New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-30
THE 1DIROND4CK FORESTS.

THE CASE OF THE PRIVATE OWNERS STATED.
To TIE Editor of The Tribune
SIR: In THE TRIBUNE ofDecember 81 1nOtce
letter from tho Rev j. Van Dyke, the" Beauties
Adirondack Forest He 10 be the first to dis
tho fact Gong appreciated by private owners OF the
socaed Adirondack Fores that the dams built on the
various streams the principal cause OF the desola0n
Of this beautiful region. But he makes great mistake
when he speaks of company presumably lumber frm)
forming plans to put dam at the saltwater on Beaver
River That proposed dam Is TO be built by the State
with appropriation made by the Legislature In spite OF
the protests Of of tho land whore It s TO DO
located The avowed purpose TO be accomplished by the
sad dam the furnishing OF water 70 the mills at Car
thsre and WATERFOWL, which have suffered through the
taking Of tho waters Of Black River for the benefit OF
the Enc Canal The samo object was TO be accomplished
by the building OF the tho sixth Lake the Fu
ton chain" which has transformed those three lovely
lakes (the Sixth. Seventh and Eighth together with
their beautiful nlets, into what Mr. Van Dyke apy calls
1.-THE aveyardS Of the forest" Any practical man can
easily perceive that the evaporation from such an extern
give hut shallow body OF water retained for so long
period must be immense in fact great that the gain
In power docs not amount TO one half inch TO
the mills sixty miles away. st the Legislature goes
making large appropriations and building dams, which
arc running tho forests sacrificing the interests Of tho
Of the same and doing very little good TO any one
galway excepting those who handle the funds appro
prated).
II is hardly sir lnder these circumstances that the
lumDermen most Of whom strongly object to these state
rescrvOis) should have bear in addition N the dcSrc
ton OF their property, the imputatOn Of destroying It
themselves.
Ono other point occurs IN reading Mr. Van Dykes
article. No fIil 10 With him that these
pathlcss woods furnish both intellectual aud spiritual
TcrCshmcnt 70 bralnwOrlcra but why those
have idea Of their individual influence prrserv
honesty toward the OwnerE Of the very property
they apprUpnatng, passes my comprehension.
professor from Of Eastern cOcgps permits his
guides lin uTnermAns phrase 10 Grdlr OF spruce
trees 10 build his camp, and then on leaving burns
the camp, taking no palms 70 eNuugush the fire,
which results In maTng the beauty OF the Lake ey the
repRrable destruction OF the trrrs S bonlCs Those
represented actual value 10 thu hut what
private property 40 long II II Gin the woOs" We,
Owners speak fec!lngy this point for has reached
such extent that have been compelled 70 circulate
notices f0rbiding any cutting md peelng OF trees for
campbuding purpOsca, thornby incnrTtnB vast amount
OF Indignation from camping parties. II one camp is
built Oh Smiths Lake why not twcnyi II twenty, then
tho beautiful shorcs stripped OF their green covering
and the wild beauty of the II forever deal
written aud said about the walton OF tho Adirondack
for public good while little appears their
than else In their preservation and having paid
the taxes heBe lands for yet have ade
qAte means OF protection agaust this ruthless dcsruC
ton OF their property III one cRHe gentleman haA leased
standing that trees 10 bo and no other camps
allowed. This arrangement has proved satafnctOry
TO both parties but VIVA one Of the few Instances where
permission 10 occupy has been asked
THIS novel view OF the matter but TO those
who have known and loved tho wilderness for forty yonrs
II has long been tho serious matter that tho
press now seems 10 consider II. J.
Lyons Fails, n. IT, Dee 26, 1883.