The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-06
The AdirondackS To Be Converted into
a Gigantic Central Park.
usHALL THE HUDSON BUN DRY9"
Eight Hundred and Thirty-fcuf Thousand
Acres Of Forest, Lake, HILL
Stream and Valley.
EDEN FOR A PLAYGROUND.
The Forest Timber To Be Saved for Our
Future Havies-Report of the
State Park Commission.

oC6C6 x6r2 OOmml6blOu.
Eighteen yeara 40 the citizens of this metropo-
LIS had forced upon them the question, "Shan we
ave q great pubic park formed at the upper end
Of the island for the benent OF ourselves and our
childrenr and the practical answer TO that abb
sorbing question is to be found Dy q visit to our
beautiful Central Park Of to-day. --Apd now 1t
seems that the inhabitants Of the State Of New
York generally have become awakened to the
knowledge that there 10 "a vast tract of land lying
In the Adirondack region-the most romantic and
beautiful part Of the state-which may, by small
outlay, be converted into q magnificent public
State park be retained forever for the beneht Of
our citizens and their descendants. In compliance
with an act OF the last Legislature q state Park
Commission" was appointed, consisting of seven
gentlemen, TO make report on the advtsabthty
OF occupying certain lands in the counties OF Gin
ton, Essex, Franklin Hamilton, Herkimer St.
Lawrence and Lewis as q great public State Park,
and We now publish certain pertinent extracts from
the report, which will, no doubt be read with
great interest by the people OF this State. The
names Of the gentlemen composing the State Park
Commission are Ex-Governor Horatio Seymour,
Patrick II. Agan, William B. Taylor. George Ray
nor, william A. Wheeler, verplanck Colvin and
Franklin B. Hough The tract reported favorably
upon by the Commission is almost entirely in the
Adirondacks, is much frequented by tourists, and
covers about eight hundred and thirty-four thou
sand acres-a tract In extent which would make it
when finished the largest park in the world but
one. the United States Park on the Yellowstone
River being the largest in acreage known to
those who are interested In arborculture The re-
port is in substance as foows:-
THE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
After careful consideration OF the projected for
park, with its practical bearing upon the inter-
nStc of fhn n fhp Wh fAI 70 WI of
opinion that the protection. OF great portion Of
that forest from wanton destruction is absolutely
and Immediately required. We do not favor the
creation OF an expensive and exclusive park for
mere purposes OF recreation, but, cOndemning such
suggestions recommend the simple preservation
Of the .timber as measuresof' political ECONOMY
The conclusion that the permanent preservation OF
large portion OF this forest isnecessary 10 based
nected with the great business interests OF the
State Before proceeding 70 the discussion ,, o. tue
statement Of facts in regard to the region Is de-
''NATURE's LovELIEsr DOMAIN" "a
The land slopes upward towards the viii
aerness whose marked peculiarly Is the
degree, and the vein-iike ramiacation Of its
crystal brooks and rivers. The surfaces Of the
principal lakes throughout this upland are gener-
ally elevated from fifteen to sixteen hundred feet
above the sea, whence some writer's have been err
roneousiy led to term the whole region plateau
seen mas as Silent expanse Of mountains snrouded
In unbroken woods. vast and quiet, and
SKY s'' throughout this forest game is still
abundant. the deer, bear and panther, with
presence gives to the magnificent scenery a
Strange, wild and romantic element, which has
contributed TO MAKE lts more 40
people who travel and who admire the natural
splendors Of their native land.
AGRICULTURE, HUNTING AND MINING.
Many Of the inhabitants are forced to exc out
their subsistence by hunting and trapping; and,
tattery, since the value OF the region as Summer
resort has begun to be understood by our citizens
and the citizens OF other States, the class of
guides-hardy and intelligent men-has increased,
and thousands OF dollars which have hitherto been
expended in travel in foreign lands, remain In or
are brought into our State.
The mineral wealth Of the region is not inferior
70 that Of its forests. 1t Is practically limited to
Iron, which exists IN remarkable purity and enOr-
nous quantities but careful geological explora-
ton has proved that the available deposits OF ore
gion, and that the ore beds generally exist in the
Settled, cleared or accessible portions Of the
now exhibited near Lake Champaign, at Port Henry,
Nineville, Elizabethtown, Black Brook and Dame
mora. The beds, which here supply the furnaces
nre OF magnetic or Octohedral ore. Passing west
ward, along the northern boundary OF the region,
the character OF the rock changes, and the specu-
lsr, henatite ores OF iron are encountered,
and the ore beds, as at the iron mountain In
the town Of Oakhanl, st. Lawrence county, are
often unworked, and far in the depths OF the
woods In addition to these masses OF iron there
are beds .of serpentine tso-called verde antique
ahse OF ss OF
6uiidinc purposes. Besides these products there
are no mines Or minerals OF great commercial i'm
In the early days Of iron manufacture in this
region all the iron was made with the aid Of wood
charcoal. When q pure ore was USED, iree rom
sulphurets and phosphides, the scharcoal iron"
produced was unsurpassed in quality and COM
handed high price. The result was that large
sections in Essex county were entirely stripped
Of forest In order supply the requisite charcoal
The mountains thus deb0squed are to-day almost
trceless, showing desolate tanks OF naked rock !;
and some Of the streams which once were trout
brooks are now torrent beds through which the
mountains rushes swiftly OF to leave them almost
dry instead OF slowly percolating through sponge
OF moss and tree roots. as slowrunning. cold and
constant spring.
About eight hundred and thirty-four thousand
four hundred and eighty acres, or one thousand
three hundred and three square miles, are upon
the Hudson River side OF the mountain divide
which separates the head waters OF that river from
the streams flowing to the st. Lawrence THIS
would be required for the purposes OF the forest
park, In case 1t should be determined that the
the forests covering and protecting
The sources oil the Hudson s all that is necessary
Tor that purpose.
The following is a statement OF all the lands now
owned by the State and remaining unsold:-
General Fasd School ftnd.
C0mfi6 Acres. 1cres.
Clinton. sas ssss s
Hamsun. 1851 ass
zterkimer.............. ............... fp 70
Warren NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. GAS soSI
y Totals. ..neda isssa
In all 81, S64 or nearly forty thousand acres.
SHALL THE HUDSON RUN Dry"