INTEODUCTORY EEMAEKS. 13 



the future such a combination will be agreed to, but not 

 until the managers of the State forests upon the larger 

 tracts have shown that a systematic forest economy is 

 more profitable than the reckless felling of trees now 

 going on in the private forests. 



It might be advisable for the State to buy up small 

 plots in limited numbers for the purpose of rounding off 

 the boundaries of one or the other of the larger wood 

 tracts owned by the State. But to obtain control over 

 all the Adirondack forests by a general purchase — as is 

 recommended by some — would be for many reasons very 

 objectionable. Owners of those forests in the Adirondacka 

 which are necessary for securing a continual flow of water 

 to the rivers and streams could — as we will see in Chapter 

 IV — be compelled by legislative measures to manage their 

 woods so as to keep the grounds covered and protected 

 against the influence of sun and air ; and this is the only 

 object it is desirable for the State to control the man- 

 agement of private forests of that character. But even if 

 this question was, from the standpoint of the "right of 

 eminent domain," decided in favor of the State, our 

 government would not be able to undertake the exercise 

 of this privilege unless there were secured for the service 

 of the State men who understand how to systematically 

 manage those mountain forests, which are called pro- 

 tective forests. 



If we want to do our full duty toward those who are to 

 come after us in this richly endowed country, we must 

 repair, before it is too late, the damages done to the 

 mountain forests in our State by the avarice and 

 ignorance of the last two generations ; and if the Forest 

 Commission adhere to their programme, outlined in the 

 cited first annual report, we will succeed in the restora- 

 tion of the old, splendid wild forests of the Adirondacks. 

 For properly preserved forests have : 



