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 -2-89-1600 (43-1962) 
 
 A Irtef BUtnnmt 
 
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 Wb\ttt mh Plan 
 
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 1909 
 
 V 
 
 Issued January 15, 1909 
 
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 (Ulp l^uli00n-iFitlton (Erlpbrattott (Hommtastott 
 
 Headquarters : 
 Tribune Building, New York City- 
 Telephones: Beekman, 3097 and 3098 
 
 WfCutVB of tt|p Ol0mmisaion Biih AfiBtstanta 
 
 President 
 
 Gen. Stewart L, Woodford, 18 Wall Street, New York 
 
 "Vice-Presidents 
 
 Mr. Herman Ridder, Presiding Vice-President and Acting President. 
 182 William Street, New York. 
 
 Mr. Andrew Carnegie, Gen. Horace Porter, 
 
 Hon. Joseph H. Choate, Hon. Frederick W. Seward, 
 
 Maj.-Gen. F. D. Grant, U.S. A. Mr. Francis Lynde Stetson, 
 
 Hon. Seth Low, Hon. Oscar S. Straus, 
 
 Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, Mr. Wm. B. Van Rensselaer, 
 
 Hon. Levi P. Morton, Hon. Andrew D. White, 
 
 Mr. John E. Parsons, Gen. Jas. Grant Wilson. 
 
 Treasurer 
 
 Mr. Isaac N. Seligman, No. i William Street, New York. 
 
 Secretary Assistant Secretary- 
 
 Mr. Henry W. Sackett, Mr. Edward Hagaman Hall, 
 
 Tribune Building, New York. Tribune Building, New York- 
 
 Assistants to the Secretary 
 
 Mr. George N. Moran, ... ^ Mr. David T. Wells. 
 
 General Executive Assistant 
 
 Mr. William Parry. 
 
 Captain of Pageantry 
 
 Mr. A. H. Stoddard. 
 
 9. 
 
 AtfCi't<^ T^ 
 
A BRIEF STATEMENT 
 
 OBJECT AND PLAN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Hudson- Fulton Celebration in 1909 
 
 The Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission consists of 
 365 members appointed by the Governor of the State of 
 New York and the Mayor of the City of New York and 
 incorporated by chapter 325 of the Laws of 1906 of the 
 State of New York. Its membership includes the mayors 
 of all the 46 cities of the State and the presidents of 38 
 incorporated villages along the Hudson river. Its affairs 
 are conducted by a board of trustees consisting of the 
 mayors of the 46 cities and 100 other members; and by 
 about 45 committees embracing the entire membership of 
 the Commission. 
 
 The purpose of the Commission is to arrange for the 
 celebration in 1909 of the three hundredth anniversary of 
 the discovery of the Hudson river by Henry Hudson in 
 1609, and the one hundredth anniversary of the successful 
 application of steam to the navigation of the river by 
 Robert Fulton in 1807. The postponement of the celebra- 
 tion of the centenary of steam navigation from 1907 to 
 1909 in order that it might be combined with the celebration 
 of the tercentenary of Hudson's voyage was deemed ad- 
 visable for the reason that the two historic events occurred 
 on the same river and their anniversaries come so close 
 together as to make separate commemorations upon any 
 large scale inexpedient. 
 
 Although both of the events to be commemorated are 
 associated with the Hudson river, their significance is State- 
 wide and it is designed to give them a celebration of State- 
 wide interest. About two-thirds of the population of the 
 
 .]._... 
 
