56 AMEKICAN FORESTRY 



inside the Adirondack Preserve to carry out such a degree of practical 

 forestry on their timber lands as will reduce the damage from fire to the 

 lowest practicable point, and insure the perpetuation of the forest. In each 

 case the plan of work should be approved and its execution should be super- 

 vised by the Conservation Commission through the Superintendent of State 

 Forests, who is now and always should be a trained forester. The State 

 should prepare practical cutting plans for lumbermen at their request, and 

 siderable increase should be made in the number of trained foresters now 

 otherwise assist with information and advice, and for this purpose a con- 

 available. 



DISPOSAL OF PRIVATE LANDS 



To compel private owners to cease cutting altogether on certain mountain 

 lands which should be kept untouched for the protection of the slopes and 

 of the water supply, would be an unfair burden upon them. The private 

 lands of the Adirondacks should therefore be divided into so-called ''protection 

 forests," on the steep high slopes, which should never be cut at all, and the 

 commercially valuable timber on the lower slopes and rolling lands, upon 

 which cuttings should be regulated by the State. As rapidly as possible 

 the State should acquire the protection forests and look after them. 



Section 7 of Article 7 of the New York Constitution is as follows : 



The lands of the State, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting 

 the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest 

 lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any 

 corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber be sold, removed or de- 

 stroyed. 



In practical effect this section does more to limit and restrict the use 

 of the Adirondack Park by the citizens of New York than all the other causes 

 combined. Under it citizens of the State are prevented from constructing 

 cheap wooden camps along the borders of lakes and streams controlled by the 

 State, leaving the wealthy owners of elaborate so-called "camps" undisturbed 

 by the proximity of poorer neighbors. The purchase of camp sites on private 

 lands, even if any were still available, is beyond the reach of persons of 

 average means. Such camp sites, I am informed, have sold for as much as 

 $100 per foot of water front. 



The State should lease small camp sites on terms which will encourage the 

 enjoyment of the Park by as many people as possible, keeping open, however, 

 not less than one-quarter of every lake and stream for the general public. The 

 use of the State lands by every man, woman, and child who can manage to 

 get there should be assisted and made easy in every practicable way. The 

 lessees of camp sites would constitute in effect a large volunteer fire depart- 

 ment constantly on guard, to whose personal interest it would be to prevent 

 or put out every fire. 



Section 7 likewise prohibits the construction on State land of roads and 

 trails needed to make the people's property accessible to the people. It is 

 well known that roads and trails form an admirable protection against fire. 

 Because of their absence the Adirondack Park is needlessly exposed to the 

 risk of conflagration. 



