New-York tribune., 1884-01-02

was the last on which large quantities which had
been sold for taxes in 1881 could Ice Tcd'eIuCdi
the close of that day the state became the owner o
III Si2 acres more which had been bid IN N II al
such sale and which was not redeemed. IL NUS
be conceded that this was a fair days Work on ~ w
half of the State in the direction OF acquiring 'e'o
important lands, A.. +bo
And the fact must not be overlooked thatt, lIF
trees cut from those lands thus taT nave Heuaill -
not always comprised only those OF a parIlSu'iII i
kind which really make mp hnt slna! par vi ~ li,
forest which is necessary to the pIeseINd'loH o 0'
water sources. .,,.,,ose i ~,
agency of destruction which should pe qua"
against. BY this means not only tle uS's "t',,.iI
stroved but what there Is of thin SOIL OF ,AoHiv
surrounding their roots IS so nearly coh'l.ll''a % r
for n generation at least trees ana NeVeIdIlon az az
not likely to Teappear. these hIts ar, IN f I I'm,
cases, the result Of heedlesSuINs on nv p,crant p
bcr1nen or excursiOni,ts and the guides accompany
While we should not neglect TO provide against
oDr Danger which threatens the supply OF wafer III
ouT important streams and rivers, II seems 10 llt
we are in the presence of another peru, ~
which we must v1gi antly guard Ie!e. - s IL
schemes which are likely in the present state0I he
nuhIc mind 10 be proposed, having for ther opJecf
The purchase by the state OF immense itdglS ~ "
these lands, upon be tat [S i '''
only means of protecting the interests lhNoiNeu.
these lands owned by the state should De pldIiIy
located and declared, with what u may IlcLti
acquire to be park lands; strict laWS 4 su4'o 10 % o
nassed to prevent fire by Carelessuess, ana 10 Sc
yereIv Dunisb trespasseTs who shall cut WI, lhe
trees: the guides should be under some klnd ol
regulation and control and u nlsh. nI, to
TO establish some supervising aqlholIia
enforce the G'Seil ln'ndonbtedlv be we'll
if the lime permitted 70 eapso DrCT"o ra,momt as
wen as the period allowed after sale Tor redePoi,'
should be shortened by the adoption Oh SOM % SuCH
measures believe the danger when seems IlllI
nent NAV be averted and until it has been demon
strated that any other plan must lall' Is, III g f
opinion our duty to oppose any S'hSulo Ila N,E
its object the purchase of these lands ana luN
INC o. II would tbe expenditure OF mllllohs Ol
money. ..... - ,r.,-os+i.
gate tins whole question. and il Is expected tha3
their report will contain valuable Suggestions anu
recommendations.
ADIRONDACK SURVEY.
In any effort instituted to protect the nor1h'Ih
wilderness, we ought reasonably to anticipate
mpcb aid in the location of the lands, from this
survey.
I find in the year 1876 an appropriation was
made Of $3.50 "to complete the Typographical
survey and exploration of the Adirondack WIDER
ness" SO far from its being competed
for that appropriation, more money haf ofcH EItTn w.
for tins purpose every year since, In $50, Ihe
tiTne to finish this " exploration and survey was,
bv a statute passed on the 2sth day OF May, IN
that year limited to six years from tHa' uac' .no
and the act explicitly declares that, AT the en-" OF
the time limited. the Typographical character OF
the work shall be completed in all respects through
ont the area under survey"
Since that time and including the appropriation
of that wear. S65 900 has been drawn from tnc
treasury of the state for the work when IN Il 30
seems to have been supposed would be completed
for go while hcentlTe cost 10 the present daJe
apprOXimates 10000 exclusive o1 very large
sum for the printing of costly reports.
