to the entire state. The property within the purchase area is 

 now nearly wholly owned hy private interests. These owners 

 are in many cases cutting the timber for chemical wood pur- 

 poses. This sort of cutting leaves the land completely denuded. 

 The soil left in this condition rapidly erodes after rains and the 

 melting of snow in the springtime. The ground dries out 

 quickly during summer and autumn. The streams are affected 

 and sometimes completely dry up. The region is subjected to a 

 very great fire hazard. All of this needs changing through 

 public ownership. "When this is effected the region will be 

 capable of producing an income through the use of its resources 

 which will make the park self-supporting. 



Proposed Developments in the Allegany State Park 

 In carrying out the provisions of the Allegany State Park 

 law the commissioners have been confronted with an intei'est- 

 ing problem. In substance, the state has asked the park com- 

 missioners to acquire, in the name of the state, an area of 65,000 

 acres. While doing this facilities must be provided for the 

 use and enjoyment of the public. 



A Carefully Made Program/ Prepared for Parh Development 

 In order to have a well-considered program in executing the 

 public charge that had been entrusted to them, the commission- 

 ers secured the co-operation of the New York State College of 

 Forestry in the preparation of a preliminary plan for the de- 

 velopment of the resources of the park area. This plan has 

 furnished the working basis for the activities of the Commis- 

 sion. It embraces the essential requirements in making the 

 park of the utmost use to the public. These needs may be gen- 

 erally stated, in addition to land acquisition, as consisting of 

 the following: roads and trails, fire protection, administrative 

 sites, camping sites, water supply and sanitation, water areas 

 for fish propagation and recreation uses, shelters and observa- 

 tion towers. 



General Needs of the Park 

 The experience of the Commission has shown that the funds 

 required for the four outstanding needs in developing the park 

 are as folloVs: 



1. Acquisition of additional lands $1,200,000 



2. Construction of roads and trails as a system 



throughout the park area 600,000 



3. Development of water areas for fishing, canoe- 



ing, boating, swimming and camping 100,000 



4. Provision of other permanent betterments, 



such as administrative buildings, camps, 



fire protection, water supply and sanitation 100,000 



Total $2,000,000 



29 



