120 NINTH RETORT OF THE 



as to the extent of the annual output, a knowledge of which is so essential to a 

 correct understanding of the forestry situation in our State. In the collection 

 and tabulation of the statistics thus obtained I am indebted to the assistance of 

 Mr. A. B. Strough of this office, his previous experience for several years on this 

 same work enabling him to collate the figures with accuracy. 



Forests as a jammer Resort. 



The annual supply bill, passed by the Legislature of 1903, contained the 

 following item : 



"For the expense of collecting and publishing statistics and other information 

 relating to amount of capital invested, number of persons employed, wages paid, 

 and volume of business done at the summer resorts in the counties containing the 

 Forest Preserve and public parks of the State, $1,5130, or so much thereof as is 

 necessary." 



It was further provided in the act that the work necessary in securing and 

 publishing this information should be done by your Commission. During the 

 summer a list was made of the 3,526 hotels and boarding-houses in the Adiron- 

 dacks, Catskills and at the Thousand Islands. A circular-letter was mailed to 

 each proprietor explaining the object of the Commission in thus addressing him, 

 and with the circular was sent an information-blank, which he was asked to fill in 

 with the desired statistics. The forms used for this purpose read as follows: 



State op New York. 



Forest, Fish and Game Commission, 



Albany, October 1, 1903. 

 Dewitt C. Middleton, Commissioner. 



J. Duncan Lawrence, Deputy Commissioner. 



, N. Y. 



Dear Sir. — We shall include in our annual report for 1903 some statistics 

 showing the extent of summer-resort business carried on by the Northern hotels 

 and boarding-houses, the total capital invested in buildings, the number of guests, 

 number of employees, total wages paid, and gross receipts from all sources. As 

 it is essential that these statistics should be based on statements furnished by the 

 proprietors of the various hotels and boarding-houses, instead of on estimates 

 made by others, a copy of the enclosed circular has been mailed to each. 



The figures thus obtained will not be printed, but will be treated as a confi- 

 dential communication. In no case will they be shown to any assessor, or used 



