New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-26
THE NoRfH WOODS.
NOTES OF AN AUTUMN TRIP.
RUIN WROUGHT nr DAVIS IN TUE LAKE oouxr,

citrate very deeply Into tbs lake regOn before his sprk
RECEIVERS from the detecting influences which prevail
among the foothills beyond tho range. The constant
but ever varying beauty OF the shores where wooded
| slopcs come down meet still water the ends..
vicssitde OF light and shade between the Brightness a.
the open sky reflected from hundred lakes and m.
darkness OF surrounding forest depthsthe sinenar,
bold outline OF the mountains built Of ancient unsataot
roka the elemental features OF the scenery are grand
and combine 10 nvgorate the mind Just the pure AMI
stimulating air gives life to tho body Life i,sefI,
| here something Of triumph and oxultaon even f.r
those who do not 10 murder deer after the approved
fashlon-that Is, by sitting In boat and waiting for
hired and hired dogs TO chase the game lnta
the water. from which II has chance TO escape In
these forest the flames have yet made no wide
spread devastation like that wrought q border Int
all along the lake shores scattered evidences OF area
that have been klnded by carelcssness wanonne,s
Nature Is slowly covering up the scars with q now
growth but years too short to hide tho an
hour Of fire. and the only hope Is that tho connagaons
will be fewer. Many beautiful islands and projecting
points tho shore are still black from recent burning
but the attention drawn to this matter IN the newspaper.
and ut Albany has had restraining effect and per-
haps hi cher civilization viii somo time rule. when tho
man who frcs forest will DO covered with disgrace as
| would one who burned temple.
The best guides understand that It Is the forests which
attract visitors There is growing sentiment among
them In favor of license system which will exclude
from the calling unworthy and incomI etent men They
would agree to pay fee for commission which would
invest them with official authority and make them
rcspon sblc within certain limits for the conduct Of
parties under their charge that their licences might
he revoked for any violation OF cstat lshcd forest
code. Such o system would have little conservative
effect without strong public sentiment behind It. and IL
be admitted that OF the enormty o; forest
mutilation develops at q rate diicouragingy slow.
Tourists OF the class called cultivated too often lose
their respect for private property, where law has no
terrors, and many savage has pro;ounder affection for
the woods and quite genuine appreciation Of their
noble beauty. professor IN an Eastern college has
strip the bark from OF stately and
valuable sprces TO roof his shanty and after t,
vandalism burn the building and IT'S surroundings. lest
ono else might enjoy It. And yet he loved nature
and the woods; for aid he rot say his return home
published letter written to rebuko the greed Of the
| um5ermen n 4 man who an unslghily with
| , wheeling engine in 1.-THE most extensively In
congruOus object that be conceived OF IN spot
where utter wldness IL the browning charm-tbinks
nothing Of da mining up water course and drowning tho
trees miles or picturesque shores Tho excuse for
surrounding whole chain Of lakes with such fringe u
lcath that Nature left the connecting waterways too
shallow and tortuons for hi. alleged Steamboat The
state authorities have given the privilege Of building
other dams for purpose another AMI every one ~
them has destroyed the beauty and heilthfdness OF the
shores for leagues these high levels II Is complained
hat the state surveyors even have not hostaed b burn
|
stately timber growth ani oblitoftto od IAN lmitks 70
| iaari mn Open iangc Tor thoir tscscoro3
brstnrriid$ wR6rGit BY DiNs
| Ore cirrit et0ti thc Wltctn,ii fr5m eiririr siy
| 8tit, tht s5tti@3. Nj,c. 8ithji ttrtSt3rr 'riti
| riH 8NS ~ tNfs6 it5 tHe trs3 8 tNt sh5Si trfst
! w Ns3tNNtA' sWiMH3. NNee tAs iiMNs ~ tAli \ ~
| $3.50 44e tYppNs N'eeeWs3 A,5 tNe slsN4A' VASE
inesg sAsEtla l3r5a Hfe As "94s NsibN'N IfiN e@N
r.st Bitn Ag QYsnus7s 9i SOS sN9fes ~ Nase Mie-
lAs Ne1eYR4Js, Raeei t4eYs remiin ~ S4t4f 'plls
nep. sac Nlupp Alefs 4ge p9'lets' N''N 7H'"NNs's
%. sweet sle Aud gay aadl1me4a. gnl n1AilN A9I,
| AMI various yibarngmi AMI dosY 'ods ani meal'9-
sweet anI llers anl mountain ash anl slid Fo'eA be-
hind these the dark forest sweeps up the slopes 40
smooth gray trunks OF tho toeehes becoming more fire.
