New-York tribune., 1910-08-27
WOODRUFF'S LAND DEAL
Governors Investigators Hear
About Adirondack Purchase.
STATE DID NOT WANT IT
Frank L. Bell, Commissions
Special Counsel, Tells of Bell
Golding Transaction.

Albany, Aug. 26-The story of Timothy
l.. Woodruff's purchase of his camp in the
Adirondacks thirteen years ago was retold
to-day at the investigation into forestry
affairs which is being conducted by Com
missioners Clark and Austin at Governor
Hughess direction.
The commissioners had not intended to
question any of the witnesses publicly con-
cerninS the transaction, as they were in
possession OF the facts until Frank L. Bell
one Of the special counsel to the Forest
Fish and Game Commission, who was on
the stand to-day, volunteered some infor-
nation on the subject This led to further
questioning and the reading of extracts
from documents relative to the purchases.
Mr.. Woodruff, Lieutenant Governor
was member of the Land Purchasing
Board early in 1897. when the Forest Park
and Land Company. Of which W. w
Durant was president. offered for sale to
the state a, tract of a about twenty-five thou
sand acres of forest lands in the region of
Racquette Lake for $4,000. In the fall of
the same year the state bought the prop
erty for sl67,000
Mr.. Woodruff's Purchase.
Soon after this Mr. Woodruff purchased
including Lake Kora, in the midst of the
Kare. for $4,000. Shed Lake. now Saga
more. with its costly camp, was sold to AL
fred g. Vanderbilt for s162. 500
The Forestry Board reported that the
lowest price at which the lands including
these two lakes could be purchased. in
Guiding the improvements on Shed Lake,
was more than the board felt justified in
paying, since the states policy was one of
forest preservation rather than the acqui-
sition Of scenery and water improvements
Bell said to-day that he had heard 1t
stated at the time the offer was made to
the state by the Forest Park and Land
Company that Mr.. Durant proposed to
hold out Lake Kora. Mr. Woodruff told
the witness that the Forestry Board had
refused TO buy the land because of this
reservation. Later. when Mr.. Durant want
ed TO sell, it was agreed that if the land
company would convey to the state the
shore line Of Racquette Lake with the
tract they might hold out Lake Kora
II was learned tonight that Mr.. Wood
ruff had forwarded a letter to the COM
mtssioners. telling how he came to Dur
chase the camp. Mr.. Clark said the let
ter had not been received.
The BeI-Goiding Transaction.
Mr. Bell related in detail to-day how he
came to be interested with John n. Gold
ing, OF New York, in lands at Racouette
Lake, which were sold to the state last
year for $4,000. Soon after TINS sale Mr.
Bel was employed by the state as special
counsel to the Forest. Fish and Game
commission at salary of $500 and ex-
penses. The department has since been
criticized for this
IF there was anything wrong about il 8"
ne told the commissioners, II will he clad
10 take the deed back and pay the state
S7or0. II the state believes it has been de-
lfauced, there must be some power to bring
an acton 10 set the transaction aside and
cancel all of these deeds"
Bell said that in 1871 he had been reouest
ed by Mr. Woodruff to make an examtna
ton Of the title Of the land in question for
the Forest Preserve Board He did so and
reported that the heirs Of Abner Benedict in
New Jersey had title to some of the prop
erty- Bell secured an option on 1t for the
state, but ex-senator Aids and George n.
ostrander advised the board not to buy it.
Those i'm the Deal.
At a meeting of the board in the summer
Of that year, the board refused to purchase
the property. Mr.. Woodruff at that time
announced that the board purposed to evict
all squatters on state land and an action
was brought later to eject Golding from
his camp on Racquette Lake
Bell agreed to defend Golding if the lat
ter would buy the Benedict lands Golding
did SO, and in settling the ejectment action
the property was eventually conveyed to
the state for $4,000. Bell and Golding re-
serving the Golding camp. the Racquette
railroad terminal, which later was sold to
Patrick Moynihan. and the camp now oc
cupied by Frank II. Platt, son of ex-Sen-
ator Thomas c. Platt.
WAS Congressman George \. Malby In
terested in the agreement between yourself
and Golding?" asked Commissioner Clark.
Yes replied Bell, che was to have had
a portion of the Golding interest for acting
as counsel, but withdrew"
Did Nalby act as counsel for the Sara
nae Land and Timber Company in an ac-
ton against the State Controller when he
was State Senator?'
'I heard so''
Bell said that neither Nfalby nor PIatt
had anything to do with the settlement of
the Golding-Ben matter.
Speaker Wadsworth to Testify.
speaker James w. WaQsWcrtn, il, WHO
Is a member Of the Forest Purchasing
Board, telegraphed to the commissioners
to-day asking to be permitted TO make a
statement, and he will be heard on Monday
when the investigation is resumed. Com
missioner whipple probably will be the last
witness examined.
At the morning session John K. Ward.
chief counsel TO the commission. was called
as a witness.
referring to the famous Stuyvesant Fish
dinner in New York in 1907. at which quail
were served out OF season. asked Mr..
Austin, did you ever try to find out who
sold the QIIail?'
'I did not" answered Ward The wit
ness admitted that the sale Of the quail
constituted violation Of the game law,
but he didn't ask Mr.. Fish from whom the
birds were purchased.
TIRE CAIrSES pANT0