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A. The appraisers have set their value upon the lands; he makes a 

 selection, not according to the value, but in accordance with the acre- 

 age which he can select from; if he should convey to the Everton 

 company 12,000 acres of the State land, he must receive in exchange 

 the 26,000 acres which he would select. 



Q. But you do not understand he can do that in conformity with 

 the appraisal ? 



A. That is the only way he could have, 



Q. But the appraisal does not put it in the form of 26,000 to 12,000 ? 



A. No, sir; the lands were appraised, and the law under which the 

 appraisal is made states that if there be any difference in value, the 

 State is not compelled to pay that difference, and shall not pay that 

 difference. 



Q. That is why I ask you how the arrangement could be perfected 

 and carried out?* 



A. In this way, that if the value of the 26,000 acres to be selected 

 by the Comptroller should be $10,000, that will put it in excess of the 

 State lands, and that would have no influence whatever upon the 

 exchange; we would not go upon values; the State would not have to 

 pay that difference, but, under the law and under the recommenda- 

 tion of the forest commission, we could give 12,000 acres away ; and 

 take in exchange 26,000 that we might select. 



Q. Then, the only way in. which the exchange could be carried out 

 would be in conformity with the view of the forest commission and 

 not upon the views of the appraisal ? 



A, Only in conformity with the recommendation of the forest 

 commission. 



Q. There is no approval whatever of the appraisal from the forest 

 commission which has come to your office, is there ? 



Mr. Adams. — I suggest that the inquiry goes beyond the scope of 

 the resolution. 



Chairman Ryan. — Will you repeat the question ? 



[Stenographer Rodgers read the same.] 



Mr. Adams. — Under the act, as I understand it, it is not necessary 

 for the forest commission to approve the appraisal. All the forest 

 commission does is to approve the exchange, the proposition ; then 

 follows the appraisal, and then the Comptroller acts upon that. It 

 requires no further action on the part of the forest commission. The 

 proposition to exchange goes before the forest commission, and they 

 do one of two things: They recommend the exchange or refuse to 

 recommend. If they refuse to recommend, that is the end of the 

 matter, If they recommend the exchange, then it is sent to the 



