New-York tribune., 1884-01-25
TFTTERs FROM THE PEOPLE.
SAVING THE ApIRoNpACKs.

FATE CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP VERSUS STATE
CONTROL WITHOUT OWNERSHIP.
BE- the Edftor OF rae TrfbWne
SIR: The interesting and important commu-
s,ction from Mr. James T. Gardiner rector OF the s'Se
eryey pubished In THE TRIBUNE Of yesterday presente
:, argument for State control of the Adirondack forests
hch for practical purposes might well be accepted as
conclusive Were there no other interest az stake tan
che protecton Of the great waterways OF the St'e o
the injury not TO say rin which Mr. Gardner SHOWS 70
h sprey impending them, seems to me that TINS
alone ust be a matter Of such serious and general con-
op ~ 70 leave no room for hesitation on the part OF the
ygatre as 10 the question whether the interests OF
the state at large demand the preservation OF the North
Woods
,shed by enforcing the right OF eminent domain ana
tpc the land ct an appraised value, Mr. Gardiner ex-
se an opinion in the negative, but his facts appear
t mo 10 bear against his conclusion upon that point
II may be true that the greater power-tDat OF
taking the lands at appraised value-lucluoes
the lesser power OF assuming control over them
snbet TO the right OF the to compensation for
any damage they may sustain by the exercise Of such
control But Mr. Gardiner really gives no serious reason
a, .pn,ort NJ his conclusion that the exercise 0f the
lesser power advisable rather than the exercise OF the
ereatcr Tie doubtless shares the general feeling that
ea.e is not well fitted the character OF land
owner but apparently overooks the fact that the objection
70 tho ownership land by state lies not against
ownership c ST. but against the functions which owner
ship Is understood carry with or supposing those
functions be exercised, against Withholding Inc
land from use.
Rut in tho case under consideration the very object
sought Is 10 withhold the land from usea least to WITH
hold II from except such limited ones as are con
sistep with the interests OF the pubc and 1t conceded
that IN order to restrict 1t these limited uses ana
prevent the public objects IN view from beng
thwarted by the sefnteres or the careessnes OF @ u
viduas Is necessary for the state 10 assume e , in1
ttops of supervision Not only would TINS ihVOiVe upouV
al the Inconvenience which under t1e aGt' ni, TJj
would attach 10 OWnefsllp nu|. IA oHhci9u'S
were wanting would also be attenleh WIN ot"el anu
ST{ Driice n would thuk be found much harder
,naef 10 control the Of land acknowledged 10 eAos
tpeasnrv would he subject to unceasing demands for
losses or pretended losses sustained by owners ii conse
wished with their own Moreover these de-
nands would hecome larger and larger as throngn tg
the Increase OF population iu the surrounding co'sy
and the exhaustion OF the forests ese~ here 'he to n
With the Sud in the hands Of II would he easy
70 make leases Of it to umhernen subject 10 such co
ISrmltDg the emitting Of only trees; and con
tracts could be 80 drawn mat any voAon VI sI,
terms would involve forfeiture OF the lease anu OF SUM-
ceut bond u addition IN THIS way me luteIesis OIL 1 %
o6ier- sin,ed AT by the state and there were ANY III
einaton on the part OF forest officials corrupty 70 con
by the observing eyes OF sportsmeu, hethseekes anu
Others interested in forest presery Ibis as IL seus
10 me II h. through ownership that the necessary
trouble OF State supervision can be reduced 10 the mH
The only advantage can see in Mr. Gardeners plan
tbf i'm te t Instance ii would obv:atc the necessity Of
buvtng the land needed but the present. saving o IeW
iu view OF the unlimited future demands to which as
have pointed out above il would expose the treasury OF
n seems TO he generally assumed that the expenditure
nlsle for the purchase OF the Iauds "ouu
bO much money SUNK! Or AZ lCoS'l ,.. 80
the preservation OF the navigabe waters nom hHu9'
will the ether advantages which form the O1eCtol lhe
present agitation, would be the only return seted I
the Investment That these alone would he Wen worm
the money which the lands in question are kry 10 Gos'
there hardly be reasonable DOUBT but t1eleI5
10 believe that IN the long run thc Io.st, "uI -
III proposed. goOd business n n,oticL.'
"The projected forests Of Europe" says Mr. Gardiner
woods and other purposes, but they improve
rather than deteriOrate lf. therefore the AdHohdac
Woods were clii IN proper way they Wo' We pbi ~
and answer puhlio purposes Of water etoree We at
tie time yielding ample revenue 10 thelr owners
But if they would Yield ample revenue u PilVate
owners why should they not yield reasonable revenue
10 the Stateq The MANAGEMENT OF forest estate Is
eomparayey simple matter. and there IS no nsupeibe
obstacle being conducted with fair degree or sue
under Stat authority forest industries can be
advnnta geOusly carried on under easenOo ehuIi anu
N the lettings were made for rather short peT0ds-say
rents obtained would gradually increase al untl! @
they would amount 10 an aggregate sulnceht
yestInent besides dcfraying the cost of manage
meut In short there good reason 10 believe IN view
the rapid rise Of landed property III thls country ta
revenues they likely TO Yield, the purchase OF Tue
Adirondack forests their present value under an e1e
else of the right OF eminent domain, "ouu DC u
lent stroke business for the taxpayers OF the Stdte
saving them early future much more than II WOud
on the whole he plan Of control without purchase ap
pears TO be proposition to assume the burdens
Incident ownership and indeed much more serious serious
ones without the cOmpensatlng advantages WHICH V"ie
ship would bring Respectfully yours, - r r,s
Washington. D. c., jan IA, 1884
THE CONVICT LABOR VOTE.