The Forest Commission, State of New York.

ANNUAL REPORT.

To the Legislature:

The act of Legislature establishing the Adirondack park did not become a law until May last. Since then this department has been busy with the preliminary work necessary to the sales and purchases of lands as provided for in that law, and with the business incidental to such sales and purchases as have already been made.

There seems to be a misunderstanding on the part of some as to the provisions of this act relating to the sale of State lands within the Forest Preserve. Newspaper articles have appeared from time to time condemning any policy which would permit the sale of lands or "parting" with any acreage in the Preserve. In each instance such strictures seem to have arisen from a lack of information as to certain important provisions in the act. Under the law the State does not lose any forested territory, does not decrease its acreage, nor, strictly speaking, part with its lands by reason of these so-called sales.

The lands sold are outlying tracts, remote from the main forest, and, by reason of their situation and scattered locations, unavailable as a part of any State park or preserve. When sold, the proceeds are available only for the purchase of lands within the park, and as the proceeds are applied to that purpose immediately the transactions constitute, practically, an exchange of territory instead of a sale.

Furthermore, the isolated, outlying tracts, owing to their situation near, or within the populous farming districts, command prices which enable the Commission to exchange them for three or four times as many acres of forest land in the interior. These interior lands may have been divested of spruce or other mer

chantable soft timber, but the remaining hard woods furnish a good forest cover; and, what is more important, these lands are located where they are needed to best carry out the aims and purposes of any well-defined plan. In short, by exchanging lands through this medium of sales and of sales and purchases, the State secures two desirable results - better location and increased acreage.

But if the State ever acquires enough territory within the Adirondack and Catskill regions to protect the important interests dependent on the preservation of the forests located there, it will have to inaugurate some more liberal and comprehensive plan. After making ample allowance for any increase in acreage arising from exchanges, three-fourths of the Adirondack forest will still remain in private hands and beyond the control of the State. About 500,000 acres are owned by private clubs; but as these clubs, with few exceptions, have granted large timber rights to prominent lumber firms, the outlook for the private preserves is but little better than that of the forest at large.

New York has only eighteen per cent of its area in forests; Germany has twenty-nine per cent. If our people intend to hold their small percentage they must vote the money to buy the lands, and the purchases should commence without further delay.

Proposed Legislation.

The Forest Commission is required by law to make, in their annual reports to the Legislature, "such recommendations of further legislation or official action as they may deem proper."

In compliance therewith we would again recommend as in our previous annual reports, the appropriation of money for the purchase of forest land in the Adirondack and Catskill regions, and would strenuously urge that the amount be commensurate with the importance of the interests involved. Our reasons have been so fully and often set forth in our reports to the Legislature that we deem it unnecessary to reiterate them here, especially as the many arguments in favor of forest preservation are well known to every member of the State government.

Lands Sold, Purchased, and Exchanged.

Sales of Land.

The act establishing an Adirondack park became a law May 20, 1892. Since that time a large number of applications for the purchase of State lands situated outside the park have been forwarded to the Commission. Large tracts of desirable forest land situated within the park have also been offered to the Commission at one dollar and fifty cents per acre.

Under the direction of the superintendent the foresters have been busily employed during the entire season in examining the various lots for which applications to purchase had been made; also the lots which were offered for sale to the State. In both cases the land was thoroughly examined, lot by lot, and written reports on each forwarded to our office where they are Low en file. These reports contain a detailed description of each lot, its situation, quantity and quality of timber, accessibility, and its value per acre. Over 80,000 acres were thus examined by the superintendent and his men, and the reports on the same filed in our office.

It having been decided to sell such of the outlying lands in Franklin county as would command a price sufficient to increase the State acreage, the following advertisement was inserted in the Malone Farmer, Malone Gazette, Plattsburgh Sentinel, and Plattsburgh Republican:

State Lands for Sale.

Proposals for the purchase of State lands situated outside the boundaries of the Adirondack park having been received by this Department, now, be it known,

That in accordance with the provisions of sections 4 and 5, chapter 707, Laws of 1892, State of New York, entitled “An act to establish an Adirondack park and to authorize the purchase and sale of lands within the counties, including the Forest Preserve," the Forest Commission will contract to sell the following described lands, all in Franklin county, viz.:

In the town of Bellmont, Old Military Tract, Township 8, lots 55, 65, 66, 85, 86 and 87; and in Township 9, lot 300.

In the town of Franklin, Old Military Tract, Township 9, lot 296; and in Township 10, lots 186, 219, 227, 254, 255, 266, 267, 268.

In the town of Duane, Township 12, Great Tract One, Macomb's Purchase, lots 8, 16, 24, 48.

In the town of Brighton, the State's undivided interest in the northeast quarter of Township 18, Great Tract One, Macomb's Purchase.

Sealed proposals for the purchase of these lands, specifying the lot and the price per acre, will be received on or before Tuesday, January 3, 1893, after which date no bids will be considered. The Forest Commission reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

All communications should be addressed to the Forest Commission, Albany, N. Y.

TOWNSEND COX,

THEODORE B. BASSELIN,
DUDLEY FARLIN,

Commissioners.

These lots do not include all the outlying lands in Franklin county belonging to the State, but only such as were mentioned in the various bids or applications received prior to the insertion of the advertisement.

Before the close of the year the following advertisements of outside lands in Fulton, Essex, Warren, Saratoga, Lewis, and St. Lawrence were also inserted in the leading papers of the respective counties:

State Lands for Sale.

Proposals for the purchase of State lands situated outside the boundaries of the Adirondack park having been received by this department, now, be it known;

That in accordance with the provisions of sections 4 and 5, chapter 707, Laws of 1892, State of New York, entitled "An act to establish an Adirondack park, and to authorize the purchase and sale of lands within the counties including the Forest Preserve," the Forest Commission will contract to sell the State's interest in the following described parcels of land, all in Fulton county, viz.:

In the town of Bleecker, Chase's Patent, lots 27, 44, 56, 41, 42, 53, 74, 79, 101, 69, 8. In Glen, Bleecker, and Lansing Patent, lots 34, sub 4; 35, subs 2 and 3. Mayfield Patent, lot 91, south part.