

REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 7 



a mile or two gives an impression of conveniences that is apt to be 

 illusory. Less objectional are the schemes for exploiting small 

 farms. Some valuable pioneering has unquestionably been done, 

 and is. being done, in this way, though in numerous instances the 

 facts are greatly distorted and innocent people misled. 



Many of these projects are hard to deal with because no law is 

 violated. The land is shown often free excursions are run to it, 

 and a valid deed is given ; but improvements are promised, not 

 made, and the ignorant foreigners who are the majority of victims 

 know nothing of the conditions which attach to such situations, 

 whether "town" or "farm." The worst feature, of course, is that 

 the prices demanded are usually at least ten times as much as 

 the land is worth. To one accustomed to city values a town lot 

 is cheap at twenty dollars, and a farm at only fifty dollars an acre 

 looks easy to one who in the old country has had to pay that much 

 each year as rent. Discontent and discouragement are apt to enter 

 when it is realized that land as good can be bought nearby at its 

 market value and that the payments made, and many yet to be 

 made, are money thrown away. 



The town lot schemes have another bad side, for when they fail, 

 as most do, the property is actually O'f less value than it was before, 

 because the divided ownership and clouded titles that result make 

 it unavailable for legitimate development. 



In respect to agriculture New Jersey offers opportunities that 

 need only to be' known. The State has plenty of good farm land 

 unoccupied that can be bought at low prices. In co-operation with 

 the Board of Agriculture plans are making to inform prospective 

 buyers of its location and value. The Forest Commission is im- 

 pelled to refer to these schemes because the abuses deal largely 

 with land that is now forested. 



THE FOREST FIRE SERVICE. 



Forest fires, that for years ravaged the State, are steadily be- 

 coming less serious. This statement is not born of hope, nor is 

 it based upon the record of a single favorable season. The year 

 for which this report is made gave almost as great opportunity 

 for disastrous fires as any of the three years preceding. As the 

 State Firewarden's report amply shows forest fires in this State 

 are now affairs of minutes, or at most hours, whereas they often 



