222 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Ownership. The question of ownership and character of owners 

 assumes considerable importance in this connection, and the range is wide. 



On the one hand, we have large owners who are heartily in sympathy 

 with the forestry movement and, on the other hand, men owning fifty to 

 one hundred acres who make their living by clear cutting for the brick 

 yards. 



The holdings range in size from fifty to five thousand acres, and lots 

 of five hundred or a thousand acres are quite common ; would say the average 

 was about two hundred and fifty acres. 



In this connection, a point is suggested that demands consideration, 

 viz., options and sturnpage sales for future consummation. 



A real estate company of New York city has options on about 1,000 

 acres, and one of the leading cordwood operators has recently bought the 

 sturnpage on 600 acres, and is now engaged in removing it. 



In such cases to follow the letter of the act, and still avoid injustice 

 to parties making contracts before the bill was passed, seems to be a problem 

 requiring delicate handling. 



Assessed Values and Taxes. The question of taxation apparently gives 

 no cause for alarm in considering the possibility of management. The 

 assessed value for farm land in the various towns ranges from $25 to $50; 

 higher values, of course, are recorded where especially desirable residential 

 sites are concerned. Woodlands are assessed at from $4 to $8 per acre. 

 From all that could be gathered these values are about one-third of what 

 the owner wouid expect if the lands were placed on sale. The tax rate 

 averages about twenty-two mills for mountain land. 



Population. Within the limits of the reservation the following towns 

 are found : Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery along the river and Forest 

 of Deane, Oueensborough, Doodletown and Baileytown in the back country. 



The first, with a population of about three thousand, may be considered 

 a portion of West Point. 



Fort Montgomery is the chief shipping point for cordwood cut in this 

 region and also for the Forest of Deane ore. It has a population of a few 

 hundred people. Parties thoroughly acquainted with the region estimate 

 the population in the back country as 250 souls. 



