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it. It is from trees, and from trees only, that our needs for wood are supplied 

 through the timber dealer and the lumberman. 



The phrase, " lumbered land," is a somewhat misleading one. It does not 

 imply that such land is cleared, devastated, or even stripped of timber. The term 

 is used localby to describe lands from which the "softwood" (spruce, hemlock, 

 pine and tamarac, one or all) has been taken, leaving the hard wood (birch, cherry, 

 maple, beech, etc.) standing. 



Generally, there is so much of this hardwood left on a " lumbered " tract that 

 an inexperienced eye glancing over it would scarcely detect the work of the axe. 

 The woodman expects to see such land covered with spruce again, large enough 

 to be marketable, in about fifteen years. 



Even the denuded forest lands to which reference is made are usually 

 sufficiently well covered with a light growth of poplar and shrubs of various kinds 

 to play a serviceable part in the purposes of forestry, and they will largely, if 

 preserved from fire, be reclaimed by the forest. 



The questions as to the area of the park and the lands that ought to be em- 

 braced within its limits have received much consideration from the commission, 

 and as in the case of other questions a decided difference of opinion has been 

 found to exist upon them. 



The suggestion of the governor in his messsage of January, 1890, was that 

 the area of the park should be " from fifty to seventy miles square." The smaller 

 area mentioned would contain 2,500 square miles, or 1,600,000 acres, and the 

 larger area 4,900 square miles, or 3,136,000 acres. The minimum area for the 

 park that was suggested to the commission was 1,600 square miles, or about 

 1,000,000 acres, while most have urged larger areas, ranging from 2,500,000 to 

 4,000,000 acres. 



The objects to be gained by establishing the park are stated by its various 

 advocates in varying language, although perhaps agreeing in substance. One of 

 the purposes is alleged in general terms to be " the preservation of the forests." 

 The benefits derivative from forest preservation are stated as the mainten- 

 ance of our timber supplies, the conservation of the sources of our rivers by the 

 protection of watersheds, the protection and preservation of fish and game, and 

 the founding of a permanent public resort for those seeking pleasure and rest, 

 and which shall also be a sanitarium for invalids. 



The commissioners reported that the loss to the State of New York which 

 would be entailed by the destruction of the Adirondack forest, taking into 

 account the manufacturing and canal interests involved, could only be counted by 

 millions of dollars, and this, without taking into consideration the loss to the 

 health of the citizens by the removal of the most valuable of ail sanitariums, and 

 the destruction of the valuable game preserves of the Adirondacks, and they 

 unanimously recommended that the legislature should enact the necessary and 

 suitable laws for the establishment and management of a park in the Adirondack 

 wilderness, for the reasons and upon the general basis set forth in their report. 



THE ADIRONDACK PARK ACT. 



The Act which was passed by the State Legislature, 20th May, 1892, 

 respecting the Adirondack Park, is as follows : 



The people of the State of New York represented in Senate and Assembly 

 do enact as follows : 



Section (1) There shall be a State park established within the Counties of 

 Hamilton, Herkimer, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Essex and Warren, which shall be 

 known as the Adirondack park, and which shall, subject to the provisions of this 



