Conservation Commission. 49 



THE FOREST PRESERVE- 



The greatest need at the present time in connection with the 

 administration of the forest preserve is to determine the location 

 and establish for the future the boundaries of the State's holdings. 

 The appointment of an expert surveyor as chief of surveys is the 

 best mark of progress along this line that has taken place in a long 

 time. The enormous extent of these boundary lines (9,14:6 miles) 

 presents a large problem, but one which can be worked out if 

 sufficient funds are available. The records must be searched to 

 secure notes of old surveys and many maps must be made. There 

 ought to be $25,000 a year available for these surveys. The State 

 has acquired these 1,600,000 acres of land in various ways and 

 this commission is charged with their protection, but the first 

 principle of any policy of property protection is to locate and 

 mark boundaries, which unfortunately has not been done in too 

 many instances. The demarcation of property lines will be of 

 great assistance to the field force, also to adjacent owners, and will 

 do much to reduce trespass upon the lands of the State. 



Trespass upon State land has been materially reduced in the 

 past year and, with very few exceptions, was of small extent and 

 related to dead material. All cases as received have been sub- 

 mitted to your board. 



The question of use of the great area included in the forest pre- 

 serve and the best use of this great forest deserves the most careful 

 consideration and study of every citizen. The questions of leasing 

 camp sites, included in approximately 400 miles of lake and 

 pond frontage; applying forest management to this enormous 

 holding; the sale or exchange of the several hundred parcels of 

 land outside of the Adirondack and Oatskill parks, embracing 

 138,625 acres; authority to construct necessary public roads across 

 State lands, and take essential steps to insure the safety or future 

 of this great asset, should be carefully and fully studied. 



STATE FOREST PROBLEMS. 



Forest Fires. 

 The woodlands and forests are deserving of as much considera- 

 tion and protection in one part of the State as in another, but 

 unfortunately only a small portion of our forest lands is receiving 



