298 . REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



is rapidly diminishing. With such conditions, the result is easily foreseen. In the 

 past year 450,995,416 feet of timber was cut and removed from the great forest of 

 northern New York. This means that over 105,000 acres of forest land was stripped 

 of its merchantable timber. It does not imply that this area was denuded or left 

 without forest cover, but it means that our State is that much nearer the end of its 

 timber supply, and that it is a serious menace to our economic conditions. A still 

 more serious feature of this timber cutting is that, with the exception of a few 

 localities, no provision whatever is made for the future growth. These unfavorable 

 conditions can be remedied only by thoughtful, judicious legislation. A forestry 

 policy providing for such future supply need not antagonize the great industries 

 now dependent upon our forests for their raw material. Such policy aims to pro- 

 tect the source of supply, and in so doing best protects and fosters the industry itself. 

 The State of New York leads all others in the manufacture of wood-pulp. Many 

 millions of capital are invested in the various plants. Thousands of workmen derive 

 a profitable living from this industry. The same can be said of our great lumber 

 industries and woodworking manufactories, all of which are dependent upon our 

 forests for their raw material. If left to individuals and individual interests, no pro- 

 vision will be made for the future supply. The protection of these industries, and 

 their continuance is dependent solely on an intelligent forest policy, directed and 

 controlled by the State. 



Owing to the restrictions of the forestry clause in the State Constitution, this 

 Department is unable to undertake any work of a scientific character or forest im- 

 provement which might involve the cutting of any timber, either for market or in the 

 way of pruning, thinning or removal of diseased and dead trees. At the same 

 time, the Department is contemplating the inauguration of some improvement, in 

 the way of reforesting the barren, burned or denuded tracts, of which there are several 

 areas, large and small, in the Forest Preserve. Such action would not involve any 

 cutting or removal of timber for many years — at least, not within the period in which 

 the present constitutional clause will be operative. Unless some such work is under- 

 taken, these waste and denuded lands will remain as open barrens, or, if they reforest 

 themselves naturally, will be very apt to produce a growth of inferior or unmerchant- 

 able timber. As the Department would like to inaugurate some work other than that 

 of mere police duty, to which it is now confined, it would gladly undertake the task 

 of reforesting these waste areas. The details would be placed under the charge of 

 skilled, professional foresters, whose experience in the technical management of such 

 lands would insure success. 



In connection with this proposed work of reforesting, meteorological stations could 

 be established at points where observations could be made and recorded by these pro- 



