S4 FOREST PLANTING. 



If this theory be accepted as correct, and justified by 

 the principles governing our law in regard to the right 

 of eminent domain, at least the claims sub 1 and 2 would 

 bring the entire sea coast of our State, the Adirondacks, 

 and Catskill mountains, under the control of the State, 

 those mountains enclosing the head-waters of nearly 

 all principal rivers of our State, especially those of the 

 great Hudson Kiver. The forests belonging to these first 

 two classes are called " protective forests," because they 

 have proved necessary for averting irreparable damages, 

 which would befall the commonwealth if they were cut 

 down at once. In the interest of the public welfare and 

 the general culture of the countries, the European gov- 

 ernments have obtained, if not the full property, at least 

 such control of those classes of woods as to force the 

 owners to manage their property without hurting the 

 public interests. Should the present policy of our State 

 Government, outlined in Sees. 7, 8 and 9 of the Act 

 passed May 15, 1885, be strictly enforced, there is a good 

 prospect that the Empire State in due time will be the 

 undisputed owner of the denuded wood-lands in the 

 higher regions of the Adirondacks. These lands are only 

 capable of bearing — if anything at all — slowly growing 

 forest trees. As the expenses of reforesting such tracts 

 would far surpass the income derived for several genera- 

 tions to come, it is easily understood how private owners 

 are inclined to abandon such property, allowing the State 

 by tax sale to come again into possession of lands, the 

 ownership of which never ought to have gone to private 

 parties.* The State can safely take in hand the replant- 



*The State of New York has also had the advantage of formerly 

 owning most of the wood-lands in the Adirondacks. But the particular 

 notion, entertained still by our Federal Government, that public lands, 

 without much discrimination in regard to economic value to the coun- 

 try, should be disposed of as quickly as possible, led to the complete 

 sale of the most beautiful wooded tracts, at prices ranging between five 



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