Conservation Commission. 69 



timber was cut, but the trespasser did not secure the benefits 

 because the logs were seized by one of' our rangers, drawn to a 

 mill, sawn into lumber, and the material used to build cabins for 

 the use of men employed in protecting forest plantations. The 

 guilty party was arrested, held for the grand jury, has since been 

 indicted, and is waiting trial. The other trespasses were largely 

 the result of mistaken location of boundary lines, or the timber 

 was cut on account of a claim of title to the land. 



If sufficient lines are established, and the forest rangers, who 

 are intrusted with the field work, become familiar with the bound- 

 aries of the State's property, and trespassers learn that the re- 

 moval of timber from State land is an unprofitable operation, it 

 is possible that an even better showing can be made. 



Roads. 



During the year several applications have been filed in this 

 office for temporary roads across State land. Each case has been 

 fully investigated, and when it was found that the use of a road 

 would not cause the State to suffer injury, and that there was an 

 absolute necessity for the same, recommendations have been made 

 that a permit be granted by the Commission under proper safe- 

 guard. 



Camping. 



The increased popularity of our mountain resorts has brought a 

 larger number of people into the forest preserve, and therefore 

 it has served a wider function, but this increased use has produced 

 a greater forest fire danger. 



At the present time there are no restrictions as to camping on 

 State land in the forest preserve, except that no permanent struc- 

 tures may be built (tents with a board floor are permitted) ; and 

 that all persons must properly clear a space where any fire is 

 built, and see that the same is entirely extinguished before 

 leaving. 



There are, approximately, four hundred miles of suitable camp 

 sites on the shores of lakes and ponds owned by the State in the 

 Adirondack section alone. Many people who frequent the Adiron- 

 dacks and do not own camps of their own are desirous of the 

 opportunity of leasing camp sites. This would doubtless make the 



