404 REPORT OV THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Assuming that the land of the claimant would cut five cords of pulp wood per acre, which, as we 

 shall hereafter see, is a small estimate, the difference in the cost of the transportation of pulp wood by 

 rail over water transportation would amount to at least $5 an acre, or upon the claimant's whole tract 

 of 65,836 acres would amount to $329,180. 



Again we repeat the question, is it any wonder that the claim is large when the State of New York 

 has closed up the natural and cheapest way of marketing the pulp wood on claimant's land and has 

 made it absolutely necessary to ship out the pulp wood by rail so as to affect the land at the rate 

 of $5 an acre ? 



(5.) Difficulties ill the 'ivay of httiihering by rail caused by the reservoir. 



Discussion hitherto has been upon the supposition that the reservoir did not absolutely prevent the 

 lumbering of claimant's tract by rail but made it more expensive. The evidence discloses that it is 

 impracticable to lumber by rail. 



In order to lumber the tract by rail it is necessary to use the land and waters embraced within the 

 reservoir limits. 



As we have previously seen, because of the drawing down of the waters of the reservoir, in the 

 winter time, and the constant changing of the waters' level, the resulting ice is unstable and not of 

 sufficient strength to conduct lumbering operations across, so that all lumbering operations in the 

 winter time such as crossing over the reservoir to and from the railroad are rendered impossible. 



The questions propounded by the learned Attorney-General seem to indicate that he deemed it 

 quite feasible to float down the logs from the tract, and especially down the Red Horse Chain into 

 the reservoir, and opposite the entrance of the Red Horse Chain, to construct a mill for the purpose 

 of manufacturing the logs into lumber. That the reservoir at that point could be cleared out, 

 booms placed across it and the logs held there in the reservoir, and that the reservoir would answer 

 the double purpose of use by the State for storage purposes and for a mill pond for the lumberman. 



This suggestion seemed at first quite taking, but upon reflecting as to the manner of using 

 this reservoir by the State, it appears that during the summer the State draws down the water in 

 this mill pond, commencing in July; so what would to-day be a satisfactory mill pond would next 

 week be the dry bottom of a reservoir. Under such circumstances the entire stock of logs would be 

 stranded and landed in the mud and mire at the bottom of the reservoir. Such a situation, it 

 would seem, would require no evidence to convince one that it would not be feasible to conduct 

 lumbering operations under such conditions. Reference, however, is made to the following testimony : 



JOHN McFARLAND testified that if a mill were built on the edge of the reservoir opposite 

 the valley of the Red Horse Chain, so as to be used for the entire tract, that it would be necessary to 

 use all the waters of the river to get the logs down to the mill, and then to put a boom across to hold 

 the logs; that if in the months of July, August, or September, the water was drawn down it would 

 land the logs on the ground, and they would have to be taken out of the mud and mire to the mill, 

 which w^ould not be paying or profitable. 



HON. WESLEY BARNES testified that it would be necessary to build a mill outside the flow 

 line, and then when the water in the pond was drawn out, the logs would be scattered all over the 

 flats, and that it would be almost impossible to get them in to the mill to manufacture. The learned 

 Attorney-General rather took issue with the witness as to his conclusion that it would be necessary to 

 have the mill at the edge of the reservoir, and the following ensued upon cros;-examination : 



Q. You say that a saw-mill would have to be built at the edge of the flow, at the edge of the 

 reservoir, if it was built there ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Could it not be built out to the channel of the river ? — A. Not very well. 



O. Couldn't it be built on piles? — A. Not to have a steam mill. 



(An inspection of the premises shows that there is no water power obtainable with which to 

 run a mill). 



DAVID C. WOOD testified that to lumber the tract by rail it would be necessary to have the 

 reservoir full of water, and that the mill could not be run with any practicable results if the reservoir 

 was not keot full. 



