May 6, 1905.] 
FOREST AND STREAM- 
333 
The Adirondacks and Lake George. 
From the report of the Adirondack Committee of the Assembly, 
transmitted Apfil 11, 1905, 
Chief among the subjects of which the attention of 
the committee was directed by the resolution authoriz- 
ing its appointment was, "Whether the Constitution 
should be so amended as to allow the cutting and sale, 
under proper restrictions, of the so-called ripe timber 
on lands owned by the State within the forest pre- 
serve," and to this question the committee devoted con- 
i siderable of its attention. The Legislature of 1904 
i passed a proposed constitutional amendment permitting 
; the removal of dead or down timber from State lands, 
and this measure is before the Legislature of 1905 for 
re-enactment before it can be submitted to the people 
for their approval. Many reasons have been advanced 
why such a measure should become a law. _ Notwith- 
standing these arguments, the committee believes that 
to permit the removal of dead tinjber from State lands, 
even under State supervision, might have a tendency 
to bring about further devastations of the forests by 
fire, and that it would be unwise at this time to depart 
from the State's policy of permitting not even so much 
as a stick of timber to be removed from the State's 
property which the Constitution now holds shall be 
forever kept as "wild forest lands." 
The majority of forest fiires during the year were 
Caused by sparks from railroad locomotives, as has 
been the record for several years. The railroad com- 
panies, however, have co-operated with the State 
authorities, as a result of which the forest fires at- 
tributable to locomotives have greatly decreased in 
number. 
The committee is deeply interested in an experiment 
■ recently tried by the New York Central Railroad, in 
which an electric engine hauled a heavy train success- 
fully at the usual rate of speed. The application of 
I electricity to trains, both passenger and freight, running 
' through the forest region would certainly result in a 
great alleviation of the fire nuisance, and eliminate 
I completely this source of woodland destruction. 
Mt. B!agdeD*s Dier Patfe, 
Leaving Wawbeek on the morning of July 30, the 
Committee made a tour of Upper Saranac Lake, ar- 
■ riving at Saranac Inn at noon. Here the Committee 
[ was met by Mr. Thomas Blagden of Washington, and 
[ invited to inspect his deer park in the vicinity of the 
I Inn. The Committee was conducted to a tract of about 
I thirty acres of wild forest land inclosed by a high wire 
: fence. Here, Mr. Blagden explained, are confined about 
; thirty deer, some tame and docile, allowing the visitors 
to fondle them, others so wild that only a fleeting 
: glimpse of them was obtainable as they dashed away 
into the thick woods. Tn order not to overCrqwd the 
, park, Mr. Blagden told the Committee that h? liberates 
' annually about ten or a dozen of his captives, thus 
adding to the stock of Adirondack game. 
"What the State ought to do," suggested Mr. 
, Blagden, "is to set apart a tract of wild land some- 
where in the mountains, inclose it, and raise deer, elk, 
moose , and other game, liberating the young as soon 
as they are able to care for themselves. The moose 
and elk that are sent to the mountains from private 
preserves and liberated are in many cases so tame that 
one can almost knock them over with a club. Of those 
sent to the woods only a few 'remain." 
The Committee rtvas deeply appreciative of Mr. 
Blagden's courtesy and greatly enjoyed the "deer hunt" 
in which they were permitted to participate. 
Leaving Keene Valley on the morning of Aug. 4, 
a drive of twenty-four miles took the Committee to 
Ausable Forks, where a halt was made for the night. 
While at Ausable Forks the Committee visited the 
large pulp mills of the J. & J. Rogers Company for the 
purpose of examining their method of preventing the 
refuse from their mills from ^polluting the waters of 
lb" Ausable River. The subject of the pollution af 
Adirondack streams by pulp mills refuse has long been 
One of public interest, and the Rogers Company claims 
i to have solved the problem to a considerable extent. 
The company for some time has had in its employ Mr. 
