The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-07
A Question for the People of New York.

The future OF that portion Of this State
which extends from the shores OF Lake
Champlair on the east to tho valley OF tho
Black River on the west. presents problem
full of interest to students Of economic SCI
ence and It must soon occupy tho serious con-
sidcration Of practical statesmen. unless this
great region Is TO DO allowed to fall
gradually into n condition OF entire and ab-
solute barrcnness and waste.
All this part OF the State Is raised to
a considerable elevation above the level
Of the ocean. Its climate is rigorous
and severe while It's soil Is Of such charac-
tor as to unfit 1t for agricultural purposes.
This region was once densely covered with
forests, and forests still occupy large areas
within its limits. These forests furnish, In
ono why or another, occupation to tho people
OF the northern part of the State. who are
dependent upon them for their existence. 1t
is region In soil and climate exclusively
adapted to remain in forest. because in no
other way can 1t be made productive 1t is
a case, SO far as tho population goes, OF
forest or determination.
Such regions, e-tined by nature for forest
growth alone, exist in other parts Of the
country, and the timo cannot be very far dis
tant when the principle long adopted in
other parts Of the world, that lands fitted by
nature to produce forests and nothing else
must be permanently maintained in forest
and not converted into barren or unproduc-
tive farms. will DO acknowledged in this coun-
try also. The wuStcsul system now so COM
mon with our crude agriculture which per-
mits rotation from forest to farm and then
from farm back again into forest. will then be
abandoned, and the forests will become per-
manent and continuously productive. Such
lands, as experience will show. can only be
profitably treated In this way.
Tho relations OF the forests OF northern
New York to the rest OF the country are,
moreover, peculiar. The streams which rise
among these forests have more than local
Importance. They affect the population Of
the whole State, and have direct and con-
trolling influence upon the commercn of the
world. The future therefore, OF these for
ests, inasnuch as they supply and regulate
the most valuable waterways OF the con-
tinent, becomes matter OF the deepest pub
lie concern. deserving the most careful study
and most iudicious treatment. This great
subject should occupy the attention OF tho
next Legislature. 1t will be It's duty to Sc
cure by wise enactments tho permancncy OF
these forests.
We suppose there Is not In all the world
an area Of equal extent that Ia more inn
pOrtant to the human race than the four or
five million acres known us the Adiron-
dack wilderness To the people OF this
State 10 other portion Of the State Is
hak so valuable or half so well worth
wise and careful management; and certainly
no other part has been so much abused.
Had 1t been the wish and the intention OF
man to utterly ruin tho region which fur
nishes the Hudson RIVER with its water sun
ply. tho work OF devastation could not have
been better planned than 1t has been,
nor more surely and swiftly put into
execution. The thousands OF acres OF naked
rock stripped of the last vestigo OF vegeta-
tlon. terrible In their utter and ever
lasting barrcnncss. which can now be
seen along the banks OF the upper
Hudson, testify to the effects OF fire.
quent and unchecked forest fires, and only
too clearly point out what must soon be the
fate OF this whole region, II 1t is longer left
to the destructive agencies now surely work.
Ing its ruin.
The people OF this State II they ore wise.
will read in the light OF experience the lesson
which the scared rocks and blackened stumps
that cover tho southern slopes OF the
Adirondacks afford them, aud hesitate be.
fore 1t Is too late, to tako upon themselves
the responsibility Of permitting tho de-
Struction OF our most valuable channels o.
commerce, and the determination Of the
prosperous and happy population Of north
orn New York.