Conservation Commission 99 



" The cost of reforesting such lands with simple interest at 4% 

 shall be a lien upon the trees (not on the land) which may grow 

 thereon, subject to existing liens, but in no event shall such lien 

 exceed fifty per centum (50%) of the value of the trees at the 

 time of cutting. 



II. The State Required to Pay the Taxes Upon the Value of 

 the Trees on Private Lands 



k ' In the event that the lands so reforested at the expense of the 

 State are situate in the Adirondack or Catskill Parks, the owner 

 shall be exempt from the payment of taxes upon the value of 

 the trees which may grow thereon for a period of fifty years, 

 and shall only be required to pay taxes upon the value of the 

 land exclusive of the trees. 



" This provision for the exemption from taxation upon the 

 value of growing trees not only applies to the lands so reforested 

 by the State but also to all private wood lands and timber lands 

 situate within the Parks, if such lands are classified as above. 



" You will observe, therefore, that the only tax which the 

 owner is required to pay upon his forest lands within the Parks 

 is upon the valuation of such lands exclusive of the value of any 

 trees thereof. Such valuation shall not be increased for a term 

 of fifty years. The foregoing provision applies to areas upon 

 which there exists a valuable tree growth as well as to denuded 

 lands which have been reforested by the State. 



" On the other hand all taxes upon the value of the trees shall 

 be paid by the State for such period. The assessor of the Tax 

 District in which such lands are situate is required to assess the 

 value of the trees annually, and upon such valuation the State 

 pays the taxes. In short, this statute provides that the State 

 shall pay all taxes on the value of trees which enhances in value 

 year by year and which is the most valuable part of any forest 

 land, while the owner pays taxes upon the bare land which, ex- 

 clusive of the trees, is generally of very small value. 



" In lieu of all these taxes paid by the State the owner is re- 

 quired to pay a cutting tax of ten per cent. (10%) upon the 

 value of the timber removed from the lands reforested at the 

 expense of the State and upon all other forest land a graduated 



