632 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



In order to show the approximate relative proportions of 

 virgin forest, culled area, from which merchantable softwood 

 timber has been removed, together with the cleared and water 

 areas of Schroon river catchment, the following data have been 

 compiled from several of the Tnited States Geological Survey's 

 topographical sheets, including territory either wholly or partly 

 within Schroon river catchment : 



Virgin Culled Cleared Water Total 

 forest, area, area, area, area, 



square square square square square 



Topographic sheet miles miles miles miles miles 



Bolton 153.00 43.55 19.85 216.4 



Paradox lake 171.55 38.60 5.35 215.5 



Schroon lake 1.10 182.10 35.80 6.50 215.5 



Total 1.10 506.65 117.95 . 31.70 647.4 



The large water area of the Bolton sheet is due to the fact that 

 this sheet includes a considerable portion of Lake George. 

 Aside from this, the Bolton, Paradox lake and Schroon lake 

 sheets, covering a total area of 647.4 square miles, are considered 

 to be — as regards forestation — fairly illustrative of Schroon 

 river catchment area. The figures show that the cleared area 

 is only about 18 per cent of the whole. The northern part of 

 Schroon river catchment area, which is included in Mount Marcy 

 and Elizabethtown sheets, is substantially all in timber, and for 

 the entire catchment area probably the cleared surface does not 

 exceed about 15 per cent. 



The topography of Schroon river catchment area is rugged. 

 The low-water surface elevation of Schroon lake is 807 + T. W., 

 and the extreme northern tributaries issue from the base of the 

 highest mountains of the State. 



The foregoing brief statements in regard to physical character- 

 istics of Schroon river catchment area show that it is an ideal 

 region from whence to draw a municipal water supply. The 

 forest covered granitic rocks and interspersed sand areas insure 

 a water of extreme purity, and when we further take into ac- 

 count the economy of reservoir construction which can here be 

 attained we have a combination of favorable conditions only 

 rarely excelled. 



An approximate estimate made in 1895, before all the condi- 

 tions were known, placed the cost of Schroon valley reservoir — 



