408 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. i8, 1903. 
swale, so-called, over the knoll back of the barn. This 
patch of ground, more marsh than solid earth, lay in 
a sunshiny hollow between the hills, and was over- 
grown with a riotous profusion of shrubbery and grape 
vines. On the further side was arable land flanked with 
a sugar-loaf knoll rising a few hundred feet in the air, 
around the base of which, to the woods beyond, flew 
any birds that were flushed and which were fortunate 
enough to escape. ' 
My companion took his accustomed position on the 
outside, when I essayed to work my way through the 
dense undergrowth. I made but little progress when 
the tinkling of the bell of Rex ceased and told the 
story that he was on a point. Being situated where it 
was impossible for me to shoot, I called out “point” — 
when, with the noise of muffled thunder, out went a 
covey of five birds, giving my companion an opportunity 
to make an easy double, the remainder seeking safety 
in the woods beyond the hill. 
“This is almost too much like butchery,” said he, 
“but being so early in the. day, and not knowing what 
our chances may be later, I was tempted to do it. Now, 
let me follow the dog and you take the outside.” 
Thanking him for his courtesy, and assuring him that 
few places in the State were so sure to hold birds, and 
that none could be more favorable for their capture, 
and that we should have to work hard for any more 
than we might get, I insisted on working the cover and 
giving him the benefit of the success that was already 
ours, I ordered Rex on. Faithfully and thoroughly he 
covered the ground, challenging all likely places, but 
without avail. Slowly and carefully we worked our way 
through the dense and tangled undergrowth out toward 
the further end where it narrowed to a point. Clamber- 
ing over a lot of small stones at the edge of the cover, 
that had been gathered in from the adjoining field, I 
was on their summit when the bell again ceased to 
tinkle. This my companion announced, when two more 
partridge broke cover near me with all their startling 
abruptness, and in a curving: 'flight started like a flash 
for the woods beyond the hill. Hastily drawing bead 
upon the foremost, I pulled- trigger, at the moment a 
rolling stone gave way beneath my foot, and I scored 
a clean miss, but the last fell at a , very considerable 
distance to a more careful aim. Crossing over to the 
woods beyond the hill, the careful and thorough work- 
ing of the dog not only- gave, ns pleasure, but also 
numerous shots without adding -to the number of birds 
■1 our game pockets. For this we found many reasons 
besides the true one, doubtless— indffferpt marksman- 
ghip — and consoled ourselves that we' did not want all 
the birds; that we already had a brace, and that 
The partridge sliot at that flies away 
Lives to be shot at another day. 
Returning to the farmhouse at noon to. care for our 
horse and to eat our lunch, we found the animal cared 
for and a dinner already prepared for us in the house. 
Accepting the hospitality of our.- host, two hungry 
sportsmen did full justice to the, ample New England 
dinner so generously provided. 
The shortened autumn day prevented any lengthened 
interchange of courtesies, and vre soon turned our 
steps toward the birch and alder run beside _ a well- 
known trout brook, where woodcock make their home. 
In less time than it takes to write it, after arriving on 
the grounds, Rex at command flushed a plump bird that 
fell an easy shot to my gun. Working : carefully down 
the run some distance, my companion heard an unusual 
noise and asked me if I did not hear it. Being answered 
in the negative, we continued our quest a little longer, 
when, sobbing, intermingled with comforting words, 
was heard as a note of discord and sadness where all 
else was harmony and joy. . 
Following the direction whence came the sound, we 
were soon near two little girls, one of whom was cry- 
ing and sobbing as if her heart would break, and her 
companion vainly endeavoring to assuage her grief and 
comfort her in her sorrow. This picture of sadness m 
the early spring time of life touched a responsive chord 
and emphasized the story of the good Samaritan. We 
soon learned the story that Mamie’s little sister was 
dead and that they had come to the brookside from 
neighboring farmhouses to get some wild flowers to 
put on her coffin. _ , , 
Just then, woodcock and partridge had little attrac- 
tion for us, and, touched by the pathos of the scene, 
we. also offered such words of sympathy and comfort as 
we could command to the afflicted one, coupled with 
the assurance of co-operation and aid in procuring the 
floral tribute which was to attest a sister’s loss and 
sorrow. , , • 
For a time the tears were dried, but choking sobs 
too plainly told that the aching heart refused to be 
comforted. Laying our guns aside, the sportsmen 
essayed the role of the florist. Making a light frame- 
work of the dark twigs of the black alder, we filled 
the interstices with moss from the brookside, and 
around the edge, nicely lapped the one over the other, 
we worked in a row of dark copper-colored leaves from 
a neighboring beech tree. Upon this, for a foundation, 
we fashioned a wreath of wild clematis and maiden- 
hair fern, surmounted by a cross — the emblem of man’s 
salvation — composed of cardinal flowers flanked with 
blue-fringed gentian. . 
