New-York tribune., 1873-07-07
THE ADIRONDACK PARK.
FIRST REPORT OF THE STATE PARK COM
MISSION.

FIRST REPORT OF THE STATE PARh COM-
MISSION.
PRESERVATION OF THE ADIRONDACK FOREST DE-
MANDED 49, MINERAL AND AGMCULfUBAL RE
SOURCES OF THE REGIoN-TTs AREA AND DIS
TRIBUTION-wATER SUPPLY OF THE HUDSON IN
DANGER-THE WILD LANDS TO BE HELD.
The Commissioners of State Parks of the
State OF New-York who directed TO inquire ln'o
the expedency Of providing for vesung in the state %
title to the timbered regions lying within tne Oou ~
of Lewis Essex, Clinton Franklin. 81 La"rcnoo' hei
kimer aud Hamilton and converting them inVo P"V'
park have presented their first annual report tnrousn
Mr. verpanck Colvn, Secretary OF the OonSSio"' A.e
report which is signed by all the Commissioners, is in
substance as follows:
After careful consideration Of the projected forest
park with its practical bearing upon the interests OF the
peope of the whole State we are OF the opinion that the
protection Of great portion OF that forest from wanton
destruction absolutely and immediately required We
do not favor the creation Of expensive and exclusive
ark for mere purposes OF recreation, but condemnng
such suggestions recommend the simple preservatonof OF
the TIMBER as a measure OF political economy. Theeoh-
cuson the permanent preservation Of large por
ton this forest Is necessary is based upon numerous
considerations intimately connectedwh the erea, o9s S
interests OF the State. Before proceeding 70 te
discussion OF the which have brought US 10 ns
onclusion, statement Of facts In regard 10 the IeSo
d, desirable. -, ,.,.o, h-,n.t,c
COUNTRY of the Indian Six Nalons-now known as the
Adirondack Wilderness is essentially great and almost
nonSts,po9s elevated region Of Northern NewYOrk.
The northern portion OF the County OF ,n ~ @
portion OF Essex County contains the most elevated
lands and highest mountains or the oIaIe. If0 n
Iako Champlan on the easi, the Mohawk river on lhe
south the Black river the west and the 81 baWfenqe
ON the north the land slopes upward t9SaI1 t11 f
At, lakes Of greater less degree, and the ven-like
ramiRCatOu OF its crystal brooks and nVeis.
CHARACTER THE SOIL.
few seftements only have as yet been formed in
HIS wild territory although during the 200 years past
numerous attempts have been made TO recover and cu
uvate IT, ali OF which have sgnaly failed aud recoied
with disaster upon the projectors. The cause OF the
fure these enterprises is 10 be attributed to the de-
uOrablc ignorance that has existed in regard 10 the
climate soil, and general capabilities OF the region
winch rendered unWaTIahIaDle tuc ioi
Amid the mountains, granite rocks, spaIseY covered
with vegetable mold become bare and almost ara
hen deprived OF the dense growth Of trees and the net
work OF roots and beTs which hold the soil togetheT
Ages will have passed before the slow CROWN ad dSI1
nacent Soil 10 ena Bile the slow growth OF timber 10 at
tam tho and value Of that destroyed IL must not
rock Tacre are extensive tracts OF grayey and sandy
SOIL lnteryaes, and near some of the lakes ana rivers
alluval lands, which are sometimes covered WIN
growth OF wild grasses often cut ana cured oy e
Winter Nevertheless, owing TO the elevation and the
.odncSs The climate, there is no profitable farming
carried on anywhere upon this upland Tor seldom Is
there year which the temperature does not iall so
low 10 prevent the ripenlnR Of corn while tr0st y
vegetable which may be grown even far toward the
Arctic zone Labrador and British America, is here
urOduCfd fine quality, ia some locations. oats alsO
grow thriy, especially upon new lands or soils tha
contain even small percentage OF hme' wheh ininersi
important to the agrlcuituristS, uniOi tunateB,
not abundant In tact, the agnGutuai prouuCts are
me forests which indeed the only surface wealth OF
region and but the need which the luInDerlneu
ana tGe Summer tourist have Tor even the scanty
TIuonft OF hay oats and potatoes produced ami pro
visions brought In and kept for sale AZ these slender set,
cmruts those settlements would soon cease 10 exist
As I- many the inhabitants forced TO exc out
their Subsistence by hunting and trapping.
PRODUCTIVE WEALTH OF TIE REGION.
% tho ia tfrfor To hat
Df its forests. 1t is practically limited to iron; which
exists in remarkable purity and enormous quantities;
but careful geological exploration has proved that the
available deposits Of ore confined to the northern
portion Of this region, and that the orebeds generally
country In addition there are beds OF serpentfne $50
called verde antique marblel seate or soapstone and
deposits Of graphite There also superior grades of
granite. 81 more properly gness valuable for building
upOSc Besides these products there are no mines or
minerals OF great commercial Importance. In the early
OF iron manufacture IN this region all the non was
made with the aid OF wood charcoal When pure ore
used free from sulphurets and phOsphdes the char
coal non produced was unsurpassed IN quality and
sections Essex County entirely stripped Of forest
N order to supply the requisite charcoal Ine noun noun
ing desOl8te hinks OF naked rock and some OF the
streams which were trout brooks are now torrent
beds. through which the water OF each storm on the
smooth sides OF the mountains rushes swiftly on to leave
them almost dry instead Of slowly percolatng through
sponge of moss aud tree roots as sow-runnng cold
and constant spring. For the development OF the IRON
mines Of the region, railroads only are needed.
without railroads neither the the pro
OF Tie beds OF the interior can De Drought
10 market With railroads. and the easy they afford
90 the cOalheds wood, which must DE cut aud drawn
by team over a rugged country, and would at length
give out becomes "a fuel expensive to compete
with coal. The advancement OF iron manufacture,
therefore, simply matter OF TarOads ana the de
velOpnent the mineral wealth Of the region does
in anV way conflict with the projected preservation OF
the forest Vast portions OF the wilderness owned
aud controlled by lumber interest which, with that
Of the anneues, is likely 70 be most Immediately and
radically affected by the creation Of STATE forest park
or timber preserve These lands are generally pur-
chased held, valued solely for the timber growing
them the pine, spruce ana hetnlock trees
have taken on the lands often abandoned and
revert TO the state Tor unpaid taxes.
The tanneries which scattered along the margins
of the wilderness require great supplies OF bark, and
therefore. and in the rapid destruction OF the f0rest
though the hemOck almost the only tree which is cut
SO thorough an sections has the work been made
that frChtfu 10 the numberieBs crossed trunks
f trees lying one upon another stripped OF their bark
early day there have been numerous projects for build
ing railroads through this region. most OF which have
been abandoned, and none OF which have been COM
ueted. Transactions show that the wild lands OF TINS
region are inrinsicay. OF very little value; for single
acre OF farming land, valued the moderate price Of
AGO. equal TO 1900 acres az five cents an acre The
working OF the would IN way interfere with
The preservation OF the forest for the mining companies
would only require those lands In which the iron hes
aud the right OF way for their railroads.
EXTENT OP THE WILDERNESS.
The area Of the wilderness may be estimated approxi
gnatey At 10000 acres, about 2O3 square miles
These wild lands are distributed among the several
counties in about the following proportion;
Covph Aerea County
Haaiiiton..... 10000 FranEiin.......... 10000