New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-29
DR. SEWARD WEBB'S CLAIM FOR DAMAGES
,HE STATE TO PURCHASE ADIRONDACK LANDS

~,,r .-.rr m pr-ncuasE ADIRONDACK LANDS
,x,.prp nv THE rtAvER RIVER DAM.
Albany July 2s-The State Fish. Game and For
est Commission will soon proceed under the Ia"
passed by the last Legislature author'@'ns '''
commission with the approval OF the state COM
,,,es,oners OF the Land Once. to purchase forest
lands within the boundaries of the state iarN III
the Adirondacks which have been damaged or rem
d.red valueless for numbering purposes ny 'e"'
Of the construction Of the Beaver River fese'No',
dam Most of this land is owned by DR.. W. Se"a'"
Webb Of New-York City. The law passed. ~ '
last LEGISLATURE appropriates sN'V ioi '"' p
chase this year of a portion OF the lands so uain-
go and nrov,sion is made for the State securing
title 10 the remainder OF the land by the issue VI
bonds within the next ten years beioie ' 49,,
was placed the statute books III w.
red on the books of the state boaru vi '',
claim for s1S4Oc0. the amount OF damages "'''0 "
ho.ds were caused TO his Adirondack hoio'nss ~
49, .ona,rro,,or of the dam The evidence for the
claimant has been nut in. That of the defence VIII
he taken by the Board of Claims at spec'ai meet
ing to be held in September unless Pie'
that time agreement can De reacneu o''"
the State Forest Commission. the commissioners ~
the Land Office and DIR. Webb's representative
Edward NJ Burns of Herkimer who is manager
of DR.. Webb's Adirondack properties accon'pa'ieu
the members of the state Fish, Game anu roi's'
Commission and of the state Land boaru 0" "
tour OF inspection of the damaged lands last "eeN
has filed win the foreSt NO'Hii'E''''
ment of the case. which he says, III part
The field of Investigation covered wide region
of subject matter including such matters as .un.-
herring with all its details. .og drving improving
rivers preparatory to log floating, estimating tie
Weld of timber lands. building dams anu minis
marketing of lumber. also the business OF narVest
Ing pulp-wood and converting ii into paper; ran,
roads and their construction. freight rates anu
that department of medicine which treats or the
propagation and spread of masmatic poisoning IN
Guiding also the subject of Adirondack lanns LOT
mark purposes. Every effort was made by Inc
Claimant 10 produce witnesses who were the very
best authorities the particular SUBJECT upon
which they called to testify.
The claims. aggrcEating sf,30 is caused by me
State dam at saltwater on the Beaver River ana
Is composed mainly Of damages done 10 the lailis
hy reason Of the dam and reservoir interfering
with the removal OF the standing tlinOeI upon
claimants land. comprising in the aggregate tOS'e
acres. together with damages done TO a portion OF
the same lands and the lakes and streams around
and In the vicinity Of the reservoir for camp, cot
1age and park purposes.
The Beaver River is d natural highway for the
floating of logs and timber and Is tributary 10 a
large lumber and pulpwoo6 market. by reason or
the construction of The reservoir the lands Of the
Claimant to the extent Of c. se cannot be um-
bered by water which is the cheapest and most
natural way of numbering Moreover. the reservoir
renders large tract of land Of at least 2sS acres
totally inaccessible for numbering by railroad on ac-
count of backwater. The balance of the tract. con-
sisting of 44l51 acres. be- numbered by rail- but
numbering by rail is least three times eXpen-
sive as numbering by water.