29O REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



It may be presumptuous, but perhaps not unpardonable, to comment some- 

 what suggestively upon some of these, in the main, most commendable provisions 

 of the Constitution and statutes. The judgment of the Constitutional Convention 

 and the Legislature solemnly expressed in Constitution and statute, doubtless took 

 into account facts and conditions existing at the times of their enactment not 

 readily ascertained or wisely considered by the general observer. 



In the laudable zeal to forever preserve the Adirondack^ as "wild forest lands," 

 for economic reasons, the important economic fact seems to have been forgotten, 

 or its importance minimized, that the forest contains and continually produces a 

 vast wealth of timber much needed for both public and private uses and doomed 

 under the provisions of the Constitution to inevitable decay, some portions of which 

 might be removed, under wise regulation and strict supervision, without injury or 

 detriment to the forest, its waters, its beauty or its productiveness as affecting 

 the great rivers it feeds. The revenue that might be derived from utilizing the 

 surplus timber would go far toward relieving the State treasury of much of 

 the burden of administering the State's supervision of the Adirondack Park, and 

 enabling the State eventually to acquire substantially all the lands within the borders 

 of the Preserve. 



It seems quite possible that at no remote period the constitutional provision 

 that the timber on the Forest Preserve shall not be sold or removed will be modified 

 so as to permit sale and removal of some portions under such restrictions as will 

 practically leave the Preserve "wild forest lands." 



It is very fortunate for all except the younger sportsmen that here and there 

 throughout the Preserve there are private lands on which hotels and cottages 

 have been and, as years go on, will be erected. They supply one great and 

 important want of the people, and do not destroy, or tend to any great degree 

 to destroy, the beauty or public use of the Preserve. The Fulton Chain of Lakes, 

 Lake Placid, St. Regis Lake, Cranberry Lake, and many other lakes afford 

 examples amply illustrating and supporting this view. The few facilities for this 

 sort of use of the forest and its waters at Raquette Lake lead one to surmise 

 what a misfortune it would be if throughout the Preserve no structure could 

 be erected better or more ample than a tent. 



The wise policy of the Forest Preserve Board, and the Commission which 

 succeeded it, in not seeking to appropriate by condemnation these lands and 

 structures so occupied, notwithstanding its legal power to do so, is doubtless 

 founded in a due appreciation of the benefits, to the people as a whole, of the 

 existence of this private ownership, and improvement by way of cottages and hotels, 

 of these practically exempted lands. Fortunately, public opinion and the evident 



