374 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



And your Committee further reports that they have expended in making the 

 necessary examination of said lands the sum of $99.55. All of which is respectfully 

 submitted. 



WILLIAM R. WEED, 

 H. H. LYMAN, 

 B. H. DAVIS, 



Coiuinittee. 

 Dated, ALBANY, N. Y., September 14, 1895. 



The reports of Forester Powers were a valuable assistance in determining the value 

 of the land, as he had passed his whole life in the Adirondack forests and was a 

 recognized expert on the examination of this class of property with reference to 

 timber value. He reported on each lot separately, making out his report on the blank 

 forms furnished by the Commission for such purposes. These printed forms contain 

 a series of questions which are intended to elicit all necessary information regarding 

 the land examined, the questions being complete and exhaustive. 



Powers examined these tracts from January 28 to February 4, 1895, going over each 

 lot on snowshoes. As there were no leaves on the hardwood trees, he had a good 

 opportunity to estimate the amount of young spruce, hemlock and other evergreen 

 species. He states that although the tract had been lumbered, the hardwood trees, 

 which constituted eighty per cent, of the original growth, remained as before ; that 

 only the larger soft wood trees were cut ; and that, throughout the entire tract, the 

 young spruces which were left by the lumbermen would average seventy trees to the 

 acre; and the young hemlocks, sixty trees to the acre. Forester Powers claims that in 

 twenty-five years these lands will yield a second cutting of spruce. On Lot 19, there 

 was a dam at the outlet of Cod Pond, the overflow from which had killed some timber 

 around the shore, but to no great extent, as the pond is small and the water was drawn 

 out each year before the trees were in leaf. A fire occurred on this lot several years 

 ago, which burned over a small area; but the land thus injured is covered o\-er with a 

 thick growth of young trees composed of poplar, birches and cherries. 



The cleared lands along the Sacandaga River on Lots 13, 14, and 15 were not 

 included in the contract, as the Commission prefers to confine its purchases to forest 

 land only. Moreover, there were several families residing on these meadows, and it 

 was not deemed advisable to eject them at present. 



The tract of the Morgan Lumber Company is well stocked with deer, and is a 

 favorite hunting ground, the Sacandaga River furnishing some fine runway shooting. 



The report of the Forestry Committee having been adopted by the Board, notice 

 of such approval was transmitted to the Commissioners of the Land Office. 



