New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-05
TO SPARE THE TREES.
GOV. FLOWERS FORESTRY BILL. PASSED.
1T CREATES A NEW BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AND PROHIBITS THE CUTTING OF TIMBER
LESS TIM TWELVE INCHES THICK

AND PROHIBITS THE CUTTING OF TIMBER
LESS THAN TWELVE. INCHES THICK
IN THE ADIRONDACKs.
IRON THE regular CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE,
Albany, April 4.--One Of the most important and
interesting measures before the Legislature. the act
In relation to the proposed State Adirondack Park.
was passed today and came into the hands OF Gov
erncr Flower.
The bill creates Board OF Forest Commits
sioners OF five members. be appointed by the Gov
ernor and Senate their term Of office to he five years.
They are not to receive salaries. although their tray
Cling expenses TO the amount OF $500 will be- paid by
the state. Tho present Board OF Forest Commits
soners-consistirg OF Dudley Farlin. Theodore Bas-
selin and Townsend d. Cox-is abolished. and no
one will mourn its departure for however good It's
in'enions may have been II never has been able to
inspire the Legislature and Governor with the energy
requisite to do any thing highly effective toward forest
preservation
II the displacement Of one set Of Forest Commits
sioners by another Were all there TO the act.
one would care much about It but the act contains
provisions Of much merit. The men who drew
II up labored 10 to the State the large forest
tracts owned by IT. under fragile taX-salc titles, and
TO add to those several hundred thousand
owned by private individuals The State nominally
owns 10000 OF forest land in the Adirondack
counties. About 100000 acres are within the bound
aries Of the proposed Adirondack Forest Preserve.
GOvern'r Flower waen In the Adirondacks last sum
told by many wealthy owners OF forest land
that they were willing heartily to cooperate with the
state In preserving the forests. They suggested that
a compact be entered into between the State and
themselves by which only trees Of twelve inches I'm
diameter SHOULD be cut down upon the lands owned
by private citizens in the Adlrondacks. and that IN
return these lands should BE- exempt from taxation.
Governor Flower told that II this Offer
ceptcd some 100000 acres OF wooded land would bc
added to the 100000 acres owned by the State within
the lines Of the State Park. and thus a vast range Of
wooded land would be protected forever from d'struc
ton. Governor Flower thought well OF the suggcs-
ton, and IT Is embodied In the Ln passed to-day.
The act says that the new Board Of Forest Commits
sioncrs shall have the following authority:
To contract with owners Of land situated within the
bounds Of the park thai such lands may become part Of
the park aud subject the provisions Of this article In
consideration OF the exemption OF such lands from taxa
ton for State purposes. which contract shall contain
provision that Of such land and their grantees
shall refrain forever from removing any OF the timber
thereupon except timber twelve inches In diameter at
Of three feet above the ground. and such other
and further conditions 10 the right Of occupancy Of
such lands by such their pfanteesas may BE-
equitable Such also reserve TO the owner.
Of such forest lands oni their grantees the privilege u
clearing portions Of such lands for agricultural or domestic
purpose under regulations De- prescribed by the Forest
Commis but no such privec, shall give the
owners or grantees said lands the hight 10 clear
than for each hundred acres OF forest land COW
cred by said contract.
There Is also provision In the bill for the sale by
the State OF such 81 its forest lands In the Adirondack
counties outside the blue line Of the proposed
Adirondack Park. There some 100000 acres Of
this land Its sale Will give To the Forest Commits
siOncrs the means 10 buy lands In the park. tn"
commissioners are also authorized 10 exchange lands
outside the park for lands within lis borders. Then
again. they may purchase forest lands within the
Adirondack Park subject TO provisions that their pres
cnt owners may cut timber down to twelve inches In
diameter for fifteen years. This portion Of the act
PR yldcs for the gradual acquisition by the state Of
such forest lands The bill also gives these powers TO
the Forest Commissioners
To contract as herein provided for the purchase Of land
sItatcd within the bounds 81 the park defined in the
preceding section II any such lands cannot be purchased
ADVANTAGEOUS terms unless subject 10 leases or rstc-
tons or the right 70 oftwood timber the contract
may provide accordingly but not for any such right
lease restriction otter ten from the dao Of the
contract for the right 90 remove any such trees
with a diameter Of Ions than twelve inches at the height
q three feet from the ground
IL Is also the design OF the authors Of the bill
That the State shall sell ripe timber, upon tho forest
lands within the limits Of the park This will be
following the example OF the German and French
Governments which receive large incomes yearly from
their forests The state OF Ncw-Tork will this
money TO buy more forest land. and thus save them
from destruction The act says upon this important
matter:
The Forest Commls soncrs may sell any soft hard
wood timber which is not less than twelve inches In
diameter at a height OF feet above the ground
standing Of the forest preserves and the pro-
ceeds such sales shall be turned TO the State
Treasurer by whom they shall be placed IN the credit
Of the special fund established for the purchase OF lands
within tie Adirondack Park.
Governor Flower has taken much Interest In the
measure, and there Is little doubt that he will sign
II at once