State resides upon or is directly tributary to this great 
 water course, and the remainder of the State is intimately 
 concerned, for it is the existence of this river in connection 
 with the remarkable geographical situation and topographi- 
 cal nature of the State that has made its wonderful growth 
 and prosperity possible. The physical facts which give New 
 York its pre-eminence as the Empire State have existed 
 from prehistoric times. Before the advent of the European, 
 the red man was able to proceed by water, with only a short 
 portage at Rome, from New York harbor by way of the 
 Hudson and Mohawk rivers, Wood creek, Oneida lake and 
 the Oswego river to Lake Ontario, and thence through the 
 chain of Great Lakes to the farthest region of Lake Su- 
 perior. These extraordinary natural facilities for reaching 
 the most distant parts constituted one of the chief factors 
 of the strength of the League of the Iroquois, the most 
 remarkable and powerful aboriginal confederacy north of 
 Mexico. The same geological forces which constructed 
 these waterways produced also the almost level path by 
 which the moccasined feet of the red man threaded the prim- 
 eval forests from the Mohawk to Lake Erie and along 
 which his white successor built the Erie canal connecting the 
 ocean with the great fresh-water seas of the interior. 
 
 The exploration of the Hudson river by the famous 
 English navigator under the auspices of the Dutch East 
 Lidia Company announced the advent of European civili- 
 zation to this region, and sounded the signal for the transfer 
 of the pre-eminence which the Iroquois had enjoyed to 
 their white successors in the same territory. And when, 
 in the fullness of time. Fulton demonstrated upon the same 
 waters the practicability of steam navigation, he not only 
 vastly increased the natural internal facilities which the 
 State enjoyed, but he also linked the State as never before 
 to the nations of the old world. 
 
 The two events to be commemorated are therefore of 
 primary significance in the history of New York State and 
 city, for one opened up to the world the great harbor and 
 river which are the natural physical factors of our great- 
 ness, and the other gave birth to the vast steam-propelled 
 
commerce which has so largely contributed to make New 
 York the Empire State and New York city the Metropolis 
 of the New World. 
 
 The plans for the celebration, briefly outlined in the fol- 
 lowing- pages, have been formulated with a view to the 
 international, national, interstate. State and local signifi- 
 cance of the events to be commemorated. 
 
 The people of Holland, under royal auspices, are building 
 a reproduction of the " Half Moon," to be presented to the 
 Commission manned with a crew in the costumes of the 
 period of Henry Hudson. The reception of this distin- 
 guished delegation, together, as it is hoped, with ships and 
 official representatives of foreign nations, will mark the 
 international phase of the celebration. 
 
 The national government will be represented by the Fed- 
 eral troops, the United States navy, and distinguishd civil 
 officers. 
 
 An interstate participation cannot be avoided when two 
 commonwealths, like New York and New Jersey, have so 
 much in common in their geographical, historical, social and 
 commercial relations ; and the appointment by Gov. Hughes 
 of fifteen distinguished citizens of New Jersey upon the 
 Commission, as well as the inquiries from New Jersey 
 boards of trade and other sources indicate that such par- 
 ticipation is in contemplation. 
 
 The Statc-zvide observance of the events has been pro- 
 vided for in the preparations for commemorative exercises 
 in all the universities, colleges, schools and learned socie- 
 ties, throughout the State. 
 
 In tJic Hudson River Valley, every county seat from 
 Newburgh northward is preparing actively for one day of 
 local celebration. 
 
 In Nezv York city the features of the celebration already 
 in contemplation promise to make it unique in character 
 and of lasting educational value. 
 
 Since the era of centennial commemorations in America 
 began in 1876, their value has been demonstrated beyond 
 question, and private generosity has vied with Federal, 
 State and municipal appropriations in carrying them out. 
 
During the past thirty-two years, New York State and city 
 have participated in celebrations held in other places and 
 commemorating events particularly affecting those localities. 
 Now, in the course of events, New York State and city 
 have arrived at their own red letter year, and suitable 
 plans, as hereafter set forth, have been prepared for its 
 celebration. 
 
 In heartily inviting the citizens and civic organizations 
 generally to co-operate in this celebration, the Commission 
 feels that no city and State in the Union have greater cause 
 to be proud of their history than the city and State of New 
 York; no city and State have been so neglectful of their 
 own history and at the same time so generous in contribut- 
 ing to the magnification of others ; and no city and State, 
 with respect to the character of its great proportion of 
 population received from other shores, is so needful and 
 deserving of the civic stimulus to be received from a proper 
 commemoration of their local history. Anything that will 
 augment the pride of our people in their city and State and 
 increase their loyalty to their institutions is deserving of the 
 most hearty and practical encouragement, and the Commis- 
 sion feels that any expenditure which individuals or civic 
 organizations may make to participate in the celebration 
 will be a profitable civic investment which will bear interest 
 for generations to come. 
 
