New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-19
THE. STATES FOREST LAND.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORESTRY
COMMISSIONERS.
RAILROADS As DEsTRoyERs or FORESTS
PURCHASE OF LANDS IN THE ADrRoN-
CORRESPONDING TREE CULTURE.

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TmBUNx.'
Albany. ~ Y, Dec 1s.-Secretary Train OF th'
pcard Of Forestry Commissioners OF this state sac
his afternoon: ~ sent the annual report OF the
Forestry Commissioners to tho state printers day
II Will be submitted to the Legislature when IL meets
ON January l. In the report the Commissioners
mako strong protest against tho invasion OF State
lands by the railroads No railroad should DO per
mltted to build Its line across the lands OF inc ores
preserve for the destruction OF The forcss hcvaoi'
follows A year ago the Board OF Lana COMMISSIONS
ers gave tho Chateaugay Railroad Company Pcrmis
SION to run its line OF twenty mlk-~-roSS the
forest preserve without penny "f compensation 10
the State This is but a continuance OF tho pohcy
of certain State Boards for many years
"The State onco possessed all the lands In the Adj
rondack Wilderness but II gave them all away. Every
acre that we now possess has boon returned 10 me
State through tax sales TIE title 10 IL Is precaous
and land speculato attempting TO gain possession
Of some Of It by persuading the courts to cancel
the sales In other cases these spcculators arc
attemptn gain possession Of these lands by paying
tho back taxes and thus rcdecming the land. The
Forestry Commissioners therefore recommend In their
report that the Legislature pass an act authorizing
them, In association with the Controller to appoint
referee take testimony in all these cases where
men arc seeking to gain State forest lands through
cancellation or redemption.
"The Commissioners also ask for strengthening Of
of law which will authorize them to procure change
Of venue in land cases In which they are interested
They also recommend the purchase of forest
lands by the State. In order TO prevent 1obbeiy,
they suggest limitation of the amount to be paid
per acre and a Limitation OF the total amount that
spend for this purpose. We can easily buy
for al and 81 acre forest lands which IN
ten years will be worth 81 and $40 an acre. The
object in buying tho lands will be primarily to pre-
serve them from destruction, and, secOndarlly, TO
Join together the hundreds Of blocks of land owned by
the State In the Adlrondacks We shall be better abie
to protect the forest lands when the forests arc IN
large blocks. Now lands mixed up with
those Of private citizens in such way that IL is
hard sometimes to learn their boundaries.
"The Commissioners also recommend that they
receive permission to plant trees and set On foot
measures for tree cultivation The lands denuded OF
their forest trees should be again planted with forest
trees We OF course, shall need an appropriation for
this purpose. In order to encourage reepannhg
the Commissioners recommend that the taxes DO re-
mitted In measure Of those persons owning land who
plant trees. The Legislature IS also asked to define
the legal rights of the socaed cusodans of the State
lands There about twelve of these gentlemen
and nearly all occupy islands in Lake George. We
do not know that wo have the legal right to Gust
them. Tho Commissioners recommend that they re
ceive permission to lease lands to cusodlans and
msd leases Of s' five o years and in limited QUANTITIES
of five acres to men OF good character Such leases
would pay all the expenses OF the Commission every
year. ~
!" The Commissioners. in their report, say we
refer first the propositions to have the State &C
qure forest land by purchase, TO encourage system
Of planting and foresculture and to exclude rail-
roads from State forest lands because We wish to DO
understood that while other measures here recon-
mendcd regarded important aids in the success
full working OF the machinery Of our Office, we can
not but regard the propositions Just designated rs
in building up any system that Is
worthy the name of forestry. without such legisla
ton any scheme of forest preservation will 1t !. be-
eved, prove to be m0ckery and end IN disastrous
failure'n
Sherman W. Knevals, Theodore b. Bassein and
Townsend Cox are the members Of the Commission.