New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-19
WARNER MILLER FAYoRS THE ROAD.
HIS ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF GRANTING THE
r1-r1 r1nN OF DR. MERR,s COMPANY.


PETITION OF DIR. wEBB'S COMPANY
Herkimer " Y. May Is Special -Herkimer' as
the southern terminus Of the Adirondack and 81
Lawrence Railroad is greatly interested 70 have the
Commits oners Of the Land Office act favoraby on the
application of Dr. W. Seward Webb. president OF the
company for permission TO construct road through
the forest preserve A public meeting was held here
last night representing the several towns along te
proposed railroad Judge Robert Earl. Of the Court
Of Appeals presided, and frankly declared that he
thought the opposition to granting right of way 10
a railroad through the State preserve was not well
founded and he strongly in favor OF granting the
petition of the railroad. Ex-senator Warner Miller
was called on, and he delivered earnest speech
in which he said that he perhaps the first one to
suggest that the state should purchase the Adirondack
forest and keep II preserve and sanitaT1um, but
he never thought that would be necessary TO exclude
q railroad company Rather the railroads were
necessary 10 the proper cultivation OF the forests
and making their heathg1vng qualities accessible to
nvalds
REGARDING the legal question raised as 10 the right
~ railroads 70 acquire lands In the preserve he had
nothing to say but he ready to give his reasons
wby The state ought 10 grant the night of way asked
for As was now admitted by all careful students OF
forestry convenient roads and highways were neces
sary. It was well known that spruce forests, when
the emitting was limited TO- say twelve-inch trees,
ueuld renew themselves in fifteen years. Now
nv idea of state forest preserve" Mr.. Miller said,
Is 10 cultivate il as farm and 70 do So railroads
are the needed implement Some people say that II
railroads are built the forests, the forests will
soon I've destroyed. That cannot be true OF the State
lands and TO prevent the destruction OF private lands
rhe state must come in and buy them. That is the
onlv fair way As il stands now, if the objections
are sustained by the Land Commissioners, the state
,avs n the private owners We will not buy your
Ia3Ss and we will stand In the way of your Oh
aiming benefits from your property by preventing
~ Winding of railroads which win make your lands
rairsbieJ | don't know Just what amount this
80 reouires of state lands, but | don't believe Il
~ounts 10 per cent of the whole line, and for ths
sconsSerable amount should the building of railroad
he nrevented Cheap lumber Is a. necessary cifcaI
&c ~ Ind produce and machinery. How foolish u
mild wall around the Adirondacks and let the tree
orow and decay and die, when they are so needed ~
The building up Of our towns ana cities.
Aaain II our glorious Adirondacks are TO be uthzec
for their health giving qualities they must be mad
eastlv accessible There is great Sanielrium at th'
SaraHac which is giving health 70 hundreds every yea
Nh find there relief that nowhere else could be Oh
taired But L is the railroad that runs to the lax
witch makes il possible for them TO get back tei
health and strength" - - ~. =, -
Mr. Miller closed by urging that every effort be mad
- convince the proper authorities OF the wisdom o
granting the petition Of the railroad OmelaIS; pc
ftion was then PUT in circulation and received hundred
Of signatures.