New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-14
DIR. MERRITT REPLIES.
Defines attitude on Forest
PreserUe amendment.

Albany, March 13.-Edwin :. Merritt,
sr., Republican leader OF the Assembly,
has issued = statement in reply 10 certain
criticisms concerning the concurrent res
oiution introduced by him proposing an
amendment 10 the constitution with re-
spect 70 the forest preserve. The rur-
pose OF the resolution Is 20 legalize the
storage OF water, the development OF wa
ter power and the transmission OF cleo
trio current under state control. Il also
leaves open the way for the construction
Of highways through the reserve, and the
leasing by the Forest, Fish and Game
Commission, with the consent Of the Gov
error, for periods Of not more than ten
years, camp sites OF five acres or less.
Lands owned by The state outside the Ad-
iFondacks and Catskin parks are permit
ted TO be sold and the proceeds used 20:
acquiring lands lying within the park
boundaries.
Ny. Merritt begins by avowing that my
direct personal interest III water storage
IS due TO the fact that I have been inter-
=sted il water power development on the
RaquetIe River for more than twenty
Eears, and 1 MAKE no apology for the fact"
ale points ont that conditions have changed
greatly since the constitution was adopt
ed Then the entire evil sought 10 be COR
no longer exists. Adirondack land then
bought AT from - 80 TO 50 an acre would
aow bring SIC Reforestation and con
servation problems had not yet arisen
lie wants the constitution amended so
That q limited amount OF the state land,
not exceeding per cent OF the whole,
may be used for the making OF water
power, under state control, but not state
ownership. Nearly quarter Of the state
area he says, is comprised in the re-
SERVES. If all possible water sites were
utilized they would amount 10 less than 4
Der cent o. the whole, and most of this
x now swamp, which II would be better
from ali points Of view 10 have covered
with water. His statement continues:
The state has 10 sites within the Adiron
0ack preserves of which water powers to
leVelop large Units can be established.
The places where the rivers fall dow! the
hills are outside The Adirondack mark
Those sites afford opportunity for the de-
EelOpment Of business which VIII employ
capital and labor and pay state and local
taxes The state can store the waters Of
spring and tall, which renewed with
absolute certainly year after year, and,
holding the oVerpluS Of spring and autumn
floods. regulate the flow OF the streams 10
produce the highest practicable minimum
Cow of cubic feet or water q second
j want the state TO be reimbursed for
any advancement Of T1Onev or furnishing
Of credit, and 1 want the people who re-
ceive that benefit 10 pay those expenses
: want them to have the opportunity to
81 the investment Of capital. their ability
u the management or productive energy.
Z want them 10 turn all the wheels and
fSht All the lights and move al the cars
that the great commercial interests OF the
sLate require, until the last water horse
Bower Of e13erg.- has been employed /
E-ant such foods as haze devastated TIcFkI-
fner ana tie Hudson Valley this month
controlled woPld rather see this amend
al ~. It'll
legislation, than, II could. 10 bring into
Sire State OF New York by legislation the
foal treasures % Pennsylvania or the gold
hnd copper mines Of the Far West. l
gelOo outside Of The city 81 New York and
ptiieT cities
s BY way % Illustration. Mr. Merritt as
serts that the building oc q dam az Conk-
Engsvile, on Tho Sacandaga River. would
2reate Z, power reservoir as large as Lake
George. Under strict Interpretation Of
tle present constitution lie claims that not
stick Of wood could be cut IN the pre-
serve for camp stake or fire, and that
81 but few privileged ones Of the wealthy
PASS ere, by the absence OF roads. practi-
ealiy shut out Of the domain The state
ts also losing large sums by lack OF at'-
flority 20 sell burned timber. from which
source tie salvage on the g, C.Do 40 worth
&c timber lost in the forest fires Of two
years ago should have yielded SJ1l000 The
state ought - bay al the land within the
preserve he says. but al the present price
tisis would involve an enormous investment
and one which would not be justified. pro-
gided no intelligent system OF forestry is
IL lie undertaken BIZ which the dead and
gown timber. burned timber and mature
Embe- car joe marketed under proper con-
f;tions.