FOREST, FISH AXD GAME COMMISSIONER. 5 1 



feet in 1903: and the hard-wood output from 5,835,844 feet in 1890 to 

 47,412,090 feet in 1905. To the person who is interested in studying the 

 forestry problem in this State, these figures are full of meaning. 



The large output for 1903 was due in a considerable degree to the forest 

 fires of that year, which killed the timber on large areas without injuring 

 it materially. This dead timber, if cut within a year, was available for 

 both lumber and wood pulp. If allowed to stand the spruce would dete- 

 riorate the second year, and become worthless in three years. In order to 

 save this timber and that of other species, the owners cut what they could 

 this last season. Fortunately there was a good market and a brisk demand 

 for all the lumber and pulp wood produced, and hence the loss by the 

 great fire of 1903 was correspondingly decreased. 



Constitutional Amendment 



It is proposed to amend the forestry clause in the State Constitution so 

 as to provide thereby that lands in the Forest Preserve which are situated 

 outside the boundaries of the Adirondack and Catskill Parks may be sold 

 and the proceeds applied to the purchase of lands within the parks. This 

 amendment has already passed the Legislature at its last session, and must 

 be passed again by the new Legislature this coming winter, after which it 

 must be submitted to the people at the next election, when, if voted on 

 favorably, it will become a law. 



In order that the question may be discussed intelligently, some informa- 

 tion seems necessary as to the extent and character of these outlying lands. 

 To this end I would respectfully submit here some statistics relating to 

 these important points. A careful compilation from the printed volume 

 containing the official list of lands in the Forest Preserve, lot by lot, shows 

 that there are 1.037 parcels or lots situated outside the two parks, and that 

 their combined acreage by counties is as follows: 



