a 
2) 
shall be valid without the approval of the comptroller. No tax for 
the erection of schoolhouses or road opening shall be valid unless 
such erection or opening is first approved by the board. Payment 
of taxes on State lands shall be made by the State treasurer crediting 
the county treasurer with the amount of such taxes due on such’ 
lands payable on the State tax of the year. Sections 275-279 and 281 
provide for protection against fire, with penalties for violation of 
same. Section 280 provides for actions for trespasses upon the forest 
preserve. In addition to authorizing the board to bring suits for 
trespass on the lands of the forest preserve, the same as a citizen 
may bring for trespass on private lands, it makes the cutting of trees 
or removal of any tree, timber, or bark from any portion of the pre- 
serve a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $25 for every tree so 
cut or removed. The board is empowered to employ attorneys, with 
the consent of the attorney-general and comptroller, to prosecute 
offenders against this act, and such offenders may be arrested without 
warrant (sec. 282). 
Article XIII refers to the Adirondack Park; section 290 defines its 
limits and adds: ‘‘Such park shall be forever reserved, maintained 
and cared for as ground open to the free use of all the people for their 
health and pleasure, and as forest lands, necessary to the preservation 
of the headwaters of the chief rivers of the State, and a future 
timber supply; and shall remain part of the forest preserve.” 
The park is placed in the control and custody of the board of 
fisheries, game and forest, which is empowered to (1) contract for 
the purchase of land within the limits of the park; (2) to contract 
with owners of land situated within the park limits that such lands 
may become part of the park and subject to the provisions of this 
article in consideration of the exemption of such lands from taxation 
for State and county purposes, provided that the owners or their 
grantors shall refrain forever from removing any timber except 
spruce, tamarack, or poplar 12 inches in diameter at three feet from 
‘the ground, or fallen, burned or blighted timber, and obey such other 
conditions of occupancy as may be equitable. Owners may also clear 
land for agricultural or domestic purposes, at the rate of not more 
than one acre within the boundary of each one hundred acres covered 
by such contract; (3) to prescribe and enforce rules for the licensing 
or regulation of guides and other persons engaged in business therein ; 
(4) to lay out roads and paths in the park. 
Contracts mentioned in this article require the approval of the 
commissioners of the land office, and every conveyance mentioned 
in this article shall be certified by the attorney-general, to be in con- 
formity with the contract, and approved by him as to form before 
acceptance or delivery. The law further provides that the board 
include in its annual report an account of its proceedings with 
reference to the park. 
The legislature of 1897 passed the following important act (ap- 
proved April 8, 1897), which is quoted entire: 
AN Act to provide for the acquisition of land in the territory embraced in the Adirondack Park 
and making an appropriation therefor. 
The people of the State of New York, represented in senate and assembly, do 
enact as follows : 
SECTION 1. The governor, within twenty days after this act takes effect, shall 
appoint from the commissioners of fisheries, game and forest and the commis- 
sioners of the land office, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, three 
