New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-30
THE ADIRONDACKS AGAIN ATTACKED

THE ADIRONDACkS AGAIN ATTACKED.
DESTRUCTION OF wATERwAYs-A DAM THAT
DESTROYS THE TREES AND SHUTS OUT
THE FISu-TO MAKE StRANAC
RIVER \ STEAMBOAT CANAL.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir Just prior to the adjournment OF the New
York state Legislature OF 1890 an act passed for
the Improvement Of the south branch of the saranac
River and making Appropriation therefor OF $1,000
see chapter 350 Laws of 1900 The object Of this ap
preparation was for the construction of Lock at what
i, called Middle Falls" about midway between Eound
Lake and the upper end OF Lower saganac Lake. Tho
appropriation was asked for By three four persons
onlv and was purely private enterprise TO permit
the running Of a steamboat on that stream, but this
object was TO be obtained at public expense. Inc
measure rushed through the Legislature without
any ore knOwny anything about IT except the three
or four directly Interested the bill passing The AS
,cmby on May , ard the senate on MAY .. the day
previous 10 adjournment Nothing wa done III the
matter until late last fall. the state authorities
INSISTED that dam must be put in without raising
the water In the river. which would OF necessity de-
siroy property The promoters. however nave gone
ahead and are now constructing the lock in que
ton They have already raised the water In That
par of the stream some two feet by Inflow
ing temporary dam across it. ara Inc
general impress is that the water VII! he raised
three or four feet before the work is competed IS
will have the effect OF throwing back the water on TIC
low lands above the falls To considerable extent and
will do incaculablc damage in the Destruction 81
trees etc, AS has already resulted on the kaquc'e
River from similar causes.
From what the writer able to learn on recent
visit TO hat region it would that the money
appropriated. 5000. has already been spent. ana
the rlmor was current that the Legislature was to be
asked for still further appropriation whether TINS
will be done or not, the future will disclose 1t Is also
rrorcd that the parties pushing this enterprise had
authority from the state 10 cut thousands OF FEET oil
timber from the STATE lands for the construction OF the
lock- much more than it generally supposed would
be required # being lar inference tlat the surplus
timber thus obtained would be sold TO pay for the
completion OF the dam, aud thus would oDVIa'c inc
need OF second Appropriation. and wodla say Gazing
puldc attention TO the scheme. 1t i also stated tIo
intention IS if the scheme Is carried out. II stralgten
that beautiful river above the falls IN question: so tha'
a steamboat can be ran into Round Lake without fo
lowing tic toriuoas bends OF the river. This would
have the effect of destroying In great part the Jcauty
and effectiveness of this most picturesque region.
The dam in question already binders the fish from
passing freely hCm lake 10 the other ana IL the
lock i, finished a. proposed in the plans shown, the
only chance the fish viii have 10 get up and down the
stream will be through the lock when 1t IS open foi
the passage OF the steamer, which, Of c0uIsc. VIII
practically close the river to the fish, This socalled
Improvement at The states expense, as before stated
was engineered by three four persons ana Kept
profound secret the people of the neighborlJod cNch
knowing nothing about it until the measure became
law Much opposition IS expressed against H. not Only
among sportsmen and visitors TO that region. but IN
.aranac Lake and the neighbOrng villages, a, large
nuIobcr Of the inhabitants gain their livelihood by
ending in the summer season, an Occupation WHICH
line of steamboas would 10 great extent destroy
pcople who visit the Adondacks for health recreation
and the enjoyment Of hunting and hshing VIII pray
IN have that NEST beautiful region within the HATS
Of thc proposed Adirondack Parf kept in It's p'isuhe
condition as far possible Inc RAILROADS ALREADY
RIM 10 the centre OF the mountains on DOM the SCUM
and west sides, and the beaten tracks are 50 well
marked that persons can go from point TO point "ith
ont guide If they desire, a. i. often done IN me
ing questions suggest thelsclvcs 800, J., .,
in the Adirondack, dangerous and against the pubic
Iavc the promoters Of this enterprise ta gt to
use the timber from the state lands ID ae % ,
Of mis- dam especially 10 meet any excess over thc
s. 900 appropriation which may be n as right 70
3-lf lie dam is completed, nave uel tc iltnt |,
s,rdiglcn or divert the channel OF the sanac K'ef
non ia they the right 10 raise the water Of to
lake. above its natural lcvc and necessarily noJd
iad, more or less, and Kill the trees Oh the BANKS oi
'nG is earneiy hoped that the legislator, Of isol
viii promptly pass those important bulls thal nave ne,
ir Mr. Robertson and Mr. IInsted proVolhS tlht nv
daTis shall be built OF rcrni,tcu ~ !" ,o rurtl.,
snv state lands shall De Ovcrl,pWcd 10 c ucStT III
% The wood hnds7 and no r'ilr0ai extension lHiouEn
St.tc lands without the consent OF the tOnnASoneIs
0f The Land Office and the state Forest coin'a I'D,
Tbof we NAV yet Hcc the p.Jpsra AulfOhIath Iaih
IN actna verify rs heritage Tor ne generation, 10
com. i'm thi, great state is the universal ucaiTi w"
NV Of visitors thst region, hut OF tn; Ic'iuch''
themselves. . -, l., =, ,,i,od for ntiIlic i'm.
nrdvr an IN this region lc improvement h1,t
pr,,,,;Iy demanded al present is the repair oi thc
u, od from Saranac Village 10 Tu per Lake, whlc
was built many years ago but IT, Is now III r ,In
Df
pau ,nhie fnr vehicles except during tic winter,
hi n can be used snow road bt even men Is
Iiin a. All seasons Of the year conId De u,cd 9f
pIo9re and travel between saIanac aa nsne
~ tro noIne This would be an cXpchdliur; OF
yIic money for public lnproye noGan OF
paetng IL on private enterprise Io' '"c riYr vi
cow interested individuals. i"Hi-''
ieN ycw York March 81, 1sOl'