New-York tribune., 1891-05-14

WILDERNESS POWERS OF
THE FOREST COMMISSION
IN THE MATTER.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRDrSK1
Albany, May 13-Davd B. Hill cannot forgive sne
Forest Commissioners because they refused TO use
their great powers to aid him TO accomplish his pontcai
plots but confined their work strictly to the difficult
task Of protecting the states great forests. Mr. Hiu
appointed a committee OF his subservent Democratic
Assembly to try the Forest Commissioners upon some
rumpedup charges last winter, and, by coercing the
committee, induced six Of its eleven members to favor
the removal Of the Forest Commissioners. minority
report signed by five Of the members praised the Com
mlssoners for their work. and this minority report was
adopted by Democratic Assembly, by vote OF 20
to AZ.
This verdict of acquftaI does not satisfy David B.
Hill and he is aiming to remove the Forest Com
missoners upon the ground that they have not pre-
vented the construction Of railways through the forest
preserve in tie Adirondack region, although no sue"
railways have yet been built The Governors he"S
paper organs have been instructed TO assa the Fores
Commissioners and point out that they are not pre-
venting the construction Of railroads by Dr. W. seward
Webb, from Herkimer, the New-York Central. 70
Malone. on the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Rail-
way, and by, the Delaware and Hudson from Sor'n
Creek, the Adirondack Railroad. TO Malone.
The Forest Commissioners, instead OF being inactive
In this matter OF the construction OF railways In tne
AdifO1dacK
They have instructed their counsel here to observe
closely every attempt Of railways to enter upon tho
occupation of State lands, and to institute legal pro
ceedings to prevent the construction OF any sucn rail-
ways. Their counsel will apply to the courts Tor an
Injunction to put stop TO the building OF any ras
through the State forest preserve as soon as the III
corporators of these roads file maps in the county
courts showing their routes. 1t may be added that
for the last three years the Forest Commissioners have
pushed In the Legislature, with all the energy thoy
possess, an act prohibiting any railway company rom
constructing line through the states forest and'
Commissioner Knevals has shown keen interest In
this subject. Mr. Knevals, in his testimony Deioro
the Assembly Investigating Committee, said:
ave prepared and presented a bill in 1889 TO prs
vent The buildng and extension Of railways through the
forest preserve the Senate amended IL ana passeu
1t, but IL died in the Assembly. The same Dill was
introduced in 1890, and failed IL IS inc amoSs
unanimous opinion of all who know anything aooue
the North Woods that the most destructive element
at work is fire; railroads responsible very largely
for fires wherever they exist there know wens
through from MORA to Paul Smiths station, over the
Northern Adirondack road, and the DESTRUCTION upon
both sides Of the road is terrible and absolutely nm
necessary In my Judgment One OF the first letters
GOT after my appointment as Commissioner was from
one of the Judges Of the Supreme Court OF that dis
tct who called my attention to that scene OF havoc
through there; it is worse than the destrucuoh Vi
water in the Raquette River. Not only that but the
railroads render it possible to carry away all WOODS
hard and soft and can take everything OF on wheeis.
AZ Sargent saws in his report The new method OF
numbering by the aid of railroads, means the a0some
destruction of the forests We have Thought that We
were vocing flo sentiment of the people In trying 70
check the creation Of railroads, especially those lf
Numbering purposes and freighting purposes tnere'
II oddly happened that In the opinion OF the raai'
way men, the Forest Commissioners have no ieesu
nowar IN preyent the construction of railway across
the States lands this power being lodged In tne na"u
of the State Land Board. The members Oh tis poa'"
are Lieutenant Governor Jones, Secretary OF STATE hi
Controller Wemple, state Treasurer Dahior'h' N
torncv General Tabor, State Engineer Bogar ana
vivian = sheehan. Speaker OF the Assembly. This
1, nrattv solidn Hill Democratic board IL IS tner
dtv to nrosecute the railways II they have invaded
the States lands The railroads Dase pieir oih.
that the Land Board is the only State authority WIN
mower 10 grant permission to them 70 cross the sa'e
forest lands upon Section Of Chape 56o OF the Laws
OF 1890 which went into effect on May l. 'iiS Se'D
The section reads as follows:
r,,a mmssioners Of Land Office may gran TO any
domestic railroad corporation any lahu oeions"s :" ~
state except reservation at Niagara ana inc eoneou'
,ands on Coney Island, which may be required Tor inc
ros.s NJ It's road on such terms may be agreed on
bv them or corporation may acquire utle thee py
condemnation and tho county ana town omcers nans
charge OF any land belonging TO any county or V' "
d for such corporation for the purpose OF It's ROAD may
- ch land 20 the corporation for such compensation
A may be agreed upon
n will he observed that If the Board Of Land Com
missioners denies the application the railroads, unoer
this law, can secure the properly uhder inc 'ol,,
demnatlon laws of The State. That Isl they can SO
- ,be court and obtain the strips Of land necessary
-, tber roadways by having them appraised and pay
ing the price to the State. Under this law the ioo"
ing application has Just been made to the Land Boto
BY the Adirondack and st. Lawrence Railroad Con'
pany owned by DR.. W. Seward WebD which ROAD 10 I"
run from Malone to Herklmer;
INV made IN
the Land once Of State of New-York pursuant TO
Section g. Chapter $685. OF the Laws OF le for the gahs
cf certain lands belonging 10 the state OF Newiorh or
the purposes specified in said Section g. consisting Oh
r,n of land 100 feet vide and running through certain
lands owned by the State in township NO. D. ola military
tract town of Belmont In Franklin county ana also
through certain lands owned by the state Oh Ne"-fok'
IN townships - Is, IS, 20, 21 49, 2o great tract
Macamb,s purchase. This application Is made by the
| Adirondack and St. Lawrence Railroad Company.
domestic railroad corporation duly incorporates
under the laws OF this State on the llth DAY
~ December $780, and the said strip OF land above men,
toned Is required by said domestic railroad corporation
for the OF constructing its railroad upon sara and
for said land 10 be agreed upon by SAID Lana
Commissioners and said railroad company as soon as
complete survey shall show in detail the exact location
said line and the number of acres required by said road
| ADIRONDACK AND 81. LAWRENCE RAlLRoAD
| COMPANY, by w. IL. MccLEARY, Agent, Malone.
Ny.
The townsblps named by the railroad are those south
OF Malone in Franklin County, as far as Paul Smiths
NJ St Regis Lake. They indicate about nity miles OF
Tho new road 10 be built by DR.. Webb Deputy secrc
ary OF State Benedict referred the application to Att
orney General Tabor. The railroad company will be
reouested to file map showing what portions Of State
| land IL intends to cross. The Board OF Land Com
| missoners meets in Albany on May 2S. II win DO
interesting TO know what are the views upon railroads
in the Adirondack forest held by Lieutenant Governor
Jones Speaker sheehan Secretary OF state Rice Con-
troller wempe, State Treasurer Danforth and State
Engineer Bogart. 1t VIII be highly interesting
meeting.
| Meanwhile the Forest Commissioners do not admit
that they have been deprived OF all right TO say whether
or not railroads shall State lands. Statutes
! still in existence they maintain. which give them