foresters, the best and only thing for the Commission to do was to procure men, if possible, familiar with the woods and with the habits of woodsmen, familiar with the localities where their work was to be done, and especially having such knowledge of the State lands and the traditions concerning them, their location, boundaries and general character, as might be acquired by living in their vicinity, and who should also have a reputation for honesty and efficiency. As, in the case of selecting firewardens, the Commissioners could not possibly have such an extensive acquaintance throughout the fourteen counties of the Forest Preserve as to enable them to select men from a personal knowledge of their qualification, so it became necessary that they should rely largely upon the recommendations of known and trusted men throughout the different localities from which the foresters were to be chosen. To say that under these circumstances some mistakes in making selections were possible is simply to utter a truism. Exactly what was to be required of a forester was not always understood, even by those who were most ardent in the work of "preserving the forests." Many, perhaps a large majority, of those who are the most eager to "have the work go on," have the faintest possible idea as to how it is to go on, or what methods should be employed to reach the desired end, and are often equally uncertain as to what that end should be. Many applicants were pressed upon the Commission for appointment, with the best intentions doubtless, whom the Commissioners felt compelled to reject as being, in their opinion, unfit for the services required of theen. But by the exercise of what discretion soever the Commissioners were enabled to command they gradually filled the roll of foresters to its maximum number.

Under the appropriation of 1886 it was necessary to reduce the number of foresters for the following year from twenty-five to fifteen-a feeble squad, numerically, considering the work there is for them to do. This small number can only. under the present limited appropriation, be paid at the rate of forty dollars a month. Out of this the forester is obliged to pay his own expenses while on duty, which are frequently considerable, as he is compelled to travel hither and thither throughout the woods in discharge of duties assigned to him.

Foresters are constituted. primarily, the legal guardians of the forest. They are on the watch for thieves, trespassers and evil

doers of every description, having a constant care, as well, to see that all precautionary measures for the prevention of fires are duly observed and enforced. When trespasses or unlawful acts of timber cutting are discovered, it is made their duty to go at once to the locality where such unlawful acts have been committed, to make a thorough investigation of all the facts connected therewithsuch as the names of the guilty parties, the exact amount of damage done, the disposition made of the logs that were cut, if any, etc., and report the same in writing to the Commission. In the investigation of trespass cases, maps of small sections of territory are prepared and, together with copies of field notes, are sent out to foresters.

Careful records of each and all of these trespasses have been kept in this department with all correspondence, court proceedings, etc., full and complete for each case. Such records show the date when the facts were first reported to this office and by whom, the name of the party cutting or carrying away the products of the forests, the number of the lot, and the tract, patent, grant or grand division of which the lot is a small subdivision, the county and town where the land is situated, the number of logs, or pieces, and the equivalent in "markets," or standard logs, the number of trees, with the additional measurement of the bark in cases where hemlock is stolen. Wherever possible, the logs or bark are traced. to the buyer, and in a large number of cases such buyers haye stood behind the jobbers and have paid the State for such logs or bark. An uniforın scale of prices has been adopted in such circumstances.

The Commission had twenty-five foresters in its employ at the opening of the spring of 1886. The whole territory of the eleven northern counties was at first divided into twenty-four districts, each district being so chosen that it is traversed by at least one thoroughfare. These were laid out with an idea of better protecting exposed localities rather than being an equal distribution of territory among the foresters, consequently some districts were much larger than others. A map was prepared for each district, showing plainly the State lands and such natural features as would enable foresters to

* A "marke log" in New York is a standard log thirteen feet long and nineteen inches in diameter. At least, such is its original meaning; but it is now used variably in different localities and is falling into disuse. It should be dropped altogether and foot measurement used in its stead.

readily locate the land, provided the lines of marked trees were still in a fair state of preservation. Each forester also received minutely detailed instructions regarding his duties and conduct. A different subdivision of the preserve into forester's districts has been since made, based on water-shed lines and outlets for timber. Soon after the close of the summer season and of the reduction of the number of foresters to fifteen, the remaining force was. assigned, in pairs, as far as available, to the State lands within or near their districts, with the design of obtaining an accurate description of each parcel as to timber, soil, lay of the land, streams and ponds, roads, occupancy, death of trees and the causes, and other details, as well as to familiarize them with the lands of the preserve and to keep a sharp watch on would-be trespassers. (See "Schedule of Inquiry," Appendix B.) The object of sending the foresters in pairs was for the purpose of mutual assistance and protection. Owing to severe cold, snow, ice, the frequently swollen condition of the streams, the necessity of camping out on the lots, often at a long distance from dwellings or human aid, it would have been difficult and sometimes impossible for a, single man to have accomplished this work and often unsafe to have attempted it. Accompanying the schedule of inquiry was a letter of instructions as to modes of procedure.