J. S. Robeson, a chemist, who has been experimenting 
at Ausable Forks with a new process of evaporating 
the waste liquor from the digestors. A small plant 
was erected so that a practical demonstration might 
be made, and the result is claimed to be very satis- 
facfory. The water is freed from all foreign substances, 
■ including the pulp fibre, which is utilized for sizing 
. paper, etc. It is also, by further treatment, hardened 
and made into cores for paper rolls. The experimental 
plant, according to a recent report from the company, 
has worked continuously since the Committee's visit 
and has taken care of 10 per cent of the waste liquor 
from the sulphite mill. A larger plant designed to take 
i care of the entire output of the mill is nearly com- 
pleted, and is expected to be in operation before May i. 
If such a plan were to be adopted by other sulphite 
j mill owners the Committee believes it would go a long 
' way toward remedying the evils of pollution against 
which complaint has long been made. 
Lake George Islands, 
In examining the lands owned by the State in Lake 
George, the Committee found that this property com- 
prises many beautiful islands, which are annually fre- 
quented by thousands of visitors and are great favorites 
with occasional camping parties. The campers seem to 
pay reasonable attention to the law and do little, if any, 
damage while on the islands. 
That there are flagrant cases of trespass on several 
of the islands might well occupy the attention of the 
Commission. The Committee during its trip noted 
in particular the building of a large summer camp on 
Uncas Island, and was informed that the trespasser 
was a Mr. Edwin Ellis, of Schenectady. This trespass 
was all the more flagrant for the reason that the build- 
ing w-as being done on an island which lies directly in 
one of the favorite excursion routes, and which is 
dist'nctly marked as State land by a large sign on, one 
of its iiics; prominent points. During the trip the 
Connnittec was informed that other trespasses existed 
on Burnt Island, on Ranger Island and on Kettle 
Island, and that there is reason to believe fj-om com- 
mon report that others are in immediate contempla- 
tion. Every trespasser shuts off just so much of the 
pleasure ground owned by the people from their oc- 
cupancy during the vacation season, and unless prompt 
and vigorous efforts are made to stop all such viola- 
tions of the law a serious situation- may prevail in the 
near future. Undoubtedly the natives in this locality 
do not inform the authorities of the trespasses, because 
certain revenues are derived from the building and 
boat letting and the furnishing of supplies which 
naturally comes from this unlawful occupancy. But the 
fact remains that there is no excuse for such viola- 
tions. Every such trespass closes to the summer 
traveler, and especially to the pleasure seeker from 
our own State, a favorite resort to which he has the 
first right of occupancy, and which his money has, in 
part, paid for if he is a. taxpayer. 
Adiroodack Camp Sites. 
During its journey through the various lakes along 
, the shores of which the State owns lands adapted for 
camping purposes, the Committee took up the ques- 
tion of the advisability of leasing alternate lots as 
camp sites to reliable persons at an annual compensa- 
tion. To do this an amendment to the Constitution 
would be necessary. This action has been recom- 
mended in the past because of the large income which 
it is said would acrue to the State from the rents re- 
ceived, and for the further reason that the cottage 
owners would become fire Vi^ardens to a degree aaid 
would aid in protecting the forests from flames. While 
these arguments hold good in great measure, the Com- 
mittee does not believe the plan advisable. To place 
the authority of leasing tracts of land along the shores of 
the lakes in the hands of the Forest, Fish and Game Com- 
mission, might lead to charges of favoritism in the 
leasing of camp sites. It is furthermore pointed out 
that once leased the lessees of State lands are likely 
to become autocratic to the extent of forbidding people 
to trespass upon the tracts of land so leased. Then, 
too, there is likely to spring up under such a plan, the 
practice of sub-letting camp sites which might involve 
the State in much litigation in order to rid the leased 
property of undesirable tenants. One instance was re- 
lated to the Committee where a party leased a tract 
of land from the State under the old law at a ridicu- 
lously low figure and later sublet it at a handsome 
profit. The Committee believes that legislation per- 
mitting the lease by the State of Adirondack camp 
sites would prove unwise. 
The Adirondacks are the pride of New York State 
—a vast forest playground and a sanitarium. Thous- 
ands of dollars have been spent for preserving the 
forests and securing to the people the natural beauties 
of the mountains. Both for those seeking recreation 
and health the Adirondacks offer a tempting retreat. 
That New York State should take energetic measures 
to preserve this empire of natural beauties is merely 
a recognition of its far-reaching relationship to the 
well being of the people. The forests that clothe the 
Adirondacks are not only a refuge for town worn men 
and women, but they are also a necessary protection 
for the water supply of the great metropolis and other 
cities lying to the south. 