 The program of the celebration as at present outlined, 
 but subject to modification in details, is as follows: 
 
 RELIGIOUS SERVICE DAYS. 
 
 (Saturday, September 25. and Sunday, September 26,1909.) 
 
 The Commission is of the opinion that in arranging for 
 the celebration the people should not overlook the Divine 
 guidance in the two great events to be commemorated, one 
 of which opened up our State to modern civilization and led 
 to the founding of the City of New York, and the other 
 of which laid the foundation for the vast commerce upon 
 which the prosperity of the City and State so largely de- 
 
pends. It has therefore set apart the first two days for 
 reUgious observances by those who are accustomed to wor- 
 ship on Saturday and Sunday. 
 
 RECEPTION DAY. 
 
 (Monday, September 27th.) 
 
 The secular observances will begin on Monday, Septem- 
 ber 27th, with the following features : 
 
 General decoration of public and private dwellings from 
 New York to the head of the river. 
 
 Rendezvous of American and foreign vessels at New 
 York. 
 
 Fac-simile of Hudson's " Half Moon " to enter the river, 
 be formally received and take her place in line. 
 
 Fac-simile of Fulton's " Clermont " to start from original 
 site with appropriate exercises and take position in line. 
 
 Visiting guests to disembark and be officially received. 
 
 Opening of exhibits of paintings, prints, books, models, 
 relics, etc., by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ameri- 
 can Museum of Natural History, the Hispanic Museum, the 
 American Numismatic Society, the New York Public Lib- 
 rary, the New York Historical Society, the New York Gen- 
 ealogical and Biographical Society, the American Geograph- 
 ical Society, Webb's School for Shipbuilders, the New York 
 Yacht Club, and similar instihitions throughout the State. 
 The exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the 
 American Museum of Natural History promise to be the 
 most remarkable of the kind ever held in this country and 
 will probably extend over a period of several months. 
 
 Music festivals in the evening in each of the five bor- 
 oughs of the city. 
 
 HISTORICAL DAY. 
 
 (Tuesday, September 28th.) 
 
 On Tuesday, September 28th, there will be an Historical 
 Parade in the City of New York. The procession will be 
 
8 
 
 composed of floats and moving tableaux representing- the 
 principal events in the history of the City and State, 
 
 In the evening, the Official Literary Exercises will be 
 held in the Metropolitan Opera House, the Great Hall of 
 the City College, Carnegie Hall, and the Opera House of 
 the Brooklyn Academy of Music, at which orations will be 
 delivered by men of national reputation. 
 
 GENERAL COMMEMORATION DAY. 
 
 (Wednesday, September 29th.) 
 
 Soon after the Commission was formed, a World's Fair 
 at or near New York City was suggested. After giving 
 several public hearings the subject was referred to the Plan 
 and Scope Committee, who, in their preliminary report, 
 expressed the belief that the country had been surfeited 
 with such temporary celebrations and voiced the hope that 
 the celebration of 1909 would be conducted on a plan 
 which would leave monumental works of lasting benefit to 
 the people. The ideas thus expressed have received un- 
 equivocal expressions of approval from the leading news- 
 papers of this and other States and have been accepted as 
 the policy of the Commission. 
 
