SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 



OF THE 



CONSERVATION COMMISSION 



To the Legislature: 



We take pleasure in submitting this annual report, which while 

 numerically our second, is the first report covering a full year's 

 activities of the Conservation Commission, under the Conservation 

 Law. 



The intent of its framers, that there should be consolidated 

 into the Conservation Law all laws relating to lands and forests, 

 and fish and game, has now been complied with. The new codi- 

 fication covering these features of the commission's work has been 

 in operation for some months, and has proved, in the main, satis- 

 factory. There yet remains to be enacted conservation legislation 

 covering the all important problem of development and utilization 

 of the State's water resources. No question of graver moment will 

 come before this or any other Legislature of our time. 



CONSERVATION OF WATER FOR POWER PURPOSES. 



Those familiar with the movement in New York for the con- 

 servation of water for power purposes must recognize the fiscal 

 year ending September 30, 1912, as an epoch making period. The 

 attitude assumed by the Governor, the hearings and report of 

 the Joint Committee of the Legislature on the conservation of 

 water, the hearings before the Judiciary Committee of the Senate 

 on the various bills presented, the debates in the Legislature, the 

 formulation by the Commission of its policy of State development 

 and distribution of power and its announcement and explanation 

 before various official and civic bodies, the unanimous endorsement 

 of the Commission's policy at the Utica meeting of the Mayors of 

 New York and by the State Federation of Labor, have all con- 

 centrated attention upon the subject and served to educate the 



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