New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-18
THE. ADIRONDACK FOREST.
SOME DEFECTS ~ THE NEW L>w-DNNGEE FROM
THE CANCELLATION or Tux TITLES.

SOME OBJECTS IL THE NEW L>w-D>NCEH FROM
THE CANCELLATION or Tux TITLES.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
sir Tho Adirondack problem. generally rccog
nizcd an important one. j. not Vet solved TIL"
new bill which la, Just passed the Legislature" IS
good far 1t go's. II has been approved by the
Governor who /, sincere friend Of the forests and
has given the matter Of their preservation much
thought. Iut there two features Of the lii
which seem 10 me serious. II not fatal obstacles To
H. accomplishing tie end desired. which i, TO preserve
a large tract Of the Great Forest con server OF
moisture and breathing place for the people.
I. The lill allows the cutting OF soft and hard
timber nbOv" lively. Inches. To take ont the mair"
and dead spruce Is good forestry To allow the
emitting Of bard wood l. dangerous. The "yergrrcns.
spruce. hcnlock. la!>an and 1marack all seem 10
have time OF maturity and old age followed by
death and dccny. This is not true In any such gen
cral Of the maple Lrch elm and other drcIduouS
trees. do not say that they are immortal. but a
noble old birch looks it, II anything animate this
earth does. There has far been noticed snch
disease attacking thcso trees that which has made
such images ~ hate years among the spruce But
another strong reason why the hard woods should
not be- l. that the debris left Is much larger in
proportion To the trunk than that Of the evergreens.
\ spruce tree Is nearly all trunk. fit for LOGS
pulp wood A birch Is nearly all limbs. lis trunk
furnishing only one two logs. II the hard woods
are cut the gritty Of the forest i destroyed. the
danger Of fire immensely increased. and the woods
lett almost impenctablc and robbed OF their primitive
charm.
>. The bill, like all is predecessors Is based upon
the idea that the forest the iarcs natural legacy Of
the state. must pay Its way The Empire state
spends S2O.OOO0OO upon pile 81 granite AT Albany.
SiOoO0O.oOO upon canals. countless thousands upon
aImoiic,. hospitals ard prisons. To increase the
Of the forest that hclds the safety Of its rivers and
the health OF Its eoplc II has appropriated. far
$4,000 The 100000 or 100000 acres now held ly
the state worth easily $4,000 900 si.OOO.OoO.
f. care for this tract beegary sum is dolcd on,
by the l., gfslature every year What other property
Of th. Commonwealth I, treated with such false
economy
Again. the new bill provides for five commits loncrs
TO serve without pay We give good salaries for the
oversight OF our banks insurance companies and rail
roads. Can expect The highest service In the
treatment Of the delicate problem Of forest preserva
lion without paving for IT. conscientious men will
no doubt b. found v no will serve con amorc. But
viii they give the time needed 10 matters that re-
quite prompt and vigorous acon'
There Is a danger which imp,rls the formation
Of the proposed park more than the Indifference Of
,he people or The "gr"ed' OF the "lnmbcrman:
years 06Ol0 acrcs, almost all Of II well tmbercd,
valuable land. OF this total ~. acres were lost
In the 1901. These losses nav" been caused by
cancellations Of the tax sales under which the state
held Title. In spite Of The act Of 1855 e hap. 4+s)
which meant 10 tO1nrm I'm illi'S. III Spl'
of Two decisions OF the Court OF Appeals sustaining
them. In spite OF the protest Of the Forest Com,
mis- ion. these cancellations have been made. IL
these raids upon the states lands continue III"
nucleus around which 1t Is proposed TO enther ihe
mark Will soon be- gone. The sale OF land outside the
park limits and the Of the proceeds to purchase
within the limits Will do little more than Keep the
ocreag. good The provision IN the new law 10
secure partial control OF private holdings y remission
of taxes and privilege To cut timber under re-
frictons, while gooI IN theory WILL fear. prove
very uncertain in practice and lead to constant dis
putes. ., .,.,,r ,o
hos, Of us who love the woods and know some
hing nj the enc roachment, OF recent years. Ten or
afcen wears ago Oncqunrter of the mcney spent
mnon the Capitol AT Albany would have boignt o,t
ight tho entire Adirondack wilderness. ont OF It's Tour
million acres with moderate expenditure ana wise
forestry, there could have been made rot ONLY tnr
gr,ndes, sunItsrium In the world. but II Mecca Ior
he Levers of beauty from the ends Of the earth "n