 It is proposed therefore that Wednesday, September 29th, 
 be devoted to the dedication of parks and memorials along 
 the Hudson River, and to General Commemorative Exer- 
 cises throughout the State. It is recommended not only 
 that between now and then, the most earnest efiforts be made 
 to secure great memorials like Inwood Hill Park, but also 
 that the civic pride of various communities along the river 
 be invoked to participate in like manner by establishing 
 parks, institutions or other public memorials. The interest 
 of the numerous historical and patriotic societies is in- 
 vited in the erection of monuments and tablets, so that 
 the history of the Hudson Valley may be written in stone 
 and bronze from the site of old Fort Amsterdam to the 
 site of old Fort Orange. The Commission has advices 
 which indicate that monuments to William the Silent and 
 
Henry Hudson, a tablet to the Founders and Patriots of 
 New York and a tablet on Fort Tryon will be ready for 
 dedication. 
 
 Wednesday is essentially an educational day, designed 
 to be participated in by the universities, colleges, schools, 
 museums and learned and patriotic societies throughout the 
 whole State. While the commemoration of 1909 must, 
 from geographical considerations, largely center around 
 the Hudson River, the glory and the material bene- 
 fits of Hudson's and Fulton's achievements are the heritage 
 of the people of the entire State, and the programme for 
 Wednesday affords a practical means for a general ob- 
 servance of the occasion from one end of the State to the 
 other. Features of this day's observances will be as follows : 
 Commemorative exercises in Columbia University, New 
 York University, College of City of New York, Cooper 
 Union, University of St. John at Fordham, Hebrew Uni- 
 versity, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, Public 
 Sf-hools, Historical Societies, and all the universities, col- 
 leges and institutions of learning throughout the State of 
 New York; with free lectures for the people in New York 
 City under the auspices of the Board of Education. 
 
 The programme for this day contemplates also : 
 
 Aquatic sports on the Hudson River, designed in the 
 first instance for friendly competition between the crews 
 of the naval vessels, but which may embrace motor boat 
 races and such other amusements as may seem practicable 
 and desirable ; 
 
 A reception to visiting guests at West Point during the 
 day; and 
 
 An Official Banquet in honor of distinguished guests in 
 the City of New York in the evening. 
 
 I 
 
 MILITARY PARADE DAY. 
 
 (Thursday, September 30th.) 
 
 On Thursday will occur the military parade, partici- 
 pated in by the United States Army, the United States 
 
10 
 
 Navy and Marine Corps, the National Guard and the 
 Naval Militia. 
 
 Owing to the probable length of this parade, which may- 
 contain as many as 25,000 troops, the great fatigue which 
 would be caused to the distinguished reviewing party if 
 required to witness a longer procession, and the difficulties 
 in the way of moving with precision and promptness a 
 larger body if composed of undrilled civilians, it has been 
 deemed advisable to eliminate civic features from this 
 parade. 
 
 An evening reception to the official guests at the head- 
 quarters of the Department of the East on Governor's 
 Island is suggested as the closing event of the day if it 
 proves agreeable to the authorities. 
 
 HUDSON RIVER DAY. 
 
 (Friday, October ist.) 
 
 Friday, October ist is devoted to the Naval Parade and 
 incidental ceremonies. It appears to be practicable for 
 some of our naval vessels to proceed as far north as New- 
 burgh Bay. It is planned to have as many vessels of the 
 navy, merchant marine, excursion boats, and pleasure craft 
 as possible go from New York to Newburgh, taking with 
 them the fac-similes of the " Half Moon " and " Clermont." 
 
 In order that the inhabitants of the country on either 
 side of the river may see the parade and the reproductions 
 of the historic vessels, we recommend that the day be de- 
 voted by them to fetes champetres along the river-sides 
 from New York to Newburgh. 
 
 As the procession passes up the river, salutes may be fired 
 from eligible points. 
 
 Simultaneously with the advance of the South Hudson 
 Division, it is proposed to have a counter-procession from 
 Albany to Newburgh, the two divisions meeting and hold- 
 ing appropriate ceremonies at Newburgh. Here the " Half 
 Moon " and " Clermont " will join the North Hudson 
 Division. 
 
II 
 
 CARNIVAL DAY. 
 
 (Saturday, October 2d.) 
 
 Saturday, October 2d, is designed for a general Carnival 
 Day in New York city. 
 
 The New York division of the Naval Parade will return 
 to its starting point. 
 