To these instructions the foresters responded readily and have waded through deep snow and have braved severely cold weather in order to give to each parcel of land the careful examination required by the schedule. Their reports are filed in this office, and a digest of each is made and a diary kept of the operations of each forester. In addition to the above reports, each forester is required to make a weekly report of his doings. Blanks are printed for this purpose on which he accounts for himself every day of the week. This has been found necessary as a means of keeping track of, and maintaining discipline in a force necessarily widely scattered and difficult to reach by mail or telegraph.

In examining these lands the foresters report the same difficulty in finding them, owing to the absence or obscurity of the lines marked on the trees, as has already been explained. They have had to fall back on the knowledge of some local surveyor, or old inhabitant under the guidance of whom the lot corners have been, in the

majority of cases, discovered, while in some the word of the guide had to be taken in the absence of any visible marks of a corner. Maps have been prepared in each case of an assignment of territory, showing the location of the State parcels, and such natural features as would enable the foresters to partially identify the localities sought, each map being accompanied with a copy of the field notes of the original survey of each of the parcels, where such are on file.

The reports serve as a basis of readily computing the value of the merchantable timber on the lands, by showing the size and character of the trees, and whether or not there are roads or streams available for getting the timber out. The method of procedure is nearly similar to that adopted by large lumber companies in ascertaining the value of timber lands, with the difference that the lumbermen send surveyors to mark out the lines before making the appraisal. This Commission has no appropriation for surveys, though the necessity for surveys is greatly felt. Owing to the large number of lots to be examined, the small number of foresters to make the examinations, and to make them, too, only in the intervals of their own duties, as well of owing to the great distances to be traversed, this most important work will necessarily take a long time in its accomplishment. Considering the accumulating and important work that will fall on foresters, necessity demands an increase of the force.

MISCELLANY.

Of all the outcome from the efforts of the Commission, "the general public is doubtless most interested in the chief results already named, viz., that former trespassers have reimbursed the State on account of public property wrongfully taken; that timber thieving and spoliation of forests have been stopped, and forest fires prevented. But this, by no means, includes all that has been accomplished in laying the foundations of future work, as the foregoing pages show. The working force of the Commission was completed by the appointment of a Secretary on September 30, 1886, and the force is regarded now as well organized, or as well as the limited appropriation for the Commission will admit. Many topics connected with, and growing out of the work of the Commission-topics hitherto vaguely understood and rendered

nebulous by manifold legislation -- have been investigated, and doubtful points settled by the aid and advice of the Attorney General and the attorneys of the Commission. Prior to the passage of the act of May 15, 1885, many of the duties which, by that act, were devolved upon the Forest Commission, had been vested in the Comptroller and in the Commissioners of the Land Office. Other natters of a kindred and collateral character were distributed among still other departments of the State government. The experience of the Commission has confirmed the wisdom of the policy which would combine in one and the same department all the various powers, duties and offices that relate to wild and forest lands, and of placing the whole business under one uniform control, if the State is ever to conserve its interests in, and derive the large benefits that it ought to derive from, its forests and wild lands.

VALUE OF THE PRESERVE.

Throughout the Forest Preserve, the value of land has been recently greatly increased. That increase is still going on, and, in all human probability, will be greatly augmented within the next decade, so much so, that under the conditions of our rapidly growing population and extraordinary development it cannot be now estimated. For our present purpose it is sufficient that the land of the Forest Preserve is, and must be, a treasure which should be jealously guarded and judiciously managed. This is a dictate of ordinary business prudence. Perhaps a large portion of the general public which has looked upon these forests as mere wild lands affording a good place in which to have a summer frolic, but for little else, and has attached to them little or no pecuniary value, may not appreciate the argument drawn from this estimate of their worth, but those who have a knowledge of the matter, (and they are by no means a small class) well know that their valuation is not exaggerated here. A practical business man whose knowledge of the Adirondack lands and familiarity with the whole subject entitles his opinion to respect, recently said, "There is a regular land boom now going on in that region. A year ago lands were offered to me at three dollars an acre, with an intimation conveyed that I might get them by bidding two dollars or even one dollar and fifty cents, which are now held stiffly at five dollars or six dollars an acre, and cannot be touched at less money. They will never be worth any less and will constantly