FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 57 



Paradox Lake, a division was made which gave the State half of the shore-line 

 as well as its share of the land and timber. 



It is extremely desirable that a partition of interest should be made in all the 

 lands of the Forest Preserve where the State has a joint ownership, for the joint 

 owner has partnership rights which, if exercised, would conflict with the forestry 

 laws and the management of the public interest. The parties who own these 

 lands jointly with the State seldom ask for a division of the property, preferring, 

 as a general thing, to let the titles remain as they are. If a division of the 

 lands is to be effected, it will be necessary for the Commission to authorize 

 its attorney to commence partition suits as provided for in the Forestry Law ; 

 or, what would be better, obtain from the Legislature an appropriation sufficient 

 to purchase these outstanding interests. 



Loan Commission Lands. 



Another source of annoyance in the care of the Forest Preserve are the lands 

 acquired by the State through foreclosure of mortgages made to the Commissioners 

 of the United States Loan. Perhaps some explanation may be proper here in 

 relation to this class of lands, showing how they were acquired and why they are 

 included in the Preserve. 



In 1836, the United States being free from debt and with a large surplus in 

 its treasury, apportioned this surplus among the various States in proportion to 

 their representation in Congress, retaining $5,000,000 in the Government Treasury. 

 These moneys were given to the several States as a loan, to be repaid when 

 called for. 



The Legislature of Xew York then enacted (Chapter 150, Laws of 1837) that 

 the money thus received should be distributed to the various counties accord- 

 ing to population ; that the Governor should appoint two commissioners in each 

 county who should loan these funds ''on mortgage on improved land" in sums 

 not exceeding $2,000, and for periods not longer than five years; that in case of 

 foreclosure the property should be sold to the highest bidder, and that in case no 

 bidder appeared it should be bid in for the State by the commissioners. 



Under the provisions of this law the State acquired and now owns parcels of 

 land, containing in the aggregate 10,488 acres, situated in the Adirondack and 

 Catskill counties. The loan commissioners have the right, under the law of 1837, 

 to sell these lands again, and acting under its provisions they sold last year 

 several lots in Ulster County that are borne on the Comptroller's books and on 

 the land-list of the Forest Commission. 



