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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



that each man was always on his district and attending to his duties. Such official 

 could be designated as the assistant superintendent or as an inspector. 



In the way of further suggestion I would respectfully call attention to the con- 

 stant need of statistics and information relating to the acreage and classification of 

 the woodlands in the Preserve, and in the Adirondack Park as well. It is difficult to 

 understand the real forestry situation in Northern New York without having some 

 tabulated figures which will show not only the acreage, but also the amount of 

 virgin forest, lumbered land, burned or waste areas, and water surfaces, lot by lot 

 and town by town. No correct estimate can be formed of our forest resources or 

 future timber supply until the remaining area of virgin forest is accurately deter- 

 mined. About eleven years ago I made a careful tabulation of figures showing 

 these facts, based on information gathered from the assessment-rolls, in which each 

 lot is fairly well described ; but the forest has changed so much under the lumber- 

 ing operations of the past ten years, combined with the great development in the 

 wood-pulp industry, that the figures have ceased to be of much value. 



Moreover, the land list or schedule of lots in the Forest Preserve, which forms 

 the basis of our entire work, should be compiled annually instead of at long inter- 

 vals. In order that the statistics relating to these various matters and to the annual 

 output of the mills may be prepared and furnished for the information of all con- 

 cerned, it seems advisable that some provision should be made for the appointment 

 of a clerk who should have charge of the land and tax records. He should also have 

 some skill in drafting in order to prepare and care for the many maps which are in 

 daily use in the course of the office work. The 1,200,000 acres of forest land owned 

 by the State involves a large amount of real estate work, as well as forestry. The 

 question of taxes and titles is no small one, and the Superintendent should have 

 some clerk to attend to it. If an individual or a corporation owned a vast estate 

 like the Forest Preserve, there would not only be one clerk but many employed to 

 look after the records pertaining to so much real estate. The Forestry Department 

 at Washington, without any land under its charge, employs twenty or more clerks 

 on forest statistics. 



As a further recommendation I would respectfully suggest the advisability of 

 the Commission doing something in the line of scientific, practical forestry. 

 Although the forestry clause in the new Constitution prohibits the cutting of any 

 timber, there yet remains the important work of reforesting burned or denuded 

 areas, work which can be undertaken and carried on successfully without violating 

 any of the constitutional provisions. From five to ten men under the direction of a 

 competent forester might be employed to advantage in replanting some of the 



