CHRONOLOGY : THE MODERN CITY AND ISLAND : i8
 

-1909   2071
 

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, ot Brooklyn, dairaed that, on this day,
he discovered the North Pole. After Peary's return in 1909
(q. v., Ap 6), Cook's dalms were pronounced fraudulent.—Eve.
Post, S I, 1909. See S 1, 6, and 21, 1909. Peary'a discovery ot tbe
actud pole seema to have been confirraed by the obaervations of
the Byrd and tbe Araundaen expeditions in May, 1926.

Jonkheer R. de Marees van Swinderen, rainister ot foreign
affairs of The Netherlands, writes from The Hague to the Hudson-
Fulton celebration comraission that a coraraittee ot Hollanders
has been formed to build a replica ot the "Half Moon" for the
celebration in 1909. On May 26, the president and secretary ot
tbe commission answered, expreaaing their appreciation.—Offcial
Mln. ofHudson-Fulton Celebration Com; 1: 487-88, 500-1, 508-9.

Researches were raade by both the New York commission and
the HoUand coramittee to deterralne tbe size, appearance, and
interior arrangements ot tbe original vessel. Details ot her masting,
rigging, tonnage, and dimensions were ascertained from Juet's Log,
the saiUng and meraorandura books ot the East India Co., Asher's
Henry Hudson, ike Navigator, and Nicolaea Witaen's Aeloude in
Hedendaegscke Scheeps-Boitw en Bestler (Amaterdam, 1671). The
complete plans ot a sister-sblp, the "Hope," which had been built
at about the same time and at the aame coat as the "Half Moon,"
were dso found in the Holland archives. Frora all the data se¬
cured, the replica ot Hudson's vessel was designed by C. L. Loder,
director of ship-building ot the Netherland navy departraent.
Her ked was laid on Oct. 29 (q.v.), and she was built under the
immediate superviaion of E. J. Benthera and under tbe generd
direction ot Admird Roeli.—Official Min. of Hudson-Fulton Cele¬
bration Com., 1: 501-8, 567; deacrip. ot Pl. 173, III: 854-55.
I         A week's celehration in commemoration of tbe 100th anniver¬

sary of the creation ot the Roman Catholic diocese ot New York
is begun.—N. Y. Dally Tribune, Ap 5, 26-My 3, 1908.

The legislature passes a law increasing the nuraber of members
' of the Hudaon-Fulton cdefaration commiaslon by adding to It the
mayora of the up-state cities and the presidents of the principal
viUagea.—Laws ofN. Y. (1908), chap. 217. This was done, al the
request of the commiaslon, "to raake the Cdebration one ot state¬
wide partldpatlon and particularly to enlist the Interest ot the com¬
munities along the whole Hudson river vaWey."—^Hudson-Fullon
Celebration, 1909 (4th Ann. Rep. ot Hudson-Fullon Cdebration
Com., 1910), I: 29-30.

The five large buildings ot tlie CoUcge of the City ot New York,
at 138th to 140th Sts., Amsterdam Ave. and St. Nicholas Terrace
(see My 7, 1907), are formally dedicated. They were designed hy
George B. Post.—AT. Y.Herdd, My 15, 1908; L. M.R.K.,UI: 939.
I         The legislature authorises the commissioner o( parks, with the

consent ot the board of estimate and apportionment, "to erect
... an escalator, or mechanical device for the carrying of
persona under such rules and regulations as may be hereafter
adopted by tbe department ot parks over and across Mornlngside
park, in the said city, at or near the intersection of West One
Hundred and Sixteenth street, between Morningslde avenue east
and Mornlngside avenue west, horough of Manhattan," at the
expense ot the dty.—Laws ofN. Y. (1908), chap. 402. The esca¬
lator was never built.

The legialature appropriates an additional $150,000 for the uae
ot the Hudson-Fulton cdebration commission.—Laws ofN. Y.
(1908), chap. 466.

The legislature appropriates $500 "For expenses oi removal of
remains of former governor George CUnton frora Washington, and
the suitable interment of same at Kingston."—Laws ofN. Y.
(1908), chap. 466. The removal of Clinton's remains from Wash¬
ington to Kingston was made a part of the celebration of the 250th
anniversary ot tbe founding of Kingston, and authority to make
the transfer was secured upon the application of Clinton's descen¬
dants,—"The Clinton Obsequies," In Olde Ulster, IV: 205-14.
1         The faody of George Clinton, first governor of New York State,

arrived In the city this morning from Washington and was escorted
by a parade of 5,000 men to the governor's room of the city hall,
, where it lay In state until 4 p. ra. and was visited by ahout 40,000
people. The hells ot the down-town churches toiled during the day,
the city hdl was draped in black, and the flags were at halt mast.
On May 29, the remaina were taken to Kingaton, where they
were re-burled with impressive ceremonies on May 30.—N. Y.
Daily Tribune, My 29-31, 1908; "The Clinton Obsequies," in Olde
Ulster,TV:  205-14.
 

