New-York tribune., 1902-01-24
CORNELL ADMITS STRIPPING.
DEyUDED ADIRONDACK LAND OF TREES
TO REPLANT NEW GROwTHS.

Albany. Jan 23-The State Forest Fish and
Came Commission gave a hearing to-day on
an suulication 10 have the purchase of thirty
thousand acres of land in Franklin County. near
T-pper saranac and Tupper lakes, declared void.
This application made by Eric P Swenson,
renresenting the Association Of Residents Of
Upper Saranac Lake.
The applicants included former Governor Levi
p Morton. Jules S. Bache, Sidney NJ. Colgate.
Charles Peabody. Isaac n. Seligman, F. S.
Bangs Alfred L. White and others Of New
York City. The association was represented by
David wilcox and John G. Agar. of New-York
City. and James F. Tracy. of Albany. Cornell
University was represented by President J. G.
schurrnan. DR.. B. E. Fernow, director of the
School Of Forestry. and State Civil Service Com
missioner Cuthbert Pound.
The association charges that the purchase of
the thirty thousand acres OF land is unconsti-
tutionei and that the College of Forestry has
exceeded its authority. even though the act were
constitutional, by cutting down and selling the
timber product Of the land. 1t is charged that
the university entered into a contract for
period Of fifteen years with the Brooklyn Coop
erage Company for the annual sale of ten thou
sand cords Of retort and fuel wood; that a stave
factory and a wood alcohol manufacturing plant
have been established the school for the
consumption OF tne WCoQ CUT anu lnaI 4 Idll-
road has been constructed through the preserve.
The hearing to-day developed that there has
been a misunderstanding between the author
ittes Of Cornell University and the State officials
who consented TO the establishment of the
school as 10 the manner in which il should be
conducted. DR.. FeTnow, the director, stated
that his conduct of the school has been to dem
onstrate that the forests can be reproduced
with a view TO future earnings. This scheme,
he said would give the State revenue from the
sale Of the surplus products. He admitted that
= contract has been entered into with the Brook
lvn Cooperage Company for period OF fifteen
or twenty years TO utilize the timber cut from
the lands The timber has been cut with view
of affording opportunity for scientific reproduc-
ton and that where about three hundred acres
have been cut, 225 acres have been replanted
1t was necessary, he said, to cut down crooked,
did decayed and decrepit trees, and TO the un-
trained eye, TO practically denude parts OF the
tract but It was the intention of the school au-
thorities TO replant and reproduce the trees cut
down. ,, -
,he Forest Game and Fish Commission, VINO
was chairman of the Forestry Preserve Board
which in 1898, purchased the land for the
school said that DR.. Fernow had evidently Ia
bored under q misapprehension as TO what was
irtended when the school was authorized. Gov
ernor Black and the legislature, ne salu, hau no
Sr.eo.ton NJ nerrnittine the establishment OF any
man which would in the slightest degree denude
sny mart Of the forest. II was then pelleVeo
tbe- a school Of this character would demon
strate what could be done to improve the for
ests by wedding out the dead ana ripe WOODS
and bringing about a regrowth OF spruce, pine
and other soft woods which nave raploly olsap-
ueared in the Adirondacks.
Attorney Agar for the petitioners, said that
his clients had been compelled to resort to TINS
proceeding TO preserve their own property "hleh
is near the Cornell school,
At the close Of the hearing 1t was decided that
both sides should have an opportunity to sub
nit briefs.