New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-22
TO LOOK INTO THE FOREST COMMISSION
AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE
AsSEMBLY-THE BLAKE TRACT" AND
THE STATE PARK.

Albany Jan. Il (SpcciaD.-It was remarked mere 10
day that sherman W. Knevals. Of Ncw-York, one OF
the Forest Commissioners intends TO resign his once
What the that lead Mr. Knevals to resign,
If the rumor is trrc arc not known
The Forest Commission has had careful survey
and examination made of the forest lands in the
Adirondack counties" IN the last six months, and has
embodied the result Of its work in IT. annual report.
which is now ready for submission TO the Legislature.
In This animal report the dimensions Of the proposed
Adirondack Park are stated. There is a good deal
Of dissatisfaction felt however, among lovers of the
Adirondack woods with the work. done by the Forest
Commission: and it Is not unlikely that 1t will hc
reconstructed Too much influence is obviously
oyertcd in the Commission by Theodore Il. Basseln.
who was pp)nted TO represent the lum-
bcrmcn. Mr. BaSseln is ZIMMERMAN him
self According to one OF MS ascot
otes Forest Commissioner Cox, small state
mark in the Adrondacbs favored bv Mr.. BaSSclin.
/, small state park Of course would interfere the
least with the operations OF the lumbcrmen Mt.
Basselin has recently been engaged TO cut ont tho
lumber upon what is known As d" The Blake tract
in the northern part Of Hcrkmer County. THIS tract
naturally would be put in the proposed state park IN
the AdircndackS. II IS primitive forest, and streams
mass through it which feed the Mohawk River the
largest tributary of The Hudson River. The Forest
Commission should insist upon the inclnSon OF tho
Blake tract within the borders of the state Forest
Preserve. There is great curiosity TO see the map
of the proposed park drawn up nv the Forest COM
m,sioncrs in order to learn whether not they have
included the Blake tract. 1t has been asserted tHat
they have not.
The Forest Commissioners to-day were subjected 10
open attacks in the Assembly. Asscmblyman q. H..
Bush, Of Ulster County, introduced the following
resolution:
Resolved That Committee Public Lands and Fo.-
estry be- hereby. authorized to undertake and prose
cute during he present session of the Assembly, general
inquiry concerning the administration Of the laws in ict
the Forest Preserve by the Forest Commission ana
report what II any changes in the present laws arc
necessary TO protect the forests belonging 10 the
state; power Of itself by subcommittee Of it,
members which it may appoint, % summon Witnesses
to them under oath. to send for and examine
and papers and to hold meetings at such times ana
places as to such subcommittee may seem
requisite and proper ana the committee is hereby author
lied TO employ stcnocI1phcl.
EX-spcakcr Hustled commended the resolution ana
said that should be passed at once. 1t was passed
by a unanimous vote. The Committee Oh Public
Lands Will meet at once, aud begin lis investigation
OF the dOngs Of the Forest commissions. one al thc
charges against the Commission, II l. evident. VIII Dc
inellclenCN. There j. a general complaint iHt' I"l "
penny Of the $1,000 appropriated 10y the ldst Less
laturc for the purchase of land, for the state IN ie
Adi!0ndaCkS has been expended NE Appropriation
wa, a small one but il /, believed that good Use
could have been made Of 1t. While the state }, delay
ing the purchase of lands in the AdrOudack> II u ap
parent the price of those Ind~ j. steadily adNah'
ing The excuse given by Forest Commissioner Cox
for not buying the lend> is that ihe Commissioners
desired to make wise purchase. But how long doc
the Commission intend To wait II l. suspected thdi
Forest Commits ~ioncr BaS>cln, the representative 81
the lumber interest. ha>. by strange hypnotic
bower induced hi, fellow Commissioners not to move
ahead in this matter Of the purchase Of the AdNnda'
lands, If 30. the quicker the wchcd Mr.. Ba~>ch
j, deprived of his office OF FOrc, tomuiesone the
better The Committee Public Land, of the Assem-
biz purposes learn just how far Mr bd>~cln- me-
mcric power extends. and just how much II l. rpoh,
bic for the strange paralN which har overcome t'
Forest Commission when II has had The power To buy
Adirondack land. tombstone l.. II" P"y>ier. one ~
the Republican A~scmblymcn of Duche~S county las
wear arrived here TO-DAY. lie state that be is can
dI2te 81 the place Of Forest Commissioner hheNaI> II
the latter has resigned. ,.,,
There is q common belief here that Governor HI,
who appointed the present Forest Commission. THINKS
il should be superseded NV another one. whether or
not tie Governors motives IN the Interest Of the
public his future action, will determine. The present
forest Commission Is certainly an inefficient On" never
heles, the people Of the state would De- unwilling T. s
woud make tie preservation of The furcats an excuse
for political work. The Republican members OF the
Legislature Intend 10 be their guard IN this mat.
fer and especially they awRrr of Tie fact mat
some Of the recent attacks upon th" Forest tonn-
sion were inspired by men close 10 Governor llill.
Mr. Kncvals was seen last night al his home 40.
90 Fast Fifty eighth So with regard - the ruinnr of
his rel cment from the Forest Comm ~ion. " ihcte
il no foundation for IL. can assure you, ,aid he
have no intention Of rrtinng Either IN, week OF
early next week report VIII bc lana before tI;
Led Stature with the new BIZ for the protection 81
the forests. ] am not likely To- leave my comrades
hi are