The children watched the progress of our work with 
growing interest, and the product they gladly accepted 
as a burden lifted. 
But our shooting for the day was over. Our game 
bag was not plethoric, to be sure, but sufficient for 
those who realize that a day spent under autumn skies, 
along the hillsides clothed in surging billows of color, 
or beside the purling brook, where the woodsy odors 
of lowland growth perfume the air, are not to be 
measured by the destruction wrought. 
When we reached home in the evening the same old 
stars shone in the firmament, but they seemed brighter. 
Geo. McAleer. 
“Hunting and Fishing in the South," the pamphlet 
of information issued by the Southern Railway and ad- 
vertised on another page, should be in the hands of every 
person who is looking to an excursion to the South this 
season. 
Adirondack State Lands, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
It would be unnecessary to make a reply to the article 
written by your special correspondent about “Adirondack 
State Land Sales,” published in your issue of Nov. ii, 
if the general public was fully acquainted with the ques- 
tion under discussion. The article, as I shall show 
clearly, carries in it full, exact and perfect substantiation 
of my contention that “Adirondack land matters ought 
to be examined by honest, competent and thorough au- 
thority” ; which means, of course, an investigation by the 
Legislature. 
Your correspondent’s itemized reply shows that the 
titles to 152 parcels, lots or tracts of land were “can- 
celled.” Nowhere in his article does your correspondent 
explain this save by saying “in many cases _ the lands 
were recovered by the owners through an 'application for 
a cancellation in the tax title, in which application certain 
irregularities on the part of the assessors and supervisors 
lucre alleged, and which, under the law of the State at 
that time, rendered the tax sale invalid.” 
Against this place Commissioner Whipple’s statement, 
quoted in the same article: 
"The forest preserve board, immediately after its or- 
ganization in 1897, made a systematic attempt to recover 
the lands wdiich were lost through cancellations, their 
efforts being confined to these, as the redemptions in 
each case w'ere final and irrevocable under the State tax 
law. The forest preserve board, through the legal_ mea- 
sures adopted, recovered over 100,000 acres of land in the 
Adirondacks that had been lost through cancellations, 
but there still remained large tracts to which the State’s 
title was so defective through irregularities [mere 
technicalities] in the tax sales that it is doubtful whether 
the State could ever regain those properties.” 
I showed 117,000 acres the State had lost, and hasn’t 
got now. Mr. Whipple says besides this, 100,000 acres 
have already been recovered — more than 217,000 acres 
were taken. 
In view of that statement, can anybody deny that 
there were irregularities in cancellations? That the 
State ought to get moi'e of that vast acreage it lost? 
Of course there was a lawyer behind each cancellation; 
of course the gloss of “perfectly legal” would be flashed 
before the public. How many of those 152 tracts of land 
— say 60^000 acres — were taken from the State illegally? 
Flow many of tlie redemptions were legal and above 
board? 
Chapter 332, laws of 1893, is mentioned by your cor- 
respondent. This law excepted all Hamilton county, and 
numerous towns in Franklin, Lewis, Herkimer and other 
counties from its provisions. Because the law excepted 
those towns and Hamilton county, other measures than 
“sale” were adopted. I quote your correspondent as fol- 
lows to indicate one instance : 
“Jones’ Gore : Lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15.— These 
lots were stricken from land list per resolution- of State 
Board of Land Commissioners.” 
In the heart of the Adirondacks, in Hamilton county, 
in Totten & Crossfield’s purchase, where the sale of 
State lands was forbidden, the State’s title to 1,617.9 
acres of land was thrown out of the people’s domain by 
a mere “resolution” of the State Land Commissioners. 
Was it thrown out by the “connivance” of State officials 
or not? Was it- legal? That resolution was worth 
$150,000 to the ones who got the land. 
“Redemptions” are said to be perfectly legal, irrevo- 
cable, etc. Here is your correspondent’s statement about 
the Dr. Webb preserve Lost State lots : 
“Township 78 (Totten & Crossfield’s purchase), lots 6, 
7, 26, 38, 43, 49, 55, 56— redeemed June 24, 1890.” 
