FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 65 



necessary for the building of the State highways described in section 120, 

 chapter 330, Laws of 1908, may be used for the purpose of building and main- 

 taining such highways. With the approval of the Governor, the Forest, Fish 

 and Game Commissioner may lease, for periods not longer than ten years, 

 sites for camps within the forest preserve, not larger than two acres, and may 

 remove and dispose of fallen timber. The Forest, Fish and Game Commis- 

 sioner, with the approval of the Governor, may sell and convey lands now 

 owned or hereafter acquired by the State which are situated wholly outside the 

 boundaries of the Adirondack and Catskill parks as now defined by law, but 

 the proceeds from lands so sold and conveyed shall be only used by the State 

 in acquiring lands situate wholly within the boundaries of such parks. 



I do not say that this proposed amendment is perfectly worded, but 

 the points therein contained are what may be adopted, doing no harm, 

 much good, and which all fair-minded men can support. We do not want 

 to have passed (and the people will not adopt ) an amendment under which 

 private interests can work out selfish ends. In my judgment they will 

 vote for and carry an amendment that will aid in properly caring for our 

 forests and saving to the State large revenues arising therefrom. 



Another important work in connection with our forest land, and land 

 that should be producing trees is the work of reforestation. Until a few 

 years ago no effort had been made to encourage individuals to plant com- 

 mercial trees. Then, by suggestion from the Department, the Legislature 

 provided that trees could be furnished by the State and sold to citizens at 

 cost. The first year a few thousand were taken and planted. Last year 

 one million two hundred thousand (1,200,000) were purchased and planted 

 by corporations and individuals. In addition we planted for the State a 

 large number. The result, for a start, has been good; yet is it not at all 

 sufficient. There should be more encouragement. The State could well 

 afford to provide trees at less than cost. Why not free trees, as well as 

 free fish? A few million trees planted each year will not do. The take- 

 off each year is so great that we shall soon be impoverished unless all persons 

 plant trees where trees ought to be growing. Ought not this State, in this 

 respect, to do as well as Switzerland? We have a much larger territory. 

 We are much richer. Switzerland plants about twenty-two million (22,- 

 000,000) trees each year; we one and one-half millions (1,500,000). Switzer- 

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