New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-27
CONSOLING SMITH N. WEED
Is THAT WHY HILL Is INSPIRING ATTACKS
ON THE FORESTRY COMMISSIONS
WHY THE GOVERNOR WANTED An ADIRONDACK
PARK COMM ssIoN-MR WEEDS LARGE
INTERESTS IN THE NORTH WOODS.

PARK COMMISSIONER. WEEDS LARGE
INTERESTS IN THE NORTH WOODS.
FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF HE TRIBUNE!
Albany, Jan. 25.-Is Governor Iiill inspiring inc
recent attacks upon the Forestry Commission with the
thought of consong smith NJ. Weed for his loss OF Tue
United states senatorship by naming new men Tor
Forestry Commissioner who will be more iaVOf-
able to Mr. Weeds large interests in forest lands IN
the Adirondack region and also his railroad interests
in the same region? This Is a question frequently
asked of late in Albany, IN view Of the persistent
and what, In view Of their Injustice, must he con-
sidered malicious attacks upon the Forestry Commits
sioners made I'm the Governors newspaper organs
1t is now remembered that Governor Ill., IN the ian
Of 1885, in company with smith IL Weed. made d
journey over the Cnateaugay Railway into the heaS
Of the Adirondack forest region. He visited the sara
nae Lakes and also Lake Placid, accompanied by NJ
Wcen and then was royalty entertained by the latter
at his home in pbttsburg. The Governor was op-
vously much impressed by what he saw, and also DIV
what he heard, while engaged in this journey; be-
CAUSE in the following January In $780, he addressed
SD ciai message to the Legislature upon te suOJect
of preserving the Adirondack forests, ana III uhS
message suggested that state Park be established III
the Adirondack region from Fifty to seventy niles
SQUARE" II was clear from this message, however,
that some one had Influenced him against the Forestry
Commissioners. lie recommended that The plaza Tor
The creation of It state Adirondack Park ana
the fixing ard defining Of its limits
should be entrusted special commission OF three or
of five persons be appointed by himself and by the
state Senate Obviously such duty should be per
| formed by the Forestry Commissioners. they OF all
persons being the best acquainted with the nature
Of the work to be done. 1t may be added that all OF
the present Forestry Commissioners were appointed
by Governor Htl, and therefore any withdrawal OF
confidence from them by him might well be considered
criticism Of his own judgment in making the original
appointment OF these commissioners. mat the "oVe''
nor however had in view the decapitation OF hi own
Forestry Commissioners was clear from the igtroduc
ton Of bill shortly in the Legislature, upon Janu-
airy os, 1890, creating commission, to be known
"a The Adirondack Park Commission TO have hVe
members, and TO be appointed by the Governor ana
the senate. These nieE, according 10 the bill, were
TO have all the powers and duties Of the Forestry
Commissioner and especially were 10 have
power 10 purchase the lands for the pro
posed gigantic Adirondack Park. since it was then
estimated the purchase OF Lands by the Stc Tor
! such a park might involve The expenditure oil some
SlOO,~OOO. the iobbers about tue Legislature began
to have a great interest in this bill. 1t fortunately
happened that senator sloan, the chairman oil inc
Finance Committee Of the senate, cautious man .
and that he held the opinion that no new state Com
missions should be established. Perhaps also he hal
heard that some men had fragile titles to the lands
which they pretended in the Adircndacbs. and
were much disturbed In mind by the stern proceedings
Of the FORESTRY Commissioner, wherever the STATE
title to these lands was involved senator sloan
therefore resisted the movement 10 pass a
bin creating an Adirondack Park Commission
and automatically persuaded the Legislature TO pas
resolution requesting the Forestry commissioners I"
make report to the Legislature the subject Of The
establshrfnt OF state pdrh and 10 mark out the lines
of the Proposed park senator sloan thus succeeded
in KILN, Governor Hlls project and the pubAc mus,
feel Thankful TO him, now that they have come INTO
possession OF the excellent report concerning IN
Adirondack state Park made by the For shy Com
missioner, TO the Legislature upon Ihul Sday IsI,
summary Of which appeared III The Tribune OF uai
| day
fhe men who pressing for change OF ~"
Forestry Commission those who have weak Title
10 the lands which they hold in the Adr9nddchs ana
who fear that the stat has better title. The forestry
Commissioners entitled 10 great p!ase for the Vs1.
