FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. -| I 7 



for the canals, taking into consideration as a part of the purchase-price damages heretofore done to 

 other lands affected by said reservoirs, or hereafter likely to accrue from raising and maintaining said 

 dams or reser\'oirs. 



The act was apparently intended as a means to enable the State to acquire a large body of land if 

 deemed best by this Commission and approved by the Land Board, and at the same time, also, 

 accomplish the settlement of the damage claims mentioned, and protect the State against further 

 clainis from the same source. 



The Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests have had the matter under consideration at 

 several regular and special meetings, and have taken such measures to inform themselves con- 

 cerning the matter as they could within the time allotted to its investigation. 



In July the full Board with its Engineer and Superintendent of Forests and his assistants, 

 accompanied by representatives of the Land Board, together with all the members of the Black River 

 Water Commission, went to the Beaver and Moose River country for inspection of the lands offered, 

 and to obtain a better knowlege of the whole subject, especially as to location, values, manner and 

 amount of use and control of the water by the State, and by the Black River Water Commission. 

 And also to ascertain by personal observation the extent of the apparent damage caused by the 

 erection and maintenance of the State dams upon the Beaver and Moose Rivers. This examination 

 was made as complete and thorough as was practicable within the time expended. After this field 

 examination and after obtaining through our Engineer and Superintendent of Forests and others,- 

 facts and figures as to the condition and present values of the tracts offered, we proceeded to consider 

 Mr. Webb's various propositions. 



None of the offers made appeared to us as desirable or advantageous to the State as one submitted 

 at the meeting held in connection with the Land Board, November 26th, which provides for the sale 

 to the State in fee simple with covenants of warranty of title 75,000 acres of timber land in Townships 

 5, 8, 38, 42, and 43 in Herkimer and Hamilton Counties for eight dollars per acre or $600,000, and 

 secures to the State as public park and forestry lands to be dedicated to the use of the public forever, 

 subject to park restrictions only, the balance of lands in Township 8, being about 15,000 acres. It 

 being understood that these last-mentioned lands shall not and cannot be sold for mechanical, 

 commercial or agricultural purposes. This sale, if consummated, to extinguish and cancel all claims 

 for damages now existing or which may hereafter accrue to the remaining lands of the grantor on 

 account of the Beaver River dam as it now exists or when raised fifteen feet higher than at present, 

 and also any damage from the construction of the State dam on the Moose River at the foot of the 

 Fulton chain of lakes. 



We find the present condition of the lands offered to be as follows : 



The soil of the whole tract is like most of the Adirondack lands in this region — thin, sandy, and 

 gravelly, and of little value for agricultural purposes. It is upon the headwaters of the Black and 

 Oswegatchie Rivers, the principal part being tributary to the Black River. The tract contains many 

 lakes and ponds, and is remarkable for its numerous springs and streams of various dimensions. Its 

 value for water storage and park purposes, game preserves, camp sites, health and pleasure resorts or 

 what is termed " sporting purposes," in addition to the value of the merchantable timber thereon, is 

 about all there is of the question of its fair and reasonable value. 



Its value on account of maintaining the water supply of streams which support heavy manufac- 

 turing interests and in making certain requisite supply of water for canal purposes is an economical 

 question we do not feel called upon to discuss, but one which may be of great importance in the near 

 future. 



As to the merits of the claim of Dr. Webb for damages or the prospect of its successful mainte- 

 nance this committee will not presume to express an opinion, but prefer to leave that question to the 

 learned Attorney- General who has had charge of the State's interest in the case from the beginning, 

 and is much better qualified to judge both as to the law and the facts upon which the decision of the 

 case will hang. 



Upon the facts and premises above stated and set forth the Fisheries, Game and Forest Com- 

 mission has come to the conclusion to contract for the purchase of the lands before mentioned upon 

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