74 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



From 1888 to 1891 we find him as Assistant Forest Warden, actively 

 engaged in executive, administrative, field and routine work. 



In 1890 the first appropriation ($25,000) for the purchasing of Adiron- 

 dack land was made under the condition that not more than $1.50 per acre 

 could be paid. He, with assistants, examined and reported upon the land 

 offered, and under the act 16,320 acres were acquired. 



With the establishment of the Adirondack Park in 1892 a new and 

 larger field of usefulness opened to him. It placed this work upon a sub- 

 stantial basis. Under this same act leasing of camp sites and the idea of 

 producing a revenue from the forest was inaugurated. Until the passing 

 of this act, since 1887, it had been possible to sell or exchange detached 

 portions of outlying lands for forest land in the park, and many valuable 

 acquisitions were made to the State holdings in this way. 



In 1893 the Commission became the subject of legislative investigation, 

 and as a result a new forest law was passed and a new Commission appointed. 

 However, it is pleasing to note that this same act particularly specified that 

 the present Superintendent should be continued in office. 



At this time the necessity for an accurate map of the Adirondacks, 

 not only showing topography but all the intricate details of land allotment 

 and finally the location of State land thereon became apparent, and in this 

 connection Superintendent Fox prepared a very exhaustive article entitled 

 " Land Grants and Land Patents of Northern New York." His researches 

 in preparing this monograph were most skillfully made, and have been of 

 great value in locating our lands and mapping the extensive area. 



The new law of 1893 permitted the sale of " spruce and tamarack not 

 less than twelve inches in diameter three feet above ground, standing in 

 any part of the forest preserve." But the Constitutional Convention the 

 following year inserted in the newly prepared Constitution a clause pro- 

 hibiting the cutting or removal of any trees on State land. 



In 1895 another change came in the management of forestry affairs. 

 Two separate bodies, viz., " The Forest Commission " and " The Fish and 

 Game Commission " were consolidated under the name of " Fisheries, 

 Game and Forest Commission." At this time Colonel Fox became engineer 

 with duties similar to those he had under the old Commission as Superin- 

 tendent. The powers of this Commission in relation to the forest preserve 



