New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-26
A LODGE IN THE WOODS.
W. SEWARD wEBB'S VAST ESTATE IN The
ACKNOWLEDGES.
srAUTIEs OF NE.uA-sA-NE PARK-THE HOUSE
on LAKE IILA-FENCING A DEER PAhh
-PR0TECTING TIE EOREsT.

PROTECTING THE FOREST.
FRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUSe)
Ne-ha sane Park, n. ", July 1o-When W. Sc"a'
Webb ertered upon his great enterprise OF CONSTRUCTING
railway through the heart OF the vast Ad'roh"ao"
wilderness he had little thought. 1t IL SAID oil peco".
the owner OF a woodland park twelve mues o'"""
and fifteen miles In length and comprising wini. 10
boundaries 10000 acres OF land. II Is true thaI ne
was a great lover Of nature. and had shown IL ps
building upon the shores OF Lake Champlan al o"ei
burne VI, beautiful summer home, but he iao '"'
I'D TO the time the Adirondack and ST. Lawrence
Railways route was surveyed revealed nsins '''
wild landscape.
But DR.. Webb. while camping out In the AdroI'
dacs and travelling from point to point in the woods
looking for a suitable route for the railway lie COZ
tempated building, grew to be fond OF The rcgo'" anu
at last became enthusiastic In It's favor that he
resolved to build himself another summer nome uPo"
ono Of its many beautiful lakes. Before the con-
strction OF the railway began he had selected 'he
site OF this new home ard had bought land lot a
woodland mark abont IT, Then 1t was an easy matter
In RIM the proposcd railway near this forest nom''
" Ne-ha- sa ne means "beaver crossing stream
need not be explained that II Is an Indian word.
Or. Webbs choice among the lakes. upon the border
of one OF which he intended to erect MS FOREST iue'
was one which for years had borne the prosac name OF
[. smiths Lake It was situated far In the north
western corner Of the county Of Hamilton, IN the angie
., ,ts junction with the counties Of Herkimer ana ST
Iowronce There was no wilder bit OF lard IN the
state Few even Of the summer spOrtSmeh anu
tourists ever penetrated into the Adirondack "hoer
ness AZ far as smiths Lake for 1t was much Deyo"d
the usual routes OF the guides, and many miles away
from any stage route "carry' OF fair Fhglh Dy
which It could have been reached By Doit' such
snortsmen a. did reach the lake found 1t to be one OF
rroat loyeliress OF about three miles In length ana
two miles In breadth. but with Such tor'uo'S sHoIe'
and ~ lndcned with bays and ornamented WIN pe'i
sulas that It's line ten or twelve miles, aueu
TO this they saw all the shores of this lake. save at
one point covered with magnificent forest. ind that
bold hills Of considerable height overlooked It's Writer'S
The one place where the trees did not grow was
small meadow at the northern end OF the lake, where
there was a beautiful sandy beach, ana where 'hcs
soon learned the deer often came at night hs ioi
Smiths Lake. they the appropriateness OF 'he
name when they heard Of the hermit. smith, an Eng
lishman who lived in solitude on Bald Mountain over
| lacking the lake and WHO always went away when
strangers came 10 the lake ard remained away until
they had departed
THE EXTENT OF THE PARK.
Tho pnrk IS in triangular form, one Of the points
Of the triangle touching Zig Moose Lake ana announcer
corner Little Upper, while the third corner eA'enus
nearly to B0naparte Lake to the westwaru. Dr'
Webb renamed smith Lake, giving 1t the name Lake
| Lila after his wife, who Miss Lila Vanderbilt.
COMPRISED within the limits OF Ne-ha-sa-ne Park are
Lake Lila Neha- sane Lake, Charlie Pond, mayer
Lake. salmon Lake, the upper portion OF the beaver
River and large number OF ponds ana lakes "
which no names have been given. Almost every acre
Of the park is covered with forest for there has been
little numbering In this Vicinity.
The traveller by the Adirondack and ST. Lawrence
Railroad Is able tn Lake Lila. the railroad runs
along one shore OF the lake, but he cannot see Dr.
webbs handsome Adirondack lodge The railroad ior
many miles before reaching Lake Lila runs through
dense forest and the rocky ridge. which here
divides the two branches OF the Beaver River. IL
is upon this ridge that there Is marked the summit
level Of the railroad. Two signpostS announce
summit 2Oj3 feet above the sea- Thence the
railroad dcscends to the level Of Lake Lila. which IS
200 feet above the level Of the sea- The niiroad
run, upon a high bank overlooking Lake Lila, so that
a large portion OF the lake can be seem fringe OF
trees nterccps some OF the view. but at one pace
Dr. Webb has had all the trees removed and thus
there Is a nomentary but clear glimpse Of the lake
afforded A pretty railroad station bearing upon Its
front wall a neat sign inscribed with the words
Ne.ha-sa-ne Tark.r indicates the place. Ii is
private station althoug, most Of the trains upon
the Adirondack and st. Lawrence stop there.
fine carriage road has recently been constructed
through the woods from the railway station to Dr.
wehbs lodge The road follows a descending grade
for an eighth OF a mile and then the traveller comes
To little bridge over mountain brook the hg rocks
which clog the brook being covered with beautiful
green moss From this point the road asceDds an
/ n
south shore OF Lake Lila and 10 Dr. Webbs lodge.
THE LODGE on THE LAKE.
The lodge resembles strongly DR.. webb's house at
shelburnc and In respects so far as Its exterior
Is concerned is Il miniature copy Of that handsome
structure. II Is wooden building OF two stories IN
height the windows OF the upper story being dormers
that are in the peaked roof which projects snghuy
beyond the line OF the wooden walls OF the building
and the shingles OF which have been stained dark
| no OF
shinricd have been left their natural color, ana
the storms Of winter and the hot sun OF midsummer
have turned them gray one OF the most distinguish
Ing marks OF the house Is n broad veranda which
runs along the front Of the dwelling facing upon the
lake and runs also in front OF a wing OF the house
which projects from Its southeastern end. The lodge
is 100 feet In length and Its chief part had depth
Of :O feet The ground about 1t was covered
with big boulders but DR.. Webb has had all these
removed and the land tcrraced to the edge OF the
LIKE Soon the terraces will bc covered with
green grass plot. The house stands upon little
elevation enabling those who live In IL to look three
miles northward TO the north shore OF the Lake.
This northern shore is yellow sand beach and there
seems to he r little meadow land Here on this
shore years there has been salt licE. ana even
40 midday the residents in DR.. Webbs lodge frequently
see the deer come out OF the woods, seek the salt
lick and then drink from the lake. Considerable OF a
clearing has been made about the lodge for the
purpose OF giving room for barn ana an icehouSe'
DR.. webb kept six horses In this barn throughout
the last winter. Tie lake was frozen over hve ana
crc-half months this last year. so that there Is no
reason why Dr. Webb should ever fear scarcity OF
ice.
The lodge practically was not occupied by Dr.
Webb and his family until his return fortnight ago
from his long tour with them and some friends through
the Western States LAST year he and his family, with
visiting friends occupied five canvas tents, which yet
stand upon the shore of the lake near the lodge In
each OF these tents there j. an iron bedStcad chairs
stove and bureau and washsiand. They were
thoroughly comfortable, and win be used the present
simmer IS Dr. webb FOR the accommodation OF such
OF his guests prefer 10 sleep out Of doors. Governor
Flower and his wife Dr. Wcbbs guests last fall