345 



the State for about $800,000 or $900,000, and that $25,000 would have 

 been used for interest; I made every effort to increase the holdings of 

 the State, and I have been in favor of getting the whole of the Adiron 7 

 dacks into the State possession as fast as we could. 



By Mr". Hessberg : 



Q. You asked for a large appropriation last year ? 



A. I was in favor of it, but we were told that we couldn't have hut 

 $25,000; I wanted this to be interest instead of principal, so this 

 $25,000 would have paid the interest on about $800,000. 



Q. This bill for the purpose of purchasing land was drawn by the 

 commission ? 



A. We had our counsel draw it. 



Q. And presented in blank? 



A. Yes, sir ; but we knew that we were not going to get 

 bu,t $25,000, although I tried to get more; I made an effort 

 for $250,000; and so ever since I grasped slightly ' the mat- 

 ters connected with the Adirondacks I have been in favor of 

 the State buying the land wherever it could; I have argued in favor 

 of it and argued in favor of a park — not as large a park as this — 

 but that we should have a park' within the forest preserve; I thought 

 it was important; I have endeavored in every way to have an increased 

 acreage. 



By Chairman Ryan: 



Q. Shortly after the commission was formed the Legislature passed 

 what was known as the Hadley bill ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. What did you understand was the object of that bill? 



A. I didn't know anything about it until it had gotten through the 

 Assembly. 



Q. After it had passed ? 



A. There is a little history connected with it. 



Q. What did you understand was the object of passing the bill ? 



A. I was informed that it was in somebody's interest; I don't know 

 who's, and I felt that we should oppose that law; I was in favor of 

 having every — 



Q. (Interrupting.) What did you understand to be the object of 

 the law? 



A. To exchange land for the benefit of the State; so we could 

 exchange, as Mr. Hadley explained it to me, with the outlying por- 

 tions where there was a little tract here and there, in order to consol- 

 idate as much as possible. 



a 



