The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-08-26
AT TER SQUATT[R:
Adirondack Campers VII.
Be EyiCted This Fall.
WHIPPLE'S ORDERS ARE ISSUED
State mmissioner Announces That
He Will Eject Occupants of State
Lands and Tear Down Buildings.
BIames Legislatures Delay.

Albany, n. Y, Aug 24.-Adirondacli
squatters, rich and poor alike, are to
be bodily evicted from state land this
fall and their camps and dwellings
torn down. This announcement was
made by State Forest, Fish and Game
Commissioner james $. Whipple dur
ing the inquiry into Adirondack land
affairs, which is being conducted by
the commissioners appointed by Gov
ernor Hughes.
Chief Counsel John L. Ward of Mr.
Whipples department was on the
stand all day, and he was questioned
by Commissioner Austin for the rea-
SONS why the state department had
not actually evicted the squatters
around RacQuette lake on the islands
III Lake George, on Indian Lake and
at other points in the Adirondacks.
Nj Racquette Lake thirty judgments
OF eVictionS were secured against ho-
tetkeeperS and cottagerS some time
ago, but the people are still occupying
their places. Mr. Ward stated that
the main object Of the department was
to protect the forests and that the poor
squatterS had not been put off for the
reason that the rich camp squatters
could fight the state and stave off
action for years, as the attorneys fees
would not amount to any more than
camp rental. He declares that some
of the sQuatters had been there legally
before the constitutional amendment
of 1895 vitiating losses to state land
was adopted by the people and that
they lad no other place to go. A num-
Der of them had threatened that if
they were put off they would set fire
to the forests.
1t was pointed out that Joseph
Ladew and David C. Ball of New York
city and Forest Inman of Amsterdam
were among the squatters on
Racquette Lake and that Colonel w. d.
Mann of Town Topics was one of the
squatters on Lake George island.
Mr.. Ward also stated that Ruck island.
upon which ex-senator lothian p.
Aids and others have their camp, was
owned by the state, and that Senator
Aids and nearly all of the other club
members had signed disclaimers.
Commissioner Whipple broke in at
this point. You should know" said
Commissioner Whipple, that the rep.
resentatives of the associations formed
to protect the forests have agreed that
the constitution should be amended to
permit the state to lease camp sites on
state lands. Such an amendment
would permit leases to existing squat,
ters under proper restrictions. This is
favored by forest protective associa.
tions composed of the best men in New
York city, who not only believe these
leases should be made, but that thou.
sands of other leases should be entered
into if desired, as the more people that
have property interests in the woods
will render less and less the danger
in the woods from fire, compared
with which the timber thieves do lit
tie damage. Last winter notified the
| assembly ways and means committee
that if the legislature did not act upon
the proposed constitutional amendment
at the last session, as soon as the
danger from fire was over this fall l
would send a force of men in the
woods to eject every squatter from
state land and tear their buildings to
| the ground. ! have already given
| verbal orders to that effect and the
responsibility can rest upon the legis.
lature for not meeting this condition. -