This was nine years after the State first acquired title 
to them. It also acquired title to them at a subsequent 
tax sale, but then allowed somebody else to get title at 
the 1888 tax sale. Mr. Whipple says of these lands : 
“At one time, however, years previous to this sale, 
there were a few lots [three square, miles] included 
in this territory which then belonged to the State of New 
York; pursuant to the provisions of chapter 475, laws of 
1887, these lots were exchanged for other lands which 
were equally well located and of . greater acreage.” 
Then, to get another statement as to these lands, refer 
to the Forest Commission’s report of 1890: 
“June 24, 1890: Hamilton county. Town of Long 
Lake, Township 38, Northeast corner Sargeant’s tract, 
lots 6, 7, 26, 43, 49, 55 and 56, 2,160 acres. — Redeemed 
from the tax sale of 1885, under notice, by P. Moyna- 
han. North Creek, N. Y. (The State still holds title to 
these lands under the sale of 1881).” 
Commissioner Whipple says the land was exchanged, 
the Forest Commission report says “redeemed,” and no- 
where is Ic- 23 mentioned, save as having been purchased 
by the State at a tax sale in a Colvin report. A sop was 
thrown to the public : “The State still holds title to this 
land under the sale of 1881.” This was wiped out later 
by “exchange” apparently. 
Then as to the deal by which the State lost township 
20, on Upper Saranac Lake. On lots 4, 5 and 6 were 
located the nonds and buildings of the Saranac Inn Fish 
Hatchery, owned, maintained and utilized by the State 
for the distribution of the fish fry and yearlings. It has 
been there more than eighteen years, and has been in 
constant use all that time. In the interval title to this 
land was “cancelled,” squabbled over, and then bought 
back at the rate of $6.02 per acre. The State paid $11,000 
in “recovering” those cancelled titles to. its fish hatch- 
ery and didn’t get all of lot 4 at that. The State lost 
2,000 acres of choice camp sites around Upper Saranac 
Lake and paid $150,088 to get back what it- had lost. 
Moreover, the land-huying commission said the Saranac 
people paid “about $50,000” back taxes which the State 
would have been “obliged to r-efund.” Commissioner 
Whipple, says the Saranac Association had paid “back 
taxes on the land amounting to $34,000 or thereabouts.” 
The Association therefore received either $100,000 and 
2,000 acres of State land, or $116,000 and 2,000 acres of 
land by reason of this shrewd deal, and the $50,000 was 
a lie by $16,000. 
In view of the conflicting statements and in view of 
the facts that I have pointed out, ckn-There be any doubt 
that the public has been repeatedly swindled and bam- 
boozled in this matter of Adirondack lands ? _ 
Now, then, as to the acciTsatipn that I waited twenty 
years after the transactions to m facts public. 
Most of the redemptions and cancellations about which 
I complain were made from 1888 to 1893. But how does 
it happen that a law made in 1900 could give Finch, 1 
Pruyn & Co. the State’s share in lots 5, iQ, 29, 30, 43, 44,4 
45 . 48, 49, 52, 53 aud 54, township 33, Totten & Cross- i 
field’s purchase? I believe that the State constitutions 
says State land shall not be sold, or conveyed, and yet » 
here, under a law of 1900, a logging company can get ; 
the State’s share in nearly a thousand acres — 960 acres, 
if one can believe a public document, and your corre- j 
■spondent. .. ,■ 
That is conclusive evidence that the. old-time land; 
deals are being carried on, “by partitioning.” All the 
pulp companies have got to do is get any old title, claim: 
a “share” in State land, and then by a partition suit,! 
nail a few' hundred acres of State land. j 
That the Adirondack lands are in present danger is] 
also shown by the fact that the State River Commission.; 
•is going to listen to the cunning arguments of the attor- : 
neys and politicians who favor the “power dam” pro-| 
jects in the Adirondacks. The Sacandaga Dam proposi-i 
tion is to erect a dam 1,000 feet long and forty feet high] 
below Lake Piseco. This will overflow nearly fifty; 
square miles (more than is covered by Lake George).] 
Of the 35,000 acres to be covered, upwards of 25,600 
acres are State forest preserve land. The timber on-] 
that land, which, under provision of the law as regards] 
dams, must be “cleared away,” would more than pay for; 
the dam, which is the only expense incurred by the : 
power companies, save the purchase of the private lands'; 
that would be overflowed. The State wouldn’t get a] 
dollar for its thirty-nine square miles of land. , ,| 
That dam is going to be built next spring, unless the) 
public stops this power company scheme. 
