170 AMERICAN FORESTRY 



with the fire risk. The technically poor land. In other cases, where title 



trained Superintendent of Forests was was disputed, a complaisant Commis- 



in charge of this force, but the appoint- sioner permitted the private claimants 



ments were made by the Commission, to acquire title by means of judgments. 



In an earlier day, such a force wotdd in suits brought by the State ostensibly 



have immediately sunk to a low level to protect its own interests. Tres- 



through the substitution of party loyalty passers were permitted to erect costly 



for efficiency as a basis of appointment, residences on certain State lands, and 



and the retention of worthless incum- were not ejected. 



bents through political influence. Party The conditions created by these acts 

 politics, unfortunately, are still made a demanded still further efforts to safe- 

 condition of many of these appoint- guard the State's property. The lesson 

 ments under the present system of was a hard one, but it is nearly learned, 

 organization, but it speaks well for the Many suits have recently been entered 

 future that the Superintendent of by the present Commission to recover 

 Forests is able in most instances to titles, to eject trespassers and to make 

 secure the prompt removal of inefficient a clean sweep of these troublesome 

 men, and has in this way built up the questions. In a recent decision of the 

 force to a fairly high standard of per- State Court of Appeals, many acts of 

 formance. But New York cannot a former Commissioner by which title 

 safely permit its partisan principle to to State lands was lost, were set aside, 

 affect these appointments in any way. The values involved are considerable, 

 The fire fighters are the backbone of and there are strong indications that 

 the protective system, and the best the defendants may seek, through 

 service can only be secured by basing political means, to accomplish indirectly 

 such appointments entirely on the stand- what they cannot achieve otherwise, 

 ard of merit. But this is practically the last gasp of 

 In 1897, encouraged by constitutional the old order. The Constitutional 

 protection and the winning of the test Convention draws near. Enlightened 

 case which secured the tax titles, the sentiment throughout the State realizes 

 legislature appropriated $1,000,000 to that the time has come to permit a 

 purchase additional lands in the Pre- rational opening up and development of 

 serve, and created the Adirondack and the State Preserve. But the lessons 

 Catskill Parks with boundaries defined of the last twenty 3^ears must not go 

 by law. The area was rapidly increased, unheeded. If the State of New York is 

 until at present, including water surface, going to entrust the cutting of timber 

 the State owns 1,800,000 acres of land, on her Forest Preserves to a Com- 

 No limit was set as to price or quality mission, she must first insure the per- 

 of land, and the magnitude of the manent maintenance of technical, effi- 

 transactions involved called for the cient, non-political administration, and 

 exercise of great care to protect the take no more chances with a political 

 State against extortion and deception, system. The present legislature con- 

 During this period, political influences templates another change in the fomi 

 were still at work to a considerable of commission by which the former 

 extent and many questionable deals plan of a single commissoner appointed 

 were engineered through the Commis- by the Governor is resumed, and under 

 sion, thus laying the foundation for him, chiefs of divisions, one of which 

 trouble later on. In some instances is Forestry, shall be appointed who 

 lands were sold which on later survey must have technical qualifications. This 

 proved to contain much less than the differs from the present form by the 

 stipulated acreage. In other instances abolition of several highly paid posi- 

 lots of different values would be turned tions, and especially by elimination of 

 over on the basis of an average price Deputy Commissioners, who under the 

 per acre, subject to proof of title, and present law need no technical training. 

 later, the titles of the more valuable This plan may work well, depending 

 land would be found defective, while solely upon the character and ability 

 the State paid the average price for the of the Commissioner who may be 



