper character, destructive forest fires would be prevented and the possible future advantage of this region as a watershed would be preserved. The result of good forestry would be greatly to increase the future value of forest land."

Doctor Partridge also calls attention to the two Federal reservations within this area- West Point and Iona Island and the advantages of the proposed National park for military exercise.

In cases where easements are obtained it is contemplated that the owners of the fee would be limited in their use of their property only to the extent of refraining from acts which would disfigure the scenery or pollute the river. They would own and enjoy the products of their forests under scientific forestry, and they could cultivate their arable land, erect residences, and construct new roads, with such blasting as may be required for their making, while the effort of the Park Commission will be to increase the general beauty of the region and prevent local destruction.

We are hopeful that a practical plan may be worked out along some such lines as these.

NEW SING SING PRISON SITE.

In December, 1907, the Commission on New Prisons of the State of New York purchased a tract of land on the west side of the Hudson river, between Iona Island and Fort Montgomery, for the new prison which is to supersede the present institution at Sing Sing. When it was learned that the greater portion of this tract lay in the town of Stony Point it was apprehended that the name of Stony Point might be applied to it, with the unpleasant

consequences which led the village of Sing Sing to change its name to Ossining. As custodians of the Stony Point State Reservation and with a knowledge of the patriotic ideas associated with the name, we addressed, through the Governor, a respectful request that the name of Stony Point be not applied to the new prison. Subsequently, we were assured through the public prints that the old name of Sing Sing would be used.

We were also strongly urged to protest against the use of the land selected for a penal institution on the ground that the area embraced the historic sites of Forts Clinton and Montgomery. To this, however, we did not accede, for the reason that it appeared that the prison itself would not be located on the fort sites; that the buildings would be constructed so as not to offend the eye; and that only thirty acres would be required for the prison while the balance of the 500 acres, running to the top of Bear mountain, would "be practically a park," to quote the words of one of the commissioners, the Hon. S. J. Barrows, "insuring this fine tract from denudation of its forest and the scarring and destruction of the mountain by quarrymen."

BIRTHPLACE OF THE CINCINNATI.

In our last annual report we gave a brief description of the eld Verplanck house on the Hudson river, at Fishkill, in which Baron Steuben made his headquarters during the Revolution, and in which the Society of the Cincinnati was organized in 1783, and stated that we had offered that Society the precedence in the opportunity to acquire the property for preservation as an historic monument. With respect to this interesting property, called Mount Gulian, the following information is furnished by the owner, Mr. Wm. E. Verplanck:

"Mount Gulian now consists of 122 acres of land. It extends along the river for upwards of 1,600 feet, and eastward to the

highway leading to Poughkeepsie. Part of the property is within the village limits of Fishkill Landing, from the Post Office and railway station of which the Cincinnati House is one and one-half miles distant. A new and more direct road soon to be built will shorten the distance nearly one-half. The house with garden, lawn, gardener's cottage and stable cover a space of 10 to 12 acres, and could be used and occupied separate and distinct from the remainder of the property. The latter consists of a farm. and valuable clay banks, one of which is a brickyard, which is now under lease expiring April 1, 1910, åt a rental of $3,000 per annum. A grant from the State for the land under water extending along the entire front is one of the appurtenances of the property, thus affording nearly 40 acres of additional land. The village contains about 4,000 inhabitants, and is growing, has frequent mails, and is connected with New York from which it is 60 miles distant by fast and frequent trains. The entire property of 122 acres, including the Cincinnati House and the 10-12 acres, etc., mentioned, is estimated to be worth $150,000, while the Cincinnati House, with lawn, garden, etc., composing the 10-12 acres mentioned is held at $25,000 provided it be sold to a patriotic, historical or scenic society, or to persons agreeing to hold the property in trust for such purposes. The owner reserves a life estate, but under the obligation to act as the custodian for the purchasing society and without further compensation. The property has been held uninterruptedly by the family since the grant from the Wappinger Indians in 1683, which was confirmed by royal patent from James II. through Governor Dongan."

FORT CRAILO, IN RENSSELAER, N. Y.

During the past two years this Society has been strongly urged to consider the claims of a building in the city of Rensselaer, known as Fort Crailo, for preservation as an historic monument. This is a very old brick house, two stories high, with hipped gambrel roof, in the walls of the first story of which are port holes for firearms. Over one of these port holes is a tablet erected by the Albany Bicentennial Committee in 1886, and bearing the following inscription:

.