RecommeodationSt 
The Committee would respectfully submit the follow- 
ing recommendations: * 
1. A thorough investigation of the thefts of timber 
on State lands, and the enactment of more rigid statutes 
for the punishment of trespassers. 
2. The establishment of a system of paid fire patrols 
for further protection against forest fires. 
3. Further appropriations by the State for the pur- 
chase of forest lands within the Adirondack Park. 
4. An amendment to the Constitution authorizing the 
sale of lands owned by the State within the Forest 
Preserve in counties outside the limits of the Adiron- 
dack Park which are undesirable for a forest preserve 
and the application of the proceeds of such sales to 
the further purchase of forest lands within the boun- 
daries of the Adirondack Park. 
5. Further appropriations for the continuation of the 
work of reforestation of denuded State lands within 
the Adirondack Park and the maintenance of State 
nurseries where forest tree seedlings can be propagated. 
6. The erection of signs indicating the State's owner- 
ship of lands along the shores of and on the islands 
in Lake George and on other State property as the 
■ Forest Commission shall direct. 
The Committee: E. S. Hanford, Chairman; Chas. 
W. Mead, J. R. Cowan, Wm. J. Ellis. 
Newfoundland Caribou Herds. 
The Department of Marine and Fisheries last week 
received word from Game Warden Kelland, of Burgeo, 
that caribou were seen in Burgeo and all along the south- 
ern coast in hundreds of thousands. They come south 
in the winter in large herds. The severity of the winter 
drives them as far south as the water's edge of the island. 
Other years thousands of them were slaughtered and sent 
to St. John's. This practice has been stopped. Many of 
the residents alongs the coast abused the privilege of kill- 
ing, and the hunt generally degenerated into a huge 
slaughter. They came out like herds of cattle and were 
easily destroyed by hundreds. Some of the meat found 
its way to St. John's, where it sold for, a few cents per 
pound; the residents preserved some of it in cans, and a 
large quantity used to be left to rot where it fell. Can- 
ning is now forbidden, and the Fisheries Department took 
extra precautions this season to hinder the slaughter. 
Last year' the enormous number of three thousand caribou 
were slaughtered in a couple of days. Some of the ring- 
leaders were punished and the practice stopped. It is evi- 
dent from Mr. Kelland's report that the herd has not suf- 
fered any considerable diminution. Later, the Fisheries 
Department has had advices from Western Cove, White 
Bay, stating that the oldest inhabitant never saw or heard 
of such numbers of deer as have been seen at this section 
and in the bottom of the bay. Hundreds crossed ,on the 
ice to the north side of White Bay. while the whole of 
the woods from the bottom of the bay to the railway 
track appears to teem with caribou. Never before at such 
an early date were they so far north, and instead of de- 
creasing they appear to multiply each year. 
White Bay is away north from Burgeo hundreds of 
miles, so that it is probable that these are different herds 
of deer. If so, the contention that the deer in the interior 
are in herds innumerable, and that they are on the in- 
crease appears to be well grounded. Now that protec- 
tion is given them and slaughter prevented, it looks as if 
Newfoundland were destined to be the deer park of 
America for the next century. 
I am sending you under another cover, a copy of book- 
let issued by the Reid Newfoundland Co. It is edited by- 
Mr. H. A. Morine, Passenger Agent. It contains the 
game laws of Newfoundland, lists of best fishing rivers, 
with diagrams and dates of best months for fishing, 
shooting grounds, guides, hotels, fishery wardens, prices 
per day of guides and hotels, extracts from Forest and 
Stream and other leading American journals, from writ- 
ers who have been shooting and fishing on the island, 
passenger rates from any American city to Newfound- 
land, and, in fact, every information that a tourist needs, 
who is traveling for health or sport. Mr, Morine de- 
serves the greatest praise for this little brochure. He has 
made a little book that is not only i.bsolutely necessary to 
the prospective visitor to Newfoundland, but would make 
interesting reading for a person who never shot or fished 
in his life. I wish to advise every reader of Forest and 
Stream, whether he intends to visit the island or not, to 
write- to Mr. W. D. Reid, vice-president of Reid New- 
foundland Co., or to Mr. H. A. Morine, general passenger 
agent, for a copy of the booklet. The testimony of many 
American and other sportsmea contained therein will be 
a revelation to most American sportsmen. C 
Mongolian Pheasants in New Yoffc. 
