78 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



VIII 



THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL MONUMENTS 

 ]n the hope of stimulating among intellectual centers a proper 

 regard for the unique or exceptional work of nature, the accom- 

 panying circular was generally distributed early in the year to 

 local scientific and patriotic societies and to private individuals. 

 Its purport was directed less to the regard of the greater scenic 

 effects of the State than to the minor phenomena which often con- 

 stitute a special local attraction and have a genuine scientific or 

 historic merit which ought to commend them to protection. Such 

 lesser objects are easily overridden and effaced with the advance 

 of settlement and industrial development. A proper sentiment, 

 Aveli aroused, will prevent their destruction and leave to posterity 

 something better than regrets for their disappearance. It has 

 seemed proper for this department to take the initiative in this 

 matter even though it may not be practicable to press the move- 

 ment by substantial assistance. 



THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL MONUMENTS 



It might seem unpatriotic to say that they do some things in 

 the old country better than we do. They certainly do good things 

 which in our busy community life we have not yet got around to. 

 One of these is the local protection of places and objects of partic- 

 ular natural interest. We have done well in the conservation of 

 historic spots, and the State of New York is most creditably 

 •dotted over with monuments commemorating great events, and 

 with small reservations where large deeds have been done. Few 

 communities are without some memorial permanently marking the 

 telling facts of their history, and fortunate indeed is the town that 

 lias an organized spirit for such efforts ; twice blest in a man or a 

 few men willing upon their own initiative to make such a spirit 

 "bear fruit. 



The conservation of especially interesting natural objects comes 

 -somewhat late in the development of the sentiment of a community, 

 with the increase in the appreciation of nature's works. There are 

 lovers of birds who see with profound regret the disappearance of 

 certain of their friends once common in the region, but gradually 

 driven away by the encroachments of commerce upon their nest- 

 ing places. There are lovers of plants who know the few remain- 

 ing ^pots where rare flowers bloom or rare ferns may be found. 

 What comparison does a loyal citizen make between a noble tree 

 -which has seen the centuries roll by, which has stood sentinel 

 over the community since the cradle days of the settlement, and the 

 light or telephone company which lops off one of its branches to 

 let a wire g3 through or thrusts an ugly pole into its boughs? A 



