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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



In addition to the territory thus outlined, the Board is willing 

 to make purchases of forest land, if offered at a reasonable price, 

 on the mountain ranges, including the peaks known as Black 

 Head, Black Dome, Thomas Cole, Acra Point, and Windham High 

 Peak. These are the mountains which are in full view from the 

 Hudson River valley, between Hudson and Saugerties. These 

 ranges could not well be included in the boundary previously 

 referred to, as they are separated by wide valleys that are entirely 

 occupied by well-cultivated farms, several villages and a large 

 population. 1 



The preceding figures show that the total amount of land in the 

 Adirondack and Catskill parks, proposed to be purchased and held 

 as public parks forever, is 5,090 square miles. As regards the 

 purchase of these lands for park purposes, the writer wishes to 

 express the fullest sympathy, but as regards the conservation of 

 streams and prevention of floods, that is quite another question — 

 one, indeed, permitting of somewhat broad discussion. While it is 

 conceded that forests are of considerable value in this direction, it 

 is nevertheless believed that the effect has been overestimated. 



In 1901 the purchase of lands by the Forest Preserve Board was 

 discontinued, Governor Odell vetoing the appropriation on the 

 ground that we need to know a great deal more about the results 

 and effects before proceeding further on these lines. Since that 

 veto there has been a good deal of discussion, but without much 

 clarifying the subject. 



Effect of forests. The difference in runoff between a forested 

 and a deforested area in New York State may be taken at an 

 average of 5 inches. That is to say, when forested with dense 

 forests of spruce, pine, balsam and hemlock, the runoff will be, 

 roundly, 5 inches per year, 2 more than it will when deforested, but 

 in order to secure such result the entire catchment area of a stream 

 must be in dense, primeval forest. It will not do to have a few 

 hundred square miles at the headwaters in primeval forest and 



x From 4th An. Rept. of Forest Preserve Board, p. 14. 



2 The average annual runoff varies from about 23.20 inches on Hudson 

 river to about 14.2 inches on Genesee river. Hence, the excess runoff due 

 to forests is 21 per cent of the average annual runoff on Hudson river and 

 35 per cent on Genesee river. 



