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my individual lands would sell for as much as I paid for them when I 

 purchased them; I believe that if land is properly lumbered over the 

 old and overgrown tree taken off and the drain from the soil 

 removed that ,the old and overgrown tree takes in order ' to sustain 

 life, that the young and new growth will grow up so much faster that 

 in itself it would be worth more in fifteen years than if the old, over- 

 grown timber were allowed to remain on; I believe in these lands; I 

 believe they are a good investment; I believe they are the best 

 investment a man can make and leave to his heirs. 



Q. According to your views you have no lands to sell to the State 

 now or heretofore at any time ? 



A. No, sir, I haven't. 



Q. Your case is true of every other lumberman in that region ? 



A. I don't think it is; at one of our meetings in New York one of 

 the largest landowners in — 



Q. (Interrupting.) You misapprehend me again; the same reasons 

 that make you keep your lands should operate upon other people to 

 keep their lands, should they not? 



A. I don't know; I don't think they would particularly. 



Q. What is true in your case is true of every other lumberman who 

 owns land there ? 



A. No, sir; it is not. 



Q. What is the difference between your situation and the lands of 

 other lumbermen and their situation ? 



A. Because they think differently from what I do ; I started to 

 explain to you that one of the largest lumbermen said they would be 

 very glad to sell the State their lands at a certain figure which he 

 named, and I have reason to believe that such is the case with nine- 

 tenths of the lumbermen who own lands outside. 



Q. But the same facts and the same reasons ought to lead to the 

 same conclusion, ought they not ? 



A. There doesn't everybody look at it as I do. 



Q. You make the distinction ? 



A. I do. 



Q. The facts are the same with other lumbermen as in your case? 



A. You raised the point I -had no lands to sell to the State; I am 

 not anxious to sell lands. 



By Chairman Byan: 



Q. This committee have been led to suppose from the testimony that 

 has been given here that this land in the Adirondack region was valu- 

 able property if not entirely for the timber ? ' 



A. Yes, sir. 



