The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-05

Strong Lobby Busy Persuading
Delegates to Reopen the
Timber Lands.

SnNN ~ - - 'hlN
roniack people familiar with the kind o.
forestry tina is generally prac.'sed in
the district and who have noted the
political II changes In The
forest. fish and game service are watch
ing with deep interest the PROPOSALS be-
fore the CONSTITUTIONAL convention to
permit the cutting of timber in the for
eat preserve or the state parks in the
Catskills and the Adirondacks.
That some change is likely to result
duced appears 20 .he people Of the Adj
rondacks>to he almost impossible to pre-
vent because OF the activity OF the lum-
Der interests and the moves which are
being made on TIE political checker
board.
While some OF the members OF the
conservation committee o: the conven-
ton, which is shortly to make a report
upon the proposed amendments referred
10 1t. express confidence that the com.
mittee will report a safe" measure.
there is a feeling that anything except
. proposition in favor Of numbering or
commercial!zing the forest will meet
with defeat. Even the optimistic mem
bers OF the committee are preparing for
a hard fight on the floor OF the conven-
ton to saw the forests from the axe.
There Is a well credited report that
the real proposition will be held back
until toward the end OF the convention.
A.A - ~. ~rons N,,-
Of work will be d1ne to bring the dele
gates around to the lumberman's point
Of view.
Timber Worth $4,000. 900.
The lumberman would have the con-
vention take the view that there are
100000 acres Of forest lands reserved
upon which there Is estimated to he
$50, 600. 900 worth OF timber and that the
State will get n revenue of 1.000.0 900 a
year from the cutting OF this timber.
while the forest will be benefited by the
removal Of mature" trees according to
the principles OF scientific forestry.
Unfortunately. there mas never been
a proper appraisal or inventory of the
State lands. TIL latest figures are from
spent two weeks last autumn estimating
the amount of timber on the State lands
OF their respective localities. The SUI
p%erintendent of Forests says the data
are based upon ocular estimates except
In rare cases.
We do not claim" says the Superin-
tendent. that the figures are absolutely
correct, but that they represent the best
thai could be lone under the circum-
stances"
As the lumberman Is making his case
upbn the supposed valuation of the tim
Der and upon the benefits Of scientific
forestry. 1t is timely to call attention to
the manner in which the State OF New
York came into possession of nearly all
Of its timber lands. In the beginning
the major part Of the present forest
preserve was sold by the State to va
rious individuals and lumber companies
and the purchasers removed all the tim
Der that could be taken out at n profit.
How State ReRaincd Land.
The owners then permitted these
tracts to revert to the State for nom
payment of taxes. From time to time
there were additions to the State lands
BY other sales for taxes. direct pur-
chases. appropriation and through mort
cages given by the United States Loan
Commissioners. until the area now APP
proximates 1900, 900 acres OF both land
and water. But only 10000 acres Of
this park Is virgin or primeval forest.
The remainder is second growth. upon
which the majority of the original own
ers would not pay the taxes.
In the last twenty years. however.
where the State has been fortunate
enough to keep the fire out and where
the forest protective force has been ac-
tive enough to keep timber thieves out
there Is new growth OF trees. The lum-
herman thinks it is about time to cut
over the State lands again.
Some lumbermen are telling the dele
gates how their forests are netting them
large returns II how the forests are
being Improved through restricted or
scientific cutting. 1t Is not possible for
the delegates to visit the tracts of the
operators. and IL they did they probably
would see only the show places. Nearly
every lumberman or company owning or
operating timber lands in the Adiron-
dacks has some pet lax or pond where
there is a fishing or hunting lodge. In
the vicinity of these lodges there is
some attempt at doing things las they
are done In Germany" and here the
lumberman calls the attention Of guests
TO the finest examples of his handiwork.
The fishing Is good. the lodge comfort
able and the impression Is all that may
be desired. The examples of bad for
estry and waste arc Sufficiently remote
from the lodge to escape notice.
Ferris j. MeiEs Active.
Ar n leader Of the lumbermen in the
constitutional convention, as a member
Of the Committee or the Conservation
OF the Natural Resources Of the state
Of New York. some prominence comes
naturally to Ferris J. Meigs. president
Of the Santa Clara Lumber Company Of
Tupper Lake. graduate OF a special
course in forestry at Sheffield Scientific
School and an influential member OF
the Empire State Products Association,
the organization % the lumbermen OF
the State,
Mr.. Meigs has introduced suggestions
Of a constitutional provision ito con
serve the natural resources OF the State
and he presents reasons why changes
should be made In section 7, article
Z Of the Constitution. which now
prohibits the cutting Of timber or State
land. The ownership of some Of the
land which Mr.. Meigs's company has al,
ready cut over is In dispute in the