New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-24
Az ADIRONDACK PARh.

IN ADIRONDACK ram.
The report of the Forest Commission made
public yesterday, together with the candid and
instructive commentary by Commissioner hne-
walls which appeared in our columns, puts the
question of an Adirondack Park fairly before
the peCple of the State. We did not think 1t
profitable TO ION in the verdict which was pro-
nounced against the Commission III advance OF
| their report. and some members of the vollln-
| teer iury are now probably disposed to regret
that they did not wait for authentic evidence
upOn which IL found a Judgment. Most OF the
misdemeanors alleged against the Commission
crs are shown by their report to be hcuuouS'
They have been accused of ignorance, lndli1er-
ence. neglect, partially for the lumbermeh'
and. in general, of willingness to sacrifice the
interests of the State and make the proposed
ENTERPRISE a failure at the outset. Their re-
mort shows. on the contrary, that they have
agreed upon plan of action which they are
able to support by strong arguments based on
close study of the subject. An Albany dispatch
notes the fact that only small part OF the
Ierkimer County forests from when Mi'
Basselin draws supplies for his lumber-mill Is
included within the Park boundaries recon-
mcnded by the Commission; but that Is APP
parcntly about all that is left OF the elaborate
accusations brought against them
This, at least is a fair deduction from the
report and the interview with MIR. knevalS'
The other side has yet. to be presented IN an
orderly and intelligent manner, and II may be
tina. the Committee of Investigation which the
Assembly has appointed will make some shock
inc discoveries We have accepted no retainer
from the Commission. and we hope that since
an inquiry has been instituted II Will not stop
short of the whole truth. II VIII not be sur
prising however if the public seeing how many
charges the report has already d>proyed' should
now conclude that there is not much 10 invc>tl-
cate We are informed that the officers OF the
State Forestry Association. whose perfect C.>in-
terestedneSs is beyond dispute think the re-
mort in most respects a good one. They do no
favor the ACQUISITION of lands by exchange. and
they insist that all the forest domain OF
IIerkimer County ought to be included IN the
Park instead of only small part OF II. we
agree with them on the latter point, and 1t Is
not improbable that they are right as to the
former.
| The Commissioners do well to dwell upon the
difficulties which bcsct the undertaking, since
thew must be faced at the very outset The
conditions are complicated and pcrplcXing, and
the State cannot do as il would. We are glad
to note also that the report calls special attcn-
ton to the fact which a recent circular OF the
State Forestry Association emphasized name
". that forest preservation is not necessarily
q costly enterprise Indifference and oppose
ton TO this project are attributable IN great
measure TO the erroneous suppOslnOn that the
foundation and maintenance Of an Adirondack
Park would put a heavy permanent burden
ON the taxpayers. Even il that were the GER
tain consequences il would still be the duty OF
the State to accept the obligation, i'll the con
vic,ion that It's performance was essential 10
the future welfare Of the people. But happily,
there is no occasion for juStifying the under
taking by that argument alone. The expert
cnce of Europe proves that forest preserves
are capable of yielding a handsome net rcye-
me. Undoubtedly the initial expense would
seem large to many and yet in reality II would
he inconsderabc, not simply in comparison
| with the resources of the Commonwealth, but
in comparison with the consequences OF longer
neglect.
| The map on another page will give our read
ers a definite conception Of the proposed Park.
When the boundaries have been extended
around that part of lIerlimer County which
ought to be embraced in the preserve they Will
| include a noble domain. The project is now
ready for intelligent discussion, and we cannot
doubt that public opinion will declare Itself IN
favor of the policy of preservation, whatever
NAV befal the particular plan devised and
recommended by the Commissioners.