owners and paid about $1,500,000 for it. Here, for the first time in this country, so far as we know, private property was appropriated and bought by the State solely for the preservation of scenic beauty. This action was based upon the theory that the people have a right to enjoy, unmolested in person and unoffended in sight, the marvelous works of God as manifested in exceptional natural scenery. Following this, there have been many other State Reservations created by law in New York State for different purposes. Many have been solely for the purpose of preserving and giving free public access to regions of great natural beauty embracing rivers, cataracts, gorges, mountains, cliffs, forests, etc. Others have been established to preserve historic places and objects, such as battlefields, old fortifications, houses in which notable men have lived, places of scientific interest, mineral springs, fossiliferous deposits, etc. We have 33 such State reservations in New York State, embracing about 1,830,000 acres. About 1,800,000 acres are in the State Forest Preserve and about 30,000 in the smaller scenic, scientific and