EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 14f> 



course. The difficulty of euforcing a laAv for the protection of public property is too 

 great to be left in the hands of local officers who have every temptation to favor the 

 trespassers. 



In Other States. — The Division of Forestry of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture has brought together in Circulars Nos. 13 and 17, tlie recent legislation 

 on State forestry commissions and forest reserves. 



The legislature of the state of New York passed in 1897 an act to provide for the 

 acquisition of land in the territory embraced in the Adirondack Park and making an 

 appropriation therefor. By the first section of the act the Governor of the state 

 was directed to appoint from the Commissioners of Fisheries. Game and Forests, 

 and the Commissioner of the State Land Office, three persons to constitute a board 

 which is known as the Forest Preserve Board, the members of which receive no 

 compensation except their actual and necessary expenses. The duties of the board 

 relate to the acquisition for the State, by purchaser or otherwise, of such of 

 the lands and waters embraced in the Adirondack Park as it may deem advisable 

 for the interest of the State. The State is securing title to a large body of land 

 already covered with timber and located at the head waters of its principal rivers. 

 A portion of tliisland has been lumbered, it is true, but it is still well covered with 

 young and growing timber. 



Beginnino- on pao^e 1 of Circular No. 17 of the United States Division of Forestry, 

 there is the following epitome of the New York forestry law: 



"The original forest commission of the state of New York appointed under the 

 act of May 15. 1SS.5. was superseded in 1895 by the Commission of Fisheries, Game 

 and Forests, under the law of April 25. 1895. This law is a comprehensive measure 

 in which allied interests are brought under Ihe control of a single board. Under 

 this law the commission consists of five members, appointed by the Governor, with 

 the consent of the senate, the term of office being five years. The president, who is 

 designated as such by the Governor, receives a salary of $5,000 per year and travel- 

 ing expenses, and devotes all of liis time to the work of his office. The remaining 

 four commissioners receive $1,000 per year and traveling expenses. The board 

 holds at least four meetings on designated days each year. It has a secretary at 

 $2,000 per year, and necessary clerical force. The duties of the board are to 

 propagate and distribute food-fish nnd game: to enforce all laws for the protection 

 of fish and game and for the protection and preservation of the forest reserve. It 

 has full control of the Adirondack Park and forest reserve, and is authorized to 

 make rules for its care and safety. 



"The commissioner appoints thirty-five 'Fish and Game Protectors and Foresters' 

 (hereafter called Foresters) one of whom to be known as chief, and two others as 

 his assistants, the chief to have the control and direction of the entire force. The 

 Foresters give bonds for the proper discharge of their duties. The Chief Forester 

 receives $2,000 per year and travelinjr expenses: the assistant Foresters SI. 200 each, 

 and the remaining Foresters $.500 each; all having an extra allowance for trnveling 

 expenses and each of them to receive one-half of all fines collected in actions 

 bi'ought upon information furnished by them. It is their duty to enforce all laws 

 and regulations of the commission for the protection of fish and game and for the 

 protection and preservation of the forest reserve and all rules and regulations for 

 the care of the Adirondack Park. Tliey have full power to execute all warrants 

 and search warrants and to serve subpoenas. 



"Article XII, chapter 395, laws of 1805, describes the forest preserve (Sec. 270), 

 and defines the powers and duties of the commission (Sec. 271), whose duty it is (1) 

 to have the care, custody, control, and superintendence of the forest preserve; (2) 

 maintain, protect and promote the growth of the forest in the preserve; (3) have 

 charge of the public interest of the State in regard to forests and tree planting, 

 and especially with reference to forest fires in every part of the State; (4) possess 

 all the powers relating to the preserve which were vested in the Commissioners of 

 the Land Office and in the Comptroller on May 15, 1885; (.5) prescribe rules and 

 regulations affecting the whole or any part of the preserve for its use, care and 

 administration, and alter or amend the same, but neither such rules or regulations 

 nor anything contained in this article shall prevent or operate to prevent the free 

 use of any roads, streams, or water as the same may have been heretofore used, or 

 may be reasonably I'equired in the prosecution of any lawful business; (6) take 

 measures, for the awakening of an interest in forestry in the schools, and imparting 

 elementary instruction on such subjects therein, and issue tracts and circulars for 

 the care of private woodlands, etc.; (7) print and post rules for the prevention and, 

 suppression of forest fires." 