qncut among the naples anl trches toward the south
coast appearing here AMI there whlle groups 81 "'o
pine as out their branches MN above then an ~ !.
ground Of ts fair scenery have been Dlt DJ Inm-
noat their LOGS the mills II 80 II seems to be
needless barbasn for the water Il seia bht ic" uds
in the year. ON the Lyon estate there Is one reservoir
constructed for this purpose bat II Is never ed untu
the spring freshets need rcint0iclns' Ia inc ulNnS
season the gates opened in tho morning. when tho
Hood 1, waited oat the logs. and closed again 10 col
lect for the next day Daring tho rest :" tA9 year
the aud lakes are left at their Original level ana
the trees above the dam suffer no more than those below
ana none OF them are injured Perhaps TINS method Is
| reason why It is not universally adopted
| CARELESS AND DISHONEST HOLDERS.
Tho principle which this reservoir Is worked Is the
simple that while means are used to help the harvest
of pie.cnt crop of timber the future condition Of tho
forest AZ producing power Is 10 he considered. 1913
5tran &c that Ike this should rather be the OK
ecption than the rule OF operation here Bat the state
| has no protective rocy for tho Square miles of timber
which It still holds. There arc great land companies
Which look solely immediate profit. Other corporate
rossessors OF large tracts OF forest To have no
reasonable plan of profit. present remote The men
who hasten to strip the timber from their hOlns and
tGeu let their title lapse have no interest In the future OF
tho woods The small holders the forest frontier who
wish plant potatoes study only how 10 get rid OF ,he
wood most expedtously. There remains a fraction OF
the wilderness like the estate above mentioned IN
prlvate hands whose owners desire to hold the land IA
permanent forest possession for their children
They know that with fair mana cement 1t VIII yiei hir
| income forever Aud yet the simple preservation OF
their own warfare the year through ana losing
.ht at that for castom and awake make the wooisa
common prey ana guarantee immunity TO trespas'e1s'
Hunter or tourist will fell aud girde and burn as II lie
I Tbe State It.rlf viii build dams and drown the
timber on these estates without paying any damage
the owners sell the privilege OF cutting timber o, peSai
h,mndories In the contract the buyers. II they have
favorable TERMS or during tle tlne o,e ~ cu
the privilege extends the prices wiz warrant H. .H &
over huntrc,is o beyond the specified lmis aiia
| the courts viii only enforce payment at Inc coalas s
Iessees OF adjoining land will cut In for mile or -,
berause they didnt know where the INC ran c nh,
short. the woods can hardly he called proper "A ,sn
lect ara they oonlscaon and spoliRuon Anu Ia
there il the ever presen, threat OF IRE gains.
| tnare is no Insurance. The holder Of small cea- oa
| m. wood border must burn 1t over to prepare ot ~
| planting lie selects a dry time ana wmY u'! ~
Hin fhe work can ice thoroughly and quickly done aai
at once thc Are loose in the woods Tie 3@ner OF w w
| fnrest may see the incendiary actually holdng Wy
gted torch to his property. but has no power 10 st
hls hand what II the law does say ina one ,nd "a
| nlnws fire kiudpd his own wood OF iallOW Np's
extend beyond his land shall forfeit ttDe utps
| tn the pnrfy injured thereby The man VINO p -
the torch has no money tn pay damages Ana VIVA! u 80
law saws further THAT II he sets IRE nes!iget - 10
own woods aud II lcnps into the woods 0i ls ne hy
| shall bn punished on conviction Or misiemeahpr ~
line or Imprisonment, hOhl Was ans onc eIt m H.
to pfson fjr such trifns misdemclnor rs ths III wv
| Allrondachsi - , .,.,.. , c,,-
| Inc conclusion ~ the whole matter i ms Sons
aide able pliOu the forest IS gone betont my "a
| ~ ,.s,n,itinn hundred years. agd there i, ~