The Adirondack land scandal is not a thing of the. 
past, it is a thing of the present and future, if the land 
sharks are allow^ed to have their way. . : 
Your correspondent says that lot 79, Remsenburgh' 
Patent, ‘Too acres” is “owned by the State now.” The 
secretary of the Forest Commission wrote to me last! 
summer that this land had been sold to the Finch Chem-; 
ical Company. The State owned 170 acres in that lot in 
1901. It was in two patches of 100 acres and 70 acres: 
each. The 70 acres is apparently wiped off the '.State’s 
list, the 100 acres being the usual sop thrown to the pub- 
lic in such matters as this. 
Consider this statement by Commissioner Whipple.: . 
“It seems proper to say here that while various lots 
have been dropped from the State land list, and are no 
longer included in the red area of the Adirondack map, 
other and larger tracts have taken their place — a fact 
which should always be considered in connection with 
these particular lands.” 
Permit me to make this comparison. Suppose that a 
man is successful in business. He is making $10,000 a 
year. A thief picks his pocketbook containing $100 and 
an invaluable tress of his dead baby’s hair. Because he 
is making $10,000 a year should he let the thief escape,! 
when a little run and considerable of a whoop would 
compel the thief to at least drop the pocketbook? I can-i 
not see any difference between the case cited by Mr. 
W^hipple and the one I cite for comparison. 
Your correspondent amply, portrays the shameful fact; 
that laws have repeatedly been passed which gave the. 
land sharks repeated opportunities to get at the heart 
of the wilderness under guise of the law. This, he says, 
cost the public upwards of 20,000 acres of land in thd 
DeBar and Everton parks (Rockefeller’s) alone. The 
land, “in the judgment of the forest commissioners,’' 
wasn’t good enough for the public, but it was good 
enough for William Rockefeller to make into private 
preserves, to the exclusion of thousands of hunters in 
that region — some of whom I have heard cursing the 
land grabbers, and expressing the hope and belief that 
they would be killed by assassins’ bullets. The acts of 
old-time forest commissions brought Adirondack woods-i 
men to a frame of mind where they contemplate murdef 
with pleasure. That is the effect of the land swapping 
proclivities of old-time land dealing forest commission- 
ers — the woodsmen and sportsmen, unjustly treated by 
their law-makers and having no legal redress, in certain] 
cases, now want to see murder done. The laws cited left 
matters to the judgment ©f the forest commission. ; 
The present scheme of Colonel Fox, of the Forest 
Commission staff, is to have the State constitution 
amended so- that the 125,000 acres and more of State 
land outside the forest preserve can be swapped foi 
other lands within the preserve. This 125,000 acres is 
used by the public ten times as much, acre for acre, as 
any State lands within the forest preserve. It is the 
best partridge and fox and trout and ’coon cover in the 
State, taken by the large, but it is proposed to- sell h 
and thus open the way to further encroachments on the 
forest domain of the people by private preserves — pre-i 
cisely the same plan as that which cost the. public the 
DeBar Mountain and Everton Park forests and streams 
And because I protest against these legal and illega-: 
land bickerings, these betrayals of the public by its “ex-i 
pert advisers in office,” my motives are questioned anc 
my judgment sneered at. ■ 
It is a common trick of political gangs to endeavor tCi 
put their accusers in as bad a light as possible. I don’5 
know who your special correspondent at Albany is, bu 
I will say this : There isn’t a paragraph in his artich; 
which does not contain conclusive evidence — as I havi 
shown — that he has accepted without question, the state^ 
ments of men whose interest it is to hide from the publk 
the exact status of affairs in the Adirondacks as regard; 
State lands, past and present. 
I will also say that a comparison of the list of land; 
which are to be sold for taxes by the State Comptrolle! 
with the Adirondack preserve land list of 1901 show; 
that hundreds of acres of land bought in 1900 and 190; 
by the State were encumbered by back taxes. And als(, 
that the State did not receive all the acres it was buyinjl 
— by some hundreds of acres. I cite the State land pur 
chases in township 2, Totten & Crossfield’s purchase, ij 
Hamilton county, as specific instances. Here is a featur; 
of the Adirondack State land scandal which is alon, 
sufficient cause for an investigation - by honest and com- 
petent authority. This feature is simply this: The Stat 
bought 200 acres of water when it got lot 15 — for ho-V 
much I don’t know. Possibly the seventeen acres of lap’ 
was all that was paid for, but in other lots in that vicir] 
ity, the Comptroller’s tax list and the list of present 
