New-York tribune., 1903-02-27
ACSABLE PURCHASE.
.SEN-a TOR PRIMES BILL.
Opposition Expected from tic Demo
cratic Side.
Try rrrrcrarH TO TIE TRIBUNE. !

2
Albany. Feb. Ex-senator Prime of Essex County
introduced hill to-day which may be assailed by
ef the Democratic members of the Iegisla-
tlre. and contest Of some bitterness may follow
n tho Republican members should support it. The
hill aTpropriatinE $4,000 for the purchase
of tho Ausahe Chasm. \ year ago Governor Odell
signed bill introduced by Senator Prime instruct
ing the Forest Fish and Game Commission to
select such lands in tho of Ausable, Clinton
County. and the town OF Chesterfield. Essex County.
including The Ausable Chasm. in its opinion
should he reserved addition to the
Adirondack Park for the purpose OF preserving
tho scenery OF the Ausabe Chasm and making the
same place of public resort and pleasure" The
Law also declared that the commission should have
the State Engineer make map Of the lands so
selected and file it in the office OF the Secretary of
State. and that after filing the said map such COM
mission shoiLd ascertain upon what terms the lands
described therein could purchased of their owner
or owners IT was then added: such commission
may enter f-.to contracts with such owners which
shall bind them to convey TO the State the land.
described therein at any time within two years
from the date thereof, II the said commission shall
demand such conveyance within that time, after
being authorized 90 by any act of the legis-
lsture' The act ended with the statement that the
commission should report the legislature Of 1903
the terms upon which such lands can be purchased.
The Forest Fish and Game Commission had as
SIS members when the act was passed Timothy L.
Woodruff. Charles IL Rabcock. Of Rochester. and
Dewitt Z. Middleton. Of Watertown. Mr.. Middle
Ton stated to-day that the State Engineer had no
fun5s 10 make a survey and therefore was
made Mr.. Middleton, who is the sole mem
her Of the commission. also said that the report
az the commission upon the matter referred to
lot yet ready for presentation to the legislature
colonel William /. Fox, Of the employees of
The commission said that in the report nothing
would said about the desirabiiity of purchasing
the lands but would follow the lines laid down
Tor IT the law passed in relation 10 the selection
Of lands for a reservation. Mr.. Middleton went 10
fta-r hut he iS
understood TO have said before he departed that
he did not know for what price the lands can be
purchased by the State
senator Prime. in his bill however, says that the
Forest. Fish and Game Commission. having. pursu-
ant 10 the powers and duties conferred upon it by
chapter 80 OF the Laws OF 1902 located and selected
:, ansahla Clinton County TO be known as the
Ausable Ch2sm Reservation, and TO be, in addition
70 the AdrondacH Park and taken a contract from
IN Ia r@nd clear :.nd Inencum bered title for the
500 aa0 and cor,T7led with the other renuire-
rents the said act and make its report TO the
legislature. said commissioner is hereby authorized
and directed complete said purchase at said price
and 70 take from said owners deed of conveyance
of said land conveying the TO the people OF
the state Of New-York by a good: clear and unen-
-unberei title and the of Seoeeo is hereby aD-
prcrriated 10 pay therefor.
CAUSE OF EXPECTED OPPOSITION.
Some Democratic opposition TO Senator Primes
bin IS anticipated owing TO the fact that Thomas
7 Conway. of Plattsburg, Clinton County is one
Of the stockholders of the Ausable Chasm Company
\ T
COUNTY who hats long acted in alliance with Smith
N Weed. who tor many years has been the Demo-
cratic leader in the county. Mr.. Weed It Will be
remembered. once thought he was TO be chosen
United STATES Senator and saw David B. Hin
elected Then Mr.. Weed did effective work in
l,-eventing the nomination of Mr. Hin for
president in 1892. In 1898, however, MI Con-
vvav was nominated for Attorney General by
the Democratic party, and the Weed Demo-
Gratis Of Clinton County were apparently once
more to have recognition IN a Democratic
..zrfx-s councils. Nj Conway was renominated for
Artorrey General IN 1909 In 1902 he elected, as
lie thought. py d large majority of the Democratic
voters Of Clinton County represent them in the
democratic State Committee of that year George
fellow delegates. but orders apparently came TO
clinton from outside its borders to make upon
trends OF smith II. Weed A few delegates bolted
from the Clinton County Democratic convention
end 4 contesting delegation sent 10 the Demo-
cratic State Convention. There Mr.. Conway and
NJ Weed saw their credentials rejected and the
names Of the contesting delegates put upon both the
temporary and permanent rolls OF the convention
OPPOSITION is made by some Democrats to
the purchase Of Ausable Chasm property on the
ground that there alleged deal between the
Republicans and the Weed Democrats by which the
Ausa Bile Chasn1 property was to be purchased The
Secretary Of State said to-day: There was no
deal of auv kind relating TO the Ausable Chasm
property between Republicans and Democrats; nor
has there ever been. The people of Clinton and
Essex counties 7 think favor the purchase of the
arss bic Chasrn by the State because they wish TO
gain admission 10 it without paying anything for
he privilege"