272 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



Preserve. Acting under your instructions I accordingly held a conference with the 

 county authorities, after which I selected such lands as were advantageously located 

 for forestry purposes and the establishment of the proposed Catskill Park. But, owing 

 to delay in adjusting the amounts due from the State, combined with complications 

 arising from doubtful titles the list of lots to be transferred has not been completed. 



Reference has been made here to the "blue line" which appears on the Adirondack 

 Map issued by this Department. Contrary to the general understanding, this line 

 does not represent the actual, or legal, boundary of the Adirondack Park ; it is a 

 proposed boundary only, and is so stated in the legend on the map. The present law 

 relating to the Park defines its territory by specifying certain towns. This is well 

 enough as to the interior ; but some of the towns along the border are only partly 

 covered with forests, the remainder being cleared and under cultivation. As a result 

 the Adirondack Park contains over 400,000 acres of farming land. To remedy this 

 error a line has been traced which conforms substantially to the outer border of the 

 forest, and this line, which is shown in blue on our map, is respectfully submitted as the 

 proper boundary of the Park. The law should be amended by the adoption of this 

 "blue line." Owing to the large amount of farming land now included in the Park, 

 the Forest Preserve Board has confined its purchases to territory within the blue line, 

 a policy which does not conflict with the law governing purchases, because this line is 

 wholly within the area of the Park as defined by Act of Legislature. 



In establishing this proposed boundary no survey is necessary, for it follows the 

 well known lines of various tracts and patents, and, in some places of towns 

 and counties. 



It is not claimed that the "blue line" includes the entire forest; to include it all 

 would be injudicious and impracticable. Along the forest border are spurs of wood- 

 land that project into the farming districts, making an irregular boundary that could 

 not be followed as a suitable Park line, and which would not coincide with the 

 surveyed lines of any tracts, patents or lots. While no attempt has been made to lay 

 out a Park with a symmetrical outline or geometrical figure, it is obvious that the 

 boundary should be constructed with prolonged tangents and as few irregularities 

 as possible. 



On the eastern side of the Park the line conforms to the outer edge of the forest so 

 far as practicable, on account of the important interests dependent on the protection of 

 the Hudson watershed and feeders of the Erie and Champlain canals. The zigzag 

 line along the Schroon River Valley is due to the irregular line of the Road Patent 

 which was used for several miles as the boundary of the Park, a careful examination 

 of the ground showing that this line with its wooded ridges was preferable to that of 

 the river itself with its farms and meadow lands. 



