New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-03
GREAT LAND OWNER.
His Forest Preserves in AdirOndacks
and Near Lemon. Mass.

William c. Whitney was the owenr Of two OF the
largest and finest private forest preserves in the
country. One was known as the Whitney Park in
the Adirondacks. mostly in Hamilton County. and
the other the October Mountain preserve. near
Lenox. Mass Mr.. Whitney's first purchases for
his park in the Adirondacks were made about
eight years ago. when. a member Of the Hamil-
ton Park Club. he went that region to hunt
and fish. lie first bought the clubs holdings.
cleared some titles in litigation and made some
Improvements, and later he improved every oppor-
tunity to extend his holdings
The park of $4,000 acres is of great value.
Scattered over il sixty-four lakes and many
beautiful camps. The largest lake is nearly six
miles long and about two wide with an elevation
OF l'& feet above tide. There several islands
scattered through II. and il has pleasant winding
shores we'll forested. In clear weather the main
peaks of the Adirondacks. forty miles away. stand
out clearly defined against the eastern horizon
The surrounding forests have not been injured by
IRE, and the use Of the axe has been careful. The
Gark foliage Of the conifers extends in every drec
tion. and Norway pines are conspicuous along the
lake and in its vicinity
At Little Upper Lake is the lodge Of the super
intendent Ernest Halsey johnson. 1t is a cottage.
amply provided with freplaces cosey sleeping
apartments, spacious parlors. dining rooms and
Kitchen. and is modern in all it's fittings. Not far
from the lodge and facing the lake is building
which is interesting because Of its historical
sociations. It is the old hotel conducted by
Pliny Martin. who able in the early days OF
the region to attract sportsmen to make the jour-
ney TO Little Upper Lake from Plattsburg. dis
lance of over sixty miles through the forest.
There is remarkable spring near the falls on
the west side of the lake. and it remains favorite
stopping place for guides and sportsmen. AS one
leaves Big Upper Lake the journey toward
Little Topper the vista the falls down the
lake is said by many Adirondack travellers to be
without equal in the whole region. The Bog River
has its source in the Whitney Park. and forms an
interesting ride Owing to the discoloration Of its
water the most remarkable reflections may be seen
on its dark. mirrOrlike surface. Every leaf and
tree tint and color mound and rock along its
shores is reflected on its surface with surprising
accuracy. The outlines clearer and
sharper than the objects themselves the banks
and looking over the side OF the boat. may
peer into the dim recesses OF the forest far
while looking directly at the forest itself.
Leaving the Bog River at the junction Of the two
branches Of the stream, the boats ascend the left
hand stream their way TO Little Upper Lake
After a short distance there is a carry TO Round
Pond. In the Whitney preserve. body of water two
miles long. whose outline approaches a circle
closely than any other of the many ponds and lakes
T,,nna Iy this name FROM Round POND Little
crooked inlet called The Slang" word taken
tamarack swamp for about one mile and then the
boat passes under quaint bridge constructed OF
powders and logs The inlet and outlet of Little
Tq9PPer Lake Lab are only few hundred feet apart
e u OF .IliV1ty Is al me lo!se OF tne
SUPERINTENDENT at Little upper Lake, the finest
camps on the park are on the Forked Lakes. The
elaborate OF fits kind in the woods. The striking
beauty Of Forked Lake is its growth OF cedar for
with deep indentatons in its northern shore ad-
dition 10 the peculiar parting az one POINT from
there are many tall white pines Of the first growth
| From the lodge Of the superintendent there is a
long journey through the forest in course Of which
| diluvian Pond Lake Maria Roland Pond. Sutton
Pond sne Ssrey FSnd or M3ose Ionq i, Moose s
| Little Forked requires one day, and the time Is
FOR the guide boats. but the trip is severe one. be
Forked Lake Is generally aPpr9SaGs , by way OF
Ra9ute Lake and the RSaq FdIes Ye ana %
| is not entirely within the limits OF Mr. Whit
Forked Lake there is winding channel into Little
| Forked Lake. a small but pretty body OF water.
where the principal camps OF the whitney pro-
and the wild conditions are seldom disturbed. and
| one often deer feeding on the shore. large
out the year. The duties CT some Of them are to
protect the shooting and fishing from Ioachers.
tons Telephone wires stretching for miles through
the forest the lodge of the superintendent
with the houses OF the game protectors scattered
among the lakes and ponds on the PTeSeTye e., ana
The lakes and streams TEEN with fish. and the
supply rs SePt up e ee and Mr. Whnev sent to i
larger game. including moose from Can1oS' ana
Lake by the State few wears aEo; were well
ared Tot bdnt T thouss2d or six thousand acres
are cut over each year. and the spruce. pine ana
haIsam above inches in three feet from the
ground removed. All the hemiOck and for about
two hundred feet from the shore lines Of each lake
the first growth timber Is left st1ninS Inc cDai-
TORS on .he tops OF the hills, which, II removed.
would leave an opening for the wind. are also left
Mr. whitney the largest property owner IN
Nassachusetts He owned zen thousand acres or
land in Washington. Lee and LenCx. In the Berk-
shire Hills where ne had one Of the largest game
preserves in the East Mr.. Whitney's agents De.
90 buying prOpertv on October Mountain, one OF
the most slightly pieces in the Berkshire Hills, as
far hack as 1876. So quietly were the purchases
de that IL until buying had been goinE on
for eight months that il became known that some
one was attempting 10 acquire vast holdings. IN
ysos on order was sent his LenOX agents for the
Construction OF q camp the mountain. IL was
feyerish excitement contractors began work Hum
dreds Of lahorers and carpenters were employed.
aud nv working day and night, by the AID or cal-
ciIu lights ut night. large and expensive camp
was completed in contract time Then came the
announcement from Newport that Harry Payne
whitney and his bride. Hiss Gertrude Vanderbilt.
were 10 occupy the camp on their honeymoon
THE DEVELOPMENT OF the mountain TITO game pre-
serve followed. From Jackson's Hole in wyoming
carloads of elk and backtail deer were shipped to
Ierox These were followed by buffalo. moose and
Angora goats quail and pheasant breeding
farm was established. and for several seasons IN
the fall Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney en-
Mr. whitney had been distributing the Zig gane
which found excellent and prolific breedlng
spot on the mountain. Most OF the elk were
chi 10 the AdiTondacks and released on inc
nuflio lands and the buffalo were sold or shlnpeu
10 Bronx Park The Corbin preserve IN Nc,w-
One was given TO the Geological Gardens OF O'e'0