New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-07
THE ADIRONDACK FORESTS.
,rpc1NG THE STATE TO ACQUIRE THEM.

o,,o>, or THE CHAMBER OF CoMMERCE-IMP0R-
TANT ADDRESS BY MORRIS X. JEsUP.
The most important matter brought before the
Chamber of Commerce yesterday was an a ad IS
bv Morris K. Jesup, who had been requested 10
call attention to the threatened destruction VI 'o
Adirondack wilderness. MIR. Jesup said:
The Hudson River is almost entirely fed BY the adi small
dack wilderness The Mohawk River finds It's source In
the region as does the Black ey way OF
the Black River Canal supplies the ERE Cana WIN water
Tie watershed OF these streams is comparatively small
and that they are eS large gse sS IN h dcnsey
crowded with forests These mountains attract
store nm and protect the water from evaporation,
and the which all regions stripped OF their forests
frozen surface of the ground is well known The natural
watershed Of these rivers is small that seems alb
tSer Segradaon considerable portion of the forests
which covered the watershed OF the hudson River
has already disappeared and the effect OF such destruc
ton is already apparent. Many of the small streams
which once flowed continuously thfo9Rnout Ihe ne
now dry during several months. and the eheot OF the
dmnutiOn of water upon the Hudson Is already SO great
that navigation above Troy is rendered almost lpoSo
the high mountain ridges of this region where occurs
the greatest snowfall and therefore, the really lmpor
tanf mart of the watershed have not interered
with Only the outlying parts OF the forest anu tno
least important in the uFa aspect have been destroyed
and still very serious damage has been done to the ud
son and Mohawk Rivers II the forests whlcn sun G9nei
the Adirondack heights and surround the countless lakes
are DESTROYED such o dmnution IN the now Oh an
the rivers heading here Will follow .nat .ues Thai
ruined all commercial and industrial h, tbe
such thing will come to pass IS made ehGeno py i Tue
effects already produced upon Ihso 80
the destruction of forests which has ALREADY TAKEN pcG
and by the influence which the removal OF loresls III
other countries has had on other rivers ,,,o.
The reason for the necessity for pronpt ano lhheuhG
action Is that the price OF lumber and forest plOuucts All
over the country mas lately advanced that IL VIII now
paw TO cut aud market the comparatively inferior Adon
dask lumber 1t has paid TO do this until now, owing
both to its inaeeSsibility ana generaE row BIue oh
xairoSdack Railroad scheme is revived with consider
able energy aud OF forest land through the VII
taking vigorous measures To get thel loSs 10
market If railroads are allowed TO penetrate these
cOniferOus forests and extensive numbering operations
take place it will be impossible TO prevent the spread OF
destructive fires to all parts Of the wilderness Sucn
fires destroy only the growing forest but the fery
of the soil itself rendering it unfit to grow trees again
year. and gradually reduce ii TO barren desert II thls
Is allowed occur nothing can prevent the Destruction
destruction of the supply of the Erie Canal the ne
structon of the valley of the Mohawk, one OF e ic't
agricultural regions In the state, and great injury 10 te
agricultural region extending north OF the wderhess 70
the ST. Lawrence River. The most important thlngs 10
accomplish the preservation OF the Hudson anu tho
canal: but the other STREAMS which VIII ne l0uleu p
the destruction of the Adirondack forest are Only seohu
to tue Hudson in Importance. wise ana compIenen7
sive state policy Will seize upon the whoe 1oes region
perhaps 100000 In excess OF tine present Ste
holding ard keep for all tin great forest preserve
and in this way insure abundant wafer 10 inc huus0h
and the canal This be done by the exercise OF te
right of domain by tie Governor with the sane
ton of the LEGISLATURE. The money that this would cost
the state great the would be. would be returned
iii improved and more permanent agriculture
Mr.. Jesup then presented resolutions, which
We're adopted, providing that n memorial pc ad-
dressed TO the Legislature requesting the adoption
of such measures will enable the state To acquire
the whole territory popularity known as the Aul-
rondack wilderness, and hold ii forever as forest
preserved; also providing for Il committee OF seven
with power to invite the cooperation of other assoc
Citations and individuals throughout the state TO
secure the necessary legislation The committee
appointed IS as follows; Morris NJ Jesup SaV t6
Cornelius n Bliss Scion Humphreys, and Thomas
Is. COddingtOn.