The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-18
Our

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I'd country seat at Santa.
ia Vol Clara, in the Adiron-
M EGI dacks, and the pre-
I'm EGI cautions taken to
!NZH@azsSI(a1 guard the Rockefeller
G22 ~ camp from those who
are openly hostile to
the milIionaire's policy of conducting
his Adirondack preserve have awaken
ed the public to a realization of the fact
that the upbuilding of vast country es-
tates by our men of wealth has engen-
dered an antagonism on the parts of
the guides and inhabitants of the coun-
try invaded by the millionaires which
may have very serious results. Espe-
cially is this true of the Adirondacks. In
the lake and mountain regions of these
glorious highlands there are hundreds
of people who from their childhood
have been accustomed to regard the
forests and the streams as their natu-
raj means of support, and they view
with dismay and anger the fencing of
the land through which they have been
accustomed to hunt at will and the de-
NAL of the right to fish in lake and riv-
er. 1t is not generally known that
within the past twenty years an area
of nearly 800, 600 acres in the Adiron-
dack country has passed into the con-
troll of individuals or associations,
land that was formerly the common
property of the tourist or habitant.
Most of these private preserves as a
matter of fact, have been established
within the past ten years, and with few
exceptions all of them are posted with
warnings against trespassing, hunting
or fishing.
The largest individual landholder in
the Adirondacks.- but at the same time
one who has least incurred the dis
pleasure of the natives, is former Sec
rotary of the Navy William c. Whit
ney. His estate comprises total of
some 70, 900 acres, numerous ponds and
small lakes and part of the upper
Saranac. 1t includes a whole township
in Hamilton county with the exception
of a single lot, the property of New
York state. The Whitney lodge, Camp
Killoquah on Little Forked lake. is one
of the sights of the Raquette lake coun-
try and, as the illustration shows, is an
ideal home in the woods surrounded by
glorious birches. The old inhabitants
have become tenants of this landed pro-
prietor and in many cases derive a
comfortab BILE income by acting in his
behalf as game wardens or guides. One
thing that has done much to popular
ize their landlord with them is his
propaganda in favor of restocking the
forests with big game. Mr.. Whitney
has for years been active in this direc-
ton and has from time to time liberat-
ed herds of elk and moose which he i'm
ported from Canada. Another thing
which endears him to the people of the
district is his custom of annually TAX
ing a large party of the pilots of the
forest to see the sights of New York,
the guides being his guests throughout
their visit to the city
The possession of this estate and of
his palatial country home in the Wheat
ley hills, near Westbury, N. Y, makes
Mr.. Whitney the largest individual
landowner in all New York state.
But he has extensive holdings in
other parts of the country. On the
top of October mountain, six miles
from Lenox. Mass, stands a beautiful
mountain lodge, the leading feature of
a 1900 acre holding boasting many
pleasant farmhouses and a 1900 acre