 In all the cities this will be peculiarly the Children's Day, 
 devoted to fetes in public and private parks and play- 
 grounds. 
 
 The celebration will culminate in New York City in the 
 evening with a Carnival Parade. This feature, with its 
 moving allegorical tableaux participated in by all nation- 
 alities represented in the City will, it is believed, exceed 
 in beauty and interest the most famous carnivals of Europe. 
 
 Brilliancy will be added to the general spectacle by the 
 illumination of the fleet and public and private buildings and 
 a pyrotechnic display. Displays of fireworks at various 
 points, notably on the great bridges as in the fetes of the 
 14th of July in Paris, are in contemplation. 
 
 At 9 p. M. it is designed to have a chain of signal fires 
 from mountain tops and other eligible points along the 
 whole river, lighted simultaneously. An arrangement has 
 been made with the Pain Manufacturing Company as offi- 
 cial illuminators, by which local communities can contract 
 for these fires at reasonable and uniform rates. 
 
 UPPER HUDSON WEEK. 
 
 (Beginning Sunday, October 3d.) 
 
 It is planned to devote the week beginning Sunday, Oc- 
 tober 3(1, to celebrations in the communities along the Up- 
 per Hudson. This will be somewhat in the nature of an 
 Old Home Week. The events previously outlined will draw 
 many residents of the State to the City of New York and 
 will prevent as full a participation in local celebrations as 
 
12 
 
 might otherwise be possible ; whereas, in the week follow- 
 ing not only will the citizens of the communities outside 
 of the Metropolis be at home, but former residents of those 
 communities will also be freer to make pilgrimages to their 
 old homes, renew old ties and participate in local exercises. 
 Beginning Sunday, October 3d, such portion of the Lower 
 Hudson fleet as can continue the voyage to Troy, together 
 with the North Hudson Fleet and the " Half Moon " and 
 " Clermont," will be subject to the arrangements of the 
 Upper Hudson Committee of the Commission. 
 
 DUTCHESS COUNTY DAY. 
 
 (Monday October 4th.) 
 
 On Monday the naval parade will be at Poughkeepsie, 
 the county seat of Dutchess county, and remain there dur- 
 ing the Poughkeepsie Ceremonies. The erection of a statue 
 of Robert Fulton has been suggested as a feature of the 
 Poughkeepsie celebration. 
 
 ULSTER COUNTY DAY. 
 
 (Tuesday, October 5th.) 
 
 On Tuesday, the naval parade will proceed to Kingston, 
 the county seat of Ulster county, while similar exercises 
 take nlace there. A statue of Governor Clinton has been 
 proposed as the permanent memorial here. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY DAY. 
 
 (Wednesday, October 6th.) 
 
 On Wednesday, October 6, the naval parade will go to 
 Catskill, the county seat of Greene county. It is proposed 
 that the ceremonies here include the dedication of a statue 
 of Rip Van Winkle. 
 
13 
 
 COLUMBIA COUNTY DAY. 
 
 (Thursday, October 7th.) 
 
 On Thursday, October 7th, the fleet will continue on to 
 Hudson, which is the county seat of Columbia county and 
 is named after the great explorer. A statue of Henry 
 Hudson is the appropriate memorial proposed at this point. 
 
 ALBANY COUNTY DAY. 
 
 (Friday, October 8th.) 
 
 On Friday, the 8th, the flotilla will advance to the Capital 
 of the commonwealth, the county seat of Albany county and 
 the oldest city in the State. A statue of Peter Schuyler, 
 the first mayor of Albany, has been suggested as the per- 
 manent memorial here. 
 
 RENSSELAER COUNTY DAY. 
 
 (Saturday, October 9th.) 
 
 In like manner the naval parade will advance to Troy, 
 the county seat of Rensselaer county on Saturday, October 
 9th, and form the nucleus of the celebration there. A statue 
 of Van Rensselaer, who obtained the first land grant in 
 that section, has been suggested as an appropriate monu- 
 ment to be erected here. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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