with which they have pressed tlese claims Of tac
state One OF the most celebrated II these cases f.
l!la Of LentOn Turner Zimmerman oi fIdltsOuIe "AI
cluued 900 acres oil tAr STATE land AMp.isaud
rOnd one Of the lONtl!cst bodies OF water ia tI'
Adj ondacks. Turner has been bii5 beaten ~ IA
courts By the attorneys the Forestry Commissioners.
smith VI. weed Ow1s 1000 acres OI Lana up'u tn
SaIdnac lakes, which aie worth T-OuVDu u iHc uIr
j., good. lie also owns large bodies oil Ild H 'r,
par,s Of the Adirondack region. Mich OF th.- lard
ia, come 10 HIM from sJ4te tax sale. Lcnio"
Turner'S experience with The fo:cstF '"mH'' i' .e!'
las IA the opinion other luuDDr.lch, Liddc M4.
" oed iear that tney might loon with to- critical al
.ttanng pos ession o. all his land. lie would csp'las
d,Ine To lose his oATanac Lake property "mch j.
OF -ummer visitors 70 the region. Moeover fo;eNt.>
CoAnis ,one.s should MOI pres too hot} IL tf Lt:i,
Iature. in the opinion Of II railroad nagnatr Ike Nj
Need, the bills 10 prevent the eXtens.0n Of tnc
Chateaugay ana other railways aclOs, the STATE lahda
senator bg Mr. I'M. It Is thought here, IS bccausc of
his Adirondack interests rather than lis Ioltcal lcdo
Inc Doverno. ; newspaper organs c1pe' ANY aU;t'"
Forestry Commissioner lt'aeilh' "I1 ~ u u''
! sloner in 1871 Two years ought have told HIM
what kind OF Commissioner 1lr Bass-An j.. but
Mr.. Eaos ,In offence IN the eyes OF ih- Governor IL
is sad. IL that d-Ciu 10 make IOll cdl ~ OF
his once. This last fall, for instance. he deciin'i
10 iucrfsre in the political contest in Levi, County,
me eyco Of Governor Hi.
Why, also, the Governor is now opposed b.
| to Forestry tomm.s.loh-r Cos, whose Esm rAWicu
| two years agol Why, for INSTANCE, Goes be nj
| appoint such a reputable man a, Dr. samuel J..
Ward, OF THIS 81 y, VINO has property ~ thf Adfpn
dachs, member III the COMM sion Bu 10 L.
| evident that The Governor hope - snpcrs.ir ID
present members q the Forestry Commit sion. sn
he resolution Tor IL, investigation was passed. by tn
Assembly UciOr; thr cOmm!s,pn had submitted Ia h.
| report in favor Of an Adirondack stat: Para.
The Governors newspaper organ, charged that the
park would be small one. On the contrary, ~ J.
large one nearly two and hat million, Of ac'-,.
before any Of the recent attacks upon the commission
were made 1t is significant Of TIE mtentlon Of the
newspaper Organs a. convict the Forestry Commission
Of hand that tney have MT vet printed line 81
TIC report Of that commission upon the proposed par
The report shows how thoroughly ana how honestly
The Assembly Committee on Public Lands, which
has charge Of the iuvc, .icaon Of the Forestry Con-
mission. VIII herin its WOrt upon Tuesday next TN.
q, swift action The resolution directing the iuve-tpt
r9n was passed only lat wcch C.c.Il,, some on'
high in authority ~ tie Dem cratic party J, fi' hht
VIII freely testify regarding Ticr act, and III" ~.
vestigaton promises % lie interesting no, oniE t.
tlcm but 10 the men WHO are aosdihig ihch uIief
pretonce Of serving the public
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