New-York tribune., 1885-01-24
FOREST PRESERVATION.
REPORT OF THE STATE COMMISSIONERS
FOREST Commission RECOMMENDgD-THE GREAT
DANGER FROM FIRFs.

| Harvard University; d. Willis James. OF New-Yorb
City. and Edward NJ. Shepard of Brooklyn
| W. A. Poucher, of Oswego, the other member
OF the commission, dissents from Dor
tons OF the majority report The report is devoted
chiefly to the Adirondack forests, which the Commits
siOners believe suffering more from fire than any
| other cause. The report says:
Fires slowly and surely destroying the Adirondack
forests Unless they be stopped greatly reduced
III number and violence nothing prevent the entire
| determination OF these forests They most common
and destructive along the borders OF the forest they do
interior. II the Adirondack forests are de-
stroyed they will perish from the outside. The
largest number OF forest fires, however in the AdirOn-
dack region. as in other parts of the State, set by
agriculturalists clearing with fire fields covered with
readily naturally selected by the settler to start his
fire. lie seldom regards the direction of the wind the
in the piles of dry brush and fallen timber, unmatched
aby entirely 9re inc sd almost
| forest Thousands of of forest lands
few wreched fields which the timber should never
have been stripped These fires have burned desert
belt about the remnants OF the Adirondack every
year sees It's gradual extension Tbs not an exagger
ated danger The forests upon which the great rivers of
which bring into the State thousands OF travellers
year ana support the population OF several counties are
part of small and impoverished population to cultivate
and unit Tor all agrcutnra crops ana destined by ma
ture to remain perpetually covered with forests.
In discussing tho suggestions made for preserving the
Adirondack forests the report says:
AGAINST IMMEDIATE PURCHASE BY THE STATE.
The Commissioners are not prepared TO recommend the
purchase condemnation of wild lands by the state
The practical objections to any such scheme seem to
them nsupcrabe 1t will not be denied that the future
permanonce of these forests cannot be absolutely in
sured except through state ownership and control Ex-
perience has shown that private ownership means,
sooner or later forest destruction Individuals Will cut
down their forests, or allow them To burn up, when Is
for their interest 10 do without regard to public well
fare. IL must be conceded that II the people OF
fen
Adirondack forests is essential to their future prosperity
here u Dut one way ny wnch they can De certain OF
insured only by absolute purchase >, .
barrassments however. in The way any general State
purchase sre to the Commissioners decisive. The enOr
nous expenditure that would be required and the dan
OF drtlliCay enhancing the value OF such lands for
the sake of sale to the State have convinced the Com
mlssoucrs that the stale wisely enter upon any
that. under different circumstances, the state might
qulre The whole Adir0ndack forest by purchase; anu
Gat the price OF such purchase II me forest G99d pc
! returned directly and indirectly to the people
a hundrediod. The securing at the pres
ests is too doubtful. however, in connection
with the other conscientious already advanced to justify
them IN recommending the Sste to purchase L. uesc lands
at he exorbltant prices which owners. III the nope OF
selling To the state, now place upon them State control
OF forests IN any proper meaning or the term mas never
been attempted IN the United States VIII DO wise 10
make the first experiment uona small scale and with
success. The STATE already owns in the
aggregate no inconolderabie part of the Adiron-
ITS holding viii bs worry LARGELY increased during the
few years by the voluntary reinqushment IN lieu
have been cut Tho state should first demonstrate It's
ability 10 protect the forests which already owns and
develop wise stem OF forest management applicable
to these lands before the question OF the purchase or
other lands OF the character be seriously con-
ment Of its Wild land by the state to JUS
tify their increase by purchase at this time.
IMPORTANCE OF A FOREST COMMISSION.
The Commissioners believe that the wild lands now
hal IN thp -t.fe nr VIII
from time tlme only be safely administered by
commission Such a commission should be nOn-pohtca
IN character Its members should serve for considerable
periods of time, order that liked policy may be in
surcd. Absolute power OF appointment ana dismissal OF
huDotdlnate- shDud ne NeSled IN lle COMMISSION Will
out such power they would be helpless TO secure effective
missioner must he found in the consciousness of the
performance OF great public services aud not IN the hope
Bile position OF forest commissioner VIII nnd
forests and IN inagurating broad system Of
forest control for the STATE of NewYOrk without seeking
other reward, Salaries however small would bring
element OF instability into the composition Of such COM
witch it was created The present relations OF the comp
troer to the wild lands of the ste and TO the proposed
work OF the commission make It desirable that the
appointment Of the forest commissioners should be made
by that officer and that he should have over them some
power Of removal. j.. The snsleness necessary 10
found In the forest warden, who Is intended
To be the active executive officer in the rest admins
trition lie Will reproent the policy ofthe commission
but should be left uuramnced IN the execution or the
details OF his work. IL IS OF the utmost Importance that
the forest warden should not be exposed 10 political VI
cis>tudes or be deemed In respect political officer
lie should. therefore. have definite Of office be-
yond the pleasure OF the commission. The person
ected for this position must have peculiar quahoations
He must have Il good scientific training and excellent
business ability. But beyond hese he must bring 10 his
Office tact ygor rmness and the breadth and aptitude
of mind which are needed at the Inauguration OF any
policy. When such officer is found prop.
ery equipped for the duties OF the place, 1t would be
wise to retain him as long as his services are are
many years probably not less than ten. 10 estao-
lish and perfect any general system Of forest treatment
During several OF those years the value or his services 10
the state would become greater and greater The latter
element II has also seemed wise To the Commissioners To
recognize by increasing his salary by FOR SIX
years The same considerations have been applied TO
the important officers In the administration
The proposal OF the Commissioners 10 establish these
purely business basis and TO remove them
completely from the accidents political and personal
changes. And unless this general Idea prevail IN the
novel and critical work contemplated by the laws pro
posed II Is not reasonable u suppose that IL VIII sue
ceed Nor it he Ipected In that that the onor
material interests of the State involved IN the
proper solution OF the forestry problem will be ade
quhtey protected.
The Commissioners also recommend the passage OF a
law prohibiting the cutting of timber from lands upon
which the taxes overdue and under the same law II
proposed lessen the delay in the collection of taxes
They also recommend that the State should bear in com
mon with individuals the proportion OF taxes
assessable on its lands; also that owner, owners
TO protect their property by securing the pun
shnunt of trcspassers, preventing the setting OF nrSs
aud stopping the cutting and killing OF trees Three bills
submitted for the purpose of carrying out the recon-
cndstOns OF the Commissioners.
Mr. Poucher dissents from the recommendation for a
commission believing that ~ single responsible head
be appointed by the Governor to into effect
the proposed legislation and thus obvate the evil effects
which flow from divided cOunSes and divided response
biy In other respects he concurs in the majority re-
port.
THE WEATHER REPORT.