68 ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



chain, and ran the lines as fast as they could, some of them being paid bv 

 the number of acres surveyed instead of by the days worked. Whenever, 

 in their haste or carelessness, they failed to tally a chain there was a cor- 

 responding increase of unrecorded area; and, in some instances, as stated 

 in their field notes, the colonial surveyor " threw in a few chains for good 

 measure." 



It would be difficult to estimate, even approximately, how far such 

 metho'ds have contributed to the difference between the assessed and actual 

 acreage; but a careful study of the facts, together with many years experi- 

 ence in these land statistics, leads me to believe that the lots will in the 

 aggregate overrun the old surveys at least five per cent.; and, that while 

 the official assessed acreage of the Adirondack Park is placed here at 

 3,313,564 acres, the actual acreage is not far from 3,475,000 acres. 



The Catskill Park, as defined in the State law, contains 576,120 acres, 

 and includes a part of each of the following named counties: Delaware, 

 Greene, Sullivan and Ulster. 



Redemption of Land 



During the past year the following described lots which appear on the 

 land list have been stricken off, as these parcels, which were acquired 

 through tax sales, have been redeemed through applications granted in the 

 Comptroller's office pursuant to the provisions of the Tax Law: 



Essex County. 

 Totten & Cr oss field' s Purchase, Township 45, Lot 33. 



The 1885 and 1895 tax sales and conveyances therefrom to the People 

 of the State of New York of an undivided 38-48 of this lot were canceled 

 June 7, 1904, on proof of the invalidity of said sales presented to the Comp- 

 troller pursuant to chapter 327 of the Laws of 1902, and on the opinion of 

 the Attorney-General as to the sufficiency of such proof. The application 

 was made by George R. Finch, which was based on the claim that this 

 land, while owned by the Adirondack Railroad Company, was exempt by 

 law from taxation. (407 acres.) 



The 1 88 1 and 1885 tax sales of the S. W. J of lot 253, township it; 

 the S. E. I of lot 5, N. E. J of lot 21, and N. J of lot 31, ThOrn's Survey, 



