The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-05
THE r E IN DANGER.
Significance OF . Movement In the
Constitutional Convention.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. In
THE SUN recently appeared an article
headed SHARP Fight On to AVE For
ests." 1t cannot be doubted that there
Is a strongly organized movement under
way to alter the State Constitution so
that the Adirondacks will be thrown
open to lumbermen. Behind II are lum-
bermen. many upstate politicians. also
grafters who expect to get some of the
crumbs dropped from the tables OF the
more important interests. The motives
are obvious. Success would mean mill
ions Of dollars profit to the group in
control of the situation in different sec
lions of the woods. 1t would mean life
to broken down mills, which Is one OF
the main objects; but outside OF lum-
bering there are millions Of dollars profit
in furnishing supplies to the operators.
You can find all through the woods
at the present time a great number Of
small stores that really do an enormous
business In this way, and close to every
lumber operation there is a liquor bust
ness that has no excuse for existence
but supplying the men who work in the
woods.
In order to give a color Of reason TO
their cause. the people interested In this
movement have succeeded In enlisting
the sympathies OF a few people. whose
integrity OF purpose cannot be ques-
toned. mainly on the plea that It will
be better for the forest to be scientin-
cally numbered and the state will
thereby derive a revenue. This might
be true In France, Germany or In some
foreign countries where the vast i'm.
p~ortance of the remaining forests have
been understood for a long time and
where the laws are efficient and carried
out in the spirit In which they were
made. but it is not true in this case.
The present movement is not homes:
and Is for the we'll defined purpose u
benefting certain private individuals
and corporations. The present sweeping
constitutional law was made for the ex-
press object OF thwarting such aims. as
no State law or forestry regulations were
found equal to the task. Even as it is
to-day the State land is being tres
passed upon, as inquiry will show.
Among the people behind the present
movement may be found some of the old
corporations n private individuals
against whom the present laws were
aimed years ago. Some want lumber,
some want pulp wood, others to run
stores and taverns. stu others want con-
tracts for building roads. These people
are willing to accept any kind of bill
hat will open the door in the slightest
way, because they know they could
push II open the rest OF the way after
ward. With the best of intentions the
convention could not draft a section that
would guard the forests that would be
less sweeping than the present one.
There are many ms and outs in this
business that are not known or AN
not be understood. Take. for instance.
the matter of selling State timber.
1t could only be done fairly by auction
TO the highest bidder. but many Of the
people or companies that want this new
legislation hold rights of way over Ian
or strategic points on the rivers or lakes
down or through which the logs would
nave TO come. and in such cases II
would be useless for any to bid but
those who hold such rights. 1t Is oh.
vious that the holders OF the iights
would have no competition against their
bidding.
Based on this same point another
scheme is in the air that Is. TO have
tho State buy virtually all the land in
the Adirondacks. the idea being that the
State would derive a revenue from the
sale Of It's timber. The real intention,
however. is TO realize a large price for
anu MUCH VI WHICH Is NbINlltSs. dIlu
then buy back from the State the logs
from the good territory at the buyers
own price.
There is nothing to which the phrase
safety first applies better han It does
to this situation. The convention should
not tamper with the present law in any
way. II II does the state will get the
worst OF II, no matter what safeguards
they may throw around II. Let this be
understood and II will force the bsckers
Of the movement out from cover, Then
=. will be seen who is behind II and
their object.
The records OF the Comptroller's Of
fee and intelligent inquiry will easily
show that there are people lobbying for
this change in the Constitution who have
spent years in endeavoring TO upset the
state title TO various pieces OF land in
the Adlrondacks. II some cases they
have been successful. and in others they
have effected compromises by which they
secured land, timber or money. When
successful In securing land and timber
they usually took Of the latter and sold
the denuded land back to the state. 1t
has been a most profitable business.
owing to the laxity OF the states meth
DDS in old times. Better let the forests
follow natures course than risk them
III the iltrus VI sum lf'Iits III dllpAIl'
generation or two II Will be time nou
to talk of putting the forests on a bust
ness basis. The loss by windfall or trees
passing their maturity would be nothing
in comparison to the general gain in
natural growth.
The talk OF cutting fallen timber is
simply nonsense. II would not pay any
one to touch II. and as for cutting ma
ture timber. that Is only for the pur-
pose OF getting in the wedge.
In short. a very little Investigation In
the right places will uncover interests
that want the present law changed, but
the motives are so obvious that as far
as possible the people who represent
these interests must keep themselves In
the background.
II the best interests OF the people
Of the state OF New York are to he
served and the Adirondack forests to
be preserved the present law should not
he changed one iota. AN OBSERVER.
L YORK. July 81.
Sunuasttnn for M Usa ~ Aha