New-York tribune., 1907-04-10
PLEA FOR TIMBER LAND
Er-Jndge HO5cIand's AnnuaI Report
at association Meeting.

There will not be left a single stick Of timber in
New York State twenty-eight years from now out
side Of the constitutonally protected forest pre-
serves If present conditions continue according to
ex-Judge Rowland, in his annual report yesterday
before the Association for the Protection Of the
Adrondacks.
Mr.. Howland who is president of the associa-
uon' made an attack on the amendment to the
constitution fathered by AssembIyman Merritt and
senator Malby In reviewing and praising the
work or the organization the speaker said;
The present season. however. finds US contending
LOT with officials OF the forest department Dul
with those who desrOus Of securing cOnstltu-
of state lands in the forest preserve
~ DeIeated in their purpose before the River I'M dl1
provement Commission, Assemblyman Merritt ana
Senator Malby took the interests which they rep
resented INTO the Legislature, and in the CLOSING
hours of the session of 1906 and without giving the
public hearing for which we asked. rushed through
2 concurrent resolution proposed To amend Section
as follows, tho amending words being in capitals
ne lands of the state. now owned or hereaLIer @
fixed by law, EXCEPTING SUCH LANDS As as
LAW Shall, IL NECEssSRniY ; !iE RE Used FOR
paH SToRAGE OF WATER FOR PIBd5447C d4 \ Ps1Ts F
THEREFOR, shall be forever kept as wild forest
lands They shall not be leased. sold or exchanged
nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed oF
This resolution. fathered by Assemblyman Mer-
tltt and Senator 0Netl, was reintroducsd IN Ine
ing accorded on the measure t on March 90 1907.
our representatives successfully stripped the veil
from the sponsors of the measure by eliclnS from
ooth Assemblyman Merritt and Senator q Nell tne
admission that they were financially interested IN
It's passage We earnestly combating the
amendment on the following grounds:
Inc proposed amendment IS ambiguous. The puf-
pose OF the amendment is to take property belong
ing to the people for the benefit OF a few private
interests The advocates of the amendment are
financially interested. Storage reservoirs built by
the state in the Adirondacks perverted from
tnelr original purposes TO private ends rms rs one
OF long series Of attempts subject the Adtron-
dacks TO private spOliatiOn, the nature of which
have already indicated.
As to Its effects, IL will permit the destruction OF
forests.
II will create unsanitary conditions in th- midst
or the peoples great health resort.
IL VIII destroy the natural habitat Of game and
drive then? from their feeding grounds The evil
dence of this may be found in the report OF 1886
just alluded to.
1t viii take from the people their land along the
Waterfront winch is the most valuable portion or
thelr park and the most desirable to the camper,
sportsman and health seeker
It VIII appropriate 10 the uses Of few private
corporations resources for potable water that may
eventually be required for the city OF New York
and other cities
The amendment IS not needed for the public
uealth ana safety. The amendment is not needed
needed for the Erie Canal Popular sentiment Is
opposed to the amendment. The newspapers
opposed 70 the amendment II will expose ths
AdTondacks 10 unknown dangers
The meeting was held in the oficeS Of the Farm
ers Loan and Trust Company. The following were
elected trustees for three years: Or. Samuel B.
Ward Of Albany; William p. GoodeI, OF syracuse;
]. II. Considine. OF Elmira: William II Boardman,
William q. Verplanck Thomas S. Walker. Alfred
l. White, Professor Charles S Smith A. G.. Wander
bilt and II. p Whitney.