282 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



In compiling these figures the greatest care has been exercised in order to obtain 

 accuracy so far as it is possible with this peculiar class of statistics. The results are not 

 based on hasty or careless estimates ; the product of each sawmill and the number of 

 cords consumed by each pulpmill is taken from the written statements furnished by 

 the respective individuals or companies. 



From the footings of the reports made by the mill owners, it appears that, in 1897, 

 the timber cut in the Great Forest of Northern New York amounted to 450,995,416 

 feet B. M. The different species removed were in amount as follows: 



Spruce — sawmills, 

 Spruce — pulpmills , 

 Hemlock, 

 Pine, 

 Hardwoods, 



Total, 



188,353,586 feet - 



166,087,872 " 



55,656,579 " 



26,120,055 " 



I 4 5 777>3 2 4 " 



45°>995>4i6 feet. 



The two items of spruce amount to 354,441,458 feet, and, assuming that, on an 

 average, this species would yield 4,000 feet per acre, it follows that the merchantable 

 timber was taken from 88,000 acres during the year, and that the people of our State 

 are that much nearer the end of their timber supply. 



In placing the average yield of spruce at 4,000 feet per acre, including the pulp- 

 wood, I have in mind the "scale bills" or log measurements of various townships and 

 tracts where the total amount of spruce cut is a matter of record. It is understood 

 that there are tracts on which the spruce will overrun this amount ; and that there are 

 places where the spruce clumps yield a phenomenal amount of timber per acre. On 

 the other hand there are large tracts on which, by reason of hardwood ridges, balsam 

 groves, cedar swamps, windfalls, burned areas, beaver meadows, and lake surfaces the 

 amount of standing spruce is far below the average mentioned. A township may 

 have many places on which the spruces are large and numerous, their tall, straight 

 shafts standing so thickly in clumps and groves that they attract attention and are 

 often referred to as a remarkably fine display of timber; and, yet, when the township 

 is lumbered and the total number of feet cut is divided by the 25,000 acres 

 or more in the tract, the average number of feet per acre has often been a 

 surprise and a disappointment. 



As already shown, the area of lands within the Adirondack forests that have not 

 been lumbered approximates closely to 1, 1 39,593 acres, including both State and 

 private holdings. After making due allowance for the small spruces which still remain 

 on some of the lumbered lands it would appear that the remaining supply of spruce 



