New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-07
BROWNS TRACT AND TIE ERIE CANAL.

THE POSITION OF THE LANDOWNERS STATED.
To ne EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: Permit a few words of reply to a letter
I'm THL TRIBuNE signed 10y C. Hart Merriam and headed
asayiue the Adrondacks." 1t doc, credit TO The IN
ronuitv than the righteousness OF the writer ana GER
tanly shows that notwithstanding the advantage OF his
position in living near the western border OF the Adron
dacks ne either has very inaccurate knowledge OF the
country or gives "A very inaccurate statement Of the
facts His assertion that the Black River one OF the
principal feeders of the Enc Canal takes its origin in
Browns Tract" is entirely untrue The headwateIs OF
Black River are entirely east and sDuth OF Browns Tract
and BY the erection OF suitable works by the state Its
waters are div crted to the Enc Canal at Boonye Be
low this point the of the Black River and It's t
utaries flow norhward to Lake Ontario, and although
NJ Merriam seems strongly inclined to believe in the i'm
portance Of Browns Tract the Erie Canal his ncna-
lions have led him second assertion that the Erie
Canal is supplied from this source, when he certainly
ought to know. having always lived on the western
border that not drop Of water from Browns Tract
flows into the Erie Canal His assertion Is equally I'M
fortunate that the unbenen have reloubed their zeal
and the number wood choppers There are not as
many trees being feea on Browns Tract this year as
have been on average during the last ten years. and
the owners of the property in question have not sue-
ientv awaked to the danger which threatens their inter
ests as 20 believe that the Legislature WILL While seeking
TO promote the welfare of the people Of the state refuse
70 listen TO the truth and strike needless, random blow
at vested rights and honest industry
Tue owners OF Browns Tract claim that their property
should be left ont the boundaries OF the proposed park
FOR these reasons FIRST that il Is needed with refer
euce 70 the size symmetry OF the reservation; second
that country being dcuuded is often falsely
represented 10y the tuncTlcs and lumOermcn, Dut only
the large mature evergreen timber IL being ct all the
hard wood and the young evergreen trees being left In
tact so that s. expected that another harvest or ripe
trees can fifteen and In the meantime the
advantage OF shade and covering TO the ground are pre-
served third the greater pant of the land included IN the
proposed park il Comparatively vaueess for other plr
poses but the lands Browns Tract covered with
Timber much OF which has arrived at maturity and
should cut for the best good OF the Forest while
Their proximity TO market and 20 the facilities for trans
portaou render them OF great value too great to justify
their purchase for the purposes az the reservation;
iosy and caOusly protected Al taxes paid thereon Tor
H!ty YEAR, y the present owners, whose interest II VIII
certnly 10 continue the same conservative manage
ment OF the property.
Nj Merriam saws there IS d-putinC the fact that
81 the forests preserved an important industry Will he
checked and many will eutcr pccunary loss IN cOnse-
quecc This j. not OF the forests in Browns Tract
private their sef-inercst II is true If
the state takes possession OF them and their - com
miitcd TO hungry placcmel. But M. Merriam adds;
This is OF tring moment comparatively" II Is Ouly
taking with the strong hand valuable property which has
been carefully preserved for two generations by the
owners who have contributed literally of time and
money in developing Of the country. II j
ONLY ta;iu1 their daily work and daily bread from few
hundreds OF Woodworking wOOd-chOppers teansters
tannor- and saNycrS But this Is OF ihug moment 10
politicians and s0-caed spOrtsmen and scientists
OOhOeS. n. j., Feb. %. 1854. j.