402 



A. Well, because he was engaged, he said, in some work which was 

 not then finished, and because he pleaded with the commission and 

 to be treated leniently and easily, and we consented to retain him for 

 a month. 



Q. Did you retain him for a month ? 



A. No, sir; he was discharged about fourteen days after. 



Q. How did that come about ? 



A. I think he came to New York and saw me on the day of a meet- 

 ing which we held in my office; he then insisted on being retained. 



Q. After his discharge were you shown a letter which I now show 

 you, and over his signature addressed to Commissioner Cox? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Will you read that letter ? 



A. I remember this as a letter shown me by Mr. Cox. 



Nokth Creek, November 27, 1889. 

 Mr. Townsend Cox: 



Dear Sib. — As I am, with the assistance of a friend, a " literary 

 fellow," collecting material for a series of sketches of the Adiron- 

 dacks, their history, present conditions, etc., and especially designed 

 to illustrate the present methods of preserving the forests, I thought 

 myself bound in common courtesy to consult you with regard to one 

 incident which, although it would make an interesting article, I 

 should not wish to publish without your consent, as it slightly con- 

 cerns the forest commission. The incident is this, that in the winter 

 of 1887 and 1888, a certain society or club known as the Adirondack 

 Preserve Association, owning a large tract of land in the Adirondacks, 

 gave to a member of the forest commission a complimentary member- 

 ship in their club, and then procured the appointment of their agent, 

 a former lumber thief, as forester, deducting his salary as forester 

 from what they had agreed to pay him, the result being that the State 

 for one year was paying the agent of this club for doing their work 

 for he did nothing for the benefit of the State. If there is no objec- 

 tion to this, it is possible that you may have some further details 

 which would make it still more interesting; if so, I shall be extremely 

 thankful if you will kindly send them to me. I would not presume to 

 ask you to take so much trouble were it not I was fully satisfied you 

 agree with me as to the interest of keeping the public posted with 

 regard to the forestry business. 



Very respectfully yours. 



DANIEL LYNCH. 