Gov. Hughes signs the anti-racetrack gamhiing biUs.—Laws of  June
N, Y. (1908), chaps. 506 and 507.                                                       11

Robert E. Peary, In the ship "Roosevelt," sails from New York   July
on his expedition lo the Nortli Pole.  He is given an enthusiastic     6
seod^jff.—Peary, Tke North Pole, 3-6, 25-26.   See Ap 21, 1908;
Ap 6, 1909.

The high pressure fire service is put into successful operation. "
The area covered by it is faounded by Chambers St., 23d St., North
River, Broadway, Fourth Ave., and The Bowery. There are two
pumplng-stations, one at Gansevoort and West Sts,, and the other
at Oliver and South Sts.—Message ol Mayor McCleUan, Jan, 4,
1909.

The new terry-house at the Manhattan end ot the old Staten Aug.
Island terry is begun. It was designed to form pari of a uniform —
structure eitending trora the Governor's Island terry slip to Broad
St.—625 feet. Between Whitehall and Broad Sts., the site ot the
old 39th St. ferry to Brooklyn, three new ferry slips were built, and
a new terry-house, costing $648,000, was nearly completed.—
Message ot Mayor McClellan, Ja 4, 1909, p. 69.

The firat puhlic achooi in this city tor dcat-rautea is opened.—   Sept.
Message ot Alayor McClellan, Ja 4, 1909, p. 55.                                —

A city ordinance is passed changing the name ot Blackwdl's   Oct.
Island Bridge (see F 23,  1901) to Quecnsboro Bridge.—ProC;     8
App'd by Mayor (i>)oS), 472.  See also L. M. R, K., HI: 926. The
bridge was opened on March 30, 1909 (q. v.).

The keel of the replica of the "Half Moon" (see Ap 23) ia laid    29
at Amsterdam.—O^ctfl/ Mln. of Hudson-Fulton Celebration Com;

I: 9.W-53-

Wra. H. Taft and James S. Sherman, Republicans, are dected    Nov.
preaident and vice-preaident.   The Deraocratic  candidatea were     3
Wm. J. Bryan and John W. Kern.—.Im. Did. of Dates, 91.

Chas. E. Hughes Is re-elected governor of New York State,    "
over his Democratic opponent, Lewis S. Cbanler.—N. Y. Tribune,
N 4, 1908.
 

The "Martyrs' Monument," in memory ot the priaon-ahip
victims of the Revolution, Is dedicated In Fort Greene Park,
Brooklyn. Prea.-elect Taft delivers the oration. The monument
was deaigned by McKIra, Mead & White,—iV. Y. Daily Tribune,
N 15, 1908; 17th Ann. Rep; Ara Seen. & Hist. Pres. Soc. (1912),
144.  See dso ibid. (1903), 36-38.

At five sales held between this date and April 7, 1909, the books,
manuscripts, bookplates, and autographs belonging to Henry W.
Poor were sold at auction.—From list ot important salea, held at
The Anderson Gdleries,

Tbe congregation of St. John's Chapd is officially notified that
Trinity veatry has decided to close the chapel on Feb. 1, 1909, and
to tranater the work of the pariah to St. Luke'a. This announce¬
raent resulted In a popular agitation "which has not been paralleled
in both kind and extent within the memory ot the present genera¬
tion." The widespread protest against the vestry's decision came
from within the parish, against the proposed abandonment of the
splritud ministrations of St. John's, and from without, against the
abandonment and demolition of the hiatoric landmark.

On Dec. 5, the congregation held a meeting, appointed a com¬
mittee, and prepared a petition, signed hy 557 members, asking
the vestry to reconsider its action. This petition waa denied. On
Dec 14, the dergy and workers ot the parish presented a memorial
stressing the neighbourhood's need ot the chapel, hut thia, so tar
as known, was never acknowledged. On Dec, 29, the congregation
bdd a second meeting and drew up a aecond petition, requesting
an opportunity to prove that the work being done fay the chapel
was, and would increasingly be, needed, that St. John's showed
better results thansomeof the other chapels of Trinity Church, and
that its work could not he successfully transferred to St. Luke'a or
any other chapel. In conclusion, they asked that if the veatry In¬
sisted upon dosing the chapel, they perrait the congregation to he in¬
corporated as St. John's tllhurch and convey to thera the building
and grounds, In whicb event they offered to supply the raoney to
carry on tbe services and work. This petition, also, was denied, on
on Jan. 12, 1909.

The protest frora outside the pariah culminated In a notable
meraorial, whicb was made public on Dec. 16, 1908, and which
was signed by some ot the most distinguished citizens of New York,
including President Roosevelt, Secretary Root, Mayor McCldlan,
ei-Mayor Low, and Joseph H. Choate. This protest (see Pl 79,
Vol. V) read, in part, as foUows:
 

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