To the ordinary understanding II cannon DuJ APP
pear that the time and money thus spent should lh-
sure perfect and complete survey OF TINS WllueI-
1t will be observed that the time limited by the
law of ISIS for the completion OF tins exploration
and survey expires on H. tae Lsn & IE DI yJeelon
some practical and useful results. However THIS
NAV be- the day thus fixed should be the end. II
we have not yet secured What we neeG II Is u7ei'''
to depend longer on this instrumentalty.
| recommend that the SupeTlntendent OF the AL
rondaCk Survey be required on or before the ZSth
dav of May next to deposit III the office OF the state
Engineer and Surveyor all maps, surveys and other
results of his work well as all tools and lnstru-
Inents in his charge belonging to the state.
THE STATE SURVEY.
Probably the duration and cost Of this establish
mcnt were no more understood at the time 1t was
inaugurated, and its results are now but little more
apparent or appreciated, than those OF the Adlron
daCk survey.
The state Survey made its first appearance IN the
LEGISLATION of the state in the appropriation bill for
the wear 1876, when 10000 was appropriated
." for making an accurate trlCOnOmetTc ana topO-
graphical survey of the state for the determination
Of State and county Ines Comml-sloueTS were
appointed who should, it was declared. mold Once
for one year No provision Is mad" loI the appoint
meut IF any successors 70 these c0LimNSlohcrS' III
the appropriation bill Of 1877 no money j., &ppIo-
prigted for the survey but il Is declared that the
term Of office of the cOmmlsslOueTS should De eA-
tended TO the 1st day of May. l7Lo., On the GtA
dav of MAY. 1o7N, q law was passed, the first sec
tou of which declares that in order 10 define the
objects of the state Survey, 20 limit the expense
thereof. and to provide for its speedy compG
tom the commissioners Heretofore appointed,
naming them. are hereby appointed 10 conduct
tie same in accordance with their last annual re-
port TO the Legislature, namely: Ile WOlk Is 10 nc
f# mol y %. d iErH
points as are necessary to give correct bases loF
cOuutv town and other surveys so that they may
No limit was fixed 10 the term or tue OoMulsI
si0ners and the sum Of Sl4.SOU was appropriated
for the purposes Of tins act.
Since that time il has had its place regularly III
the appropriation bill year after year uHti the sum
uf 81 300 has been applied TO TINS OBJECT Inc
language of the first two acts IN which the survey
is mentioned indicates, by the appointment OF tLt
Commissioners for one year., ana extending ILelI
term an additional year, that II was supposed
their duties would be OF temporary
nature: and the language OF the law OF Il - IndI-
Gates that the object sought by that act
was to define rhc objects Of such survey,
limit is cyDcuse and circumScrihc ITS work. Near
lv six years have passed, the large sum of money
above mentioned has been spent but lljJie mas ap-
parcutly been accomplished and we have no AIut
from the Commissioners or the Director OF the JIne
or money which will be necessary 10 compete lhe
work It's continuation Is urged on the ground tlat
il will be valuable TO the cause OF science. ms
consideration should be regarded; and 1t may Ge
conceded 700. tdi lLcIlOldI uh Ol'I ll+4No ','iA
he fiyeI and such 'poInts as are necessary to give
correct bases for county. town and other surveys
but none Of these things justify MS in bndy spend,
ing the public money Tor purpose the cost UL
winch pTomlses 10 be enormous and the benefit Of
which NAV be realized only by po>terIty.
In my judgment this survey and others ol a the
L0ud he prosecuted underthe diTectiUnO of the state
Engineer and Surveyor, and the results constitute
public records in his Office. This officer Is not at
present overbuTdcned with work, ana no one VINO
has moi the engineering skill 10 direct such opera
tions is likely to hold the position. The expense OF
creating establishments to do such work, and the
ease with which they grow into departments Oh jAe
State has often been demonstrated.
NIAGARA FALLS RESERVATION.
The Commissioners appointed underthe law passed
by the last Legislature for the purpose Of selecting
and locating such lands in the village Of Niagara
Falls as may be necessary TO be reserved for the
purpose Of preserving the scenery Of the falls OF
Niagara, have determined upon the lands WhlcuI IN