FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



CONSERVATION COMMISSION, 



To the Legislature : 



Pursuant to statutory direction, that the 'Conservation Commis- 

 sion " shall annually report to the Legislature on or before January 

 15th specifying the receipts, expenditures and work of the depart- 

 ment for the preceding fiscal year/' we have the honor to submit 

 the following: 



The Conservation Commission was created by chapter 647 of 

 the Laws of 1911, known as the Conservation Law. To the enact- 

 ment of this legislation, there was virtually no opposition; such 

 members of the Legislature as dissented, having done so not on 

 grounds of policy, but because of what they regarded as defects 

 and imperfections in the proposed statute. The time was ripe, 

 the press and the public were ready. When Governor Dix affixed 

 his signature to the proposed legislation, " as a first and long step 

 toward true conservation," he but voiced the general hope and 

 expectation. " To the commission," he said, " is delegated lines of 

 work either new as state undertakings or to be performed under 

 new conditions and broadened powers; to drain swamp lands at 

 the expense of property benefited, to lease surplus canal waters 

 on a proper revenue basis so that that power may be utilized under 

 safe and proper restrictions, to supervise all construction work in 

 streams in order to protect the public's right and safeguard life 

 and property against the danger from impounded waters, to protect 

 oyster beds against pollution, and to establish state nurseries from 

 which denuded lands may be reforested." 



By the provisions of chapter 647 the Conservation Commission 

 succeeded to all the powers and duties of the Forest, Fish and 

 Game Commission, the Forest Purchasing Board, the Water Sup- 

 ply Commission, and the commissioners of water power on Black 

 river. The intent and effect was to consolidate under one head all 

 the closely related duties and problems of administration over 

 forest and stream, fish and game, and to give powerful impetus to 

 the conservation of the natural resources of the Empire State. 