The report of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission 
reviewing the work of pheasant distribution, says: On 
April 25, 1904, it was officially announced that no more 
Mongolian pheasants would be bred for free distribution 
by the State. The work, which had been undertaken with 
a view to encouraging the introduction of this species 
of. game bird, had been both popular and successful from^ 
the start, and many fish and game clubs, as well as indi- ' 
viduals have taken it up in recent years. The exient of 
their distribution, together with the fact that pheasants 
may now be procured readily from commercial hatcheries, 
united to cause the Legislature to decline to make a fur- 
ther appropriation, and the work was therefore aban- 
doned. 
The order to breed pheasants at the Pleasant Valley 
Hatchery, in Steuben county, was given in 1896, and the 
work was begun in the following year with a stock of 
twelve birds, from which about forty were raised there 
the next season. These were not released until the year 
following, when the stock had increased to 180 birds, and 
the public had become thoroughly interested in the ex- 
periment. In 1899, the first and only appropriation made 
for rearing pheasants was secured, amounting to $],ooo, 
which was chiefly used in constructing the necessary pens. 
That year over 400 pheasants were successfully reared. 
The number af applications increased steadily up to the 
time when the work closed, when they amounted 10 re- 
quests for 288 pairs of birds and came from twenty-six 
counties. 
The total number of pheasants distributed during the 
seven years in which the work was carried on was i.igi. 
This distribution consisted of 612 cocks and 579 hens, 
and the average cost, taking one year with another, has 
been about $12.50 per pair. The birds were sent into 
forty-seven counties in the State. 
A Rifle Ball on its Ttavels. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
An old gentleman who says he has a large chicken 
ranch in Tennessee, started from home a week ago to pay 
a visit to his son, who lives at Rice's Landing, Greene 
county. Pa., and got as far as Pittsburg, where he had to 
stop over several hours before he could get a train to his 
destination. 
He had a Winchester rifle in a canvas cover and taking 
it into the package room at the Union Station left it there 
to be taken care of. The rifle must have had a load in 
the chamber where it had no business to be, for the pack- 
age room clerk when putting it in a pack let the gun fall 
to the floor and it was discharged, sending the ball 
through the clerk's leg, and then so close to the colon^d 
porter's head that it knocked his cap off. Next the ball 
passed through the side of the room and across several 
tracks and then hit Mr. I. J. Rosenway, of East Seven- 
teenth street. New York, who was about to board a train, 
and the ball finally struck an iron door that stopped its 
peculiar progress. 
An ambulance took the two wounded men to the hos- 
pital and an officer took the owner of the gun down to 
the central police station to be held to await the result 
of these men's injuries. When the old man was about 
to be locked up in a cell one of the detectives. Philip 
Dernell, noticed that he was wearing a Grand Army but- 
ton. Dernell wears one himself, and he, taking charge 
of the man, had a supper brought in for both, then found 
him a bed upstairs in the officers' room— the button saved 
him from occupying a cell there. He would most likely 
be let go in a day or two when it was seen that these 
men were not badly hurt. 
He said that he had got the rifle to shoot chicken 
hawks and had cleared them all out of his part of the 
country, and was now going to attend to what hawks 
there were in Greene county. Cabia Blanco. 
Death of Old Mountain Phelps. 
Orson Schofield Phelps, for many years familiarly 
known as "Old Mountain Phelps," died at his Keene 
Valley home Friday night, April 14, aged eighty-nine 
years. He claimed to be the first white man who ever 
reached the towering summit of Tahawus, the cloud- 
splitter, from the east. He marked trails to the top of 
Bartlett Mountain, Hopkins, the Giant, up Johns Brook 
to Tahawus, and several others, earning the title "Old 
Mountain Phelps," which clung to him for half a century. 
He is survived by three sons and three daughters, also 
an aged widow. Funeral services were held at Keene Val-^ 
ley Sunday afternoon, April 16, at 2 o'clock, G. L, B, 
