FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 6 1 



he is an experienced surveyor, well skilled in woodcraft. But this difficulty 

 is. comparatively, a small one. In many instances two or more lines have 

 been run and blazed many years ago, and at this late day it is not always 

 easy to determine the correct one. Furthermore, the boundaries of many 

 townships or interior lots have been obliterated by fire or axe, and the true 

 line can be established only after a long and expensive survey. In order to 

 guard against any timber cutting on the Preserve, unintentional or other- 

 wise, the Department has incurred heavy expenses this last year in sur- 

 veying and re-establishing the boundary lines on all State lots that adjoined 

 lands on which lumber operations were being carried on. 



Area of f l)e Forest Preserve 



During the last year a part of the office force has been engaged in com- 

 piling a list of the different lots and parcels of land in the Forest Preserve, 

 as taken from the official records on file in the Land Department of the 

 Comptroller's office. An edition of 500 copies of this list was printed as 

 a supplementary volume of the last report. As this book contains no 

 reading matter, or little of interest to the general public, the edition was 

 limited to such number only as might be necessary for use of the Depart- 

 ment officials, fire-wardens, and foresters, with some additional copies for 

 the Comptroller's office and to meet a demand from people who own adja- 

 cent lands. 



Though of little or no interest to the general public, it is the most 

 important and valuable publication issued by this Department. It is the 

 basis of the entire landed business of the Commission. In this printed list 

 will be found, convenient to hand, some definite information as to the 

 various lands owned by the State in the Forest Preserve counties, the 

 average of each lot, and its location. The source of title is also stated — - 

 whether acquired at tax sale, by purchase, foreclosure of mortgage, or sale 

 of bonded lands. If acquired by tax sale, the year in which the sale was 

 held is given; and, if by purchase, the year in which the property was 

 bought. 



From these schedules the draughtsman obtains the information which 

 enables him to show, in color, the State lands on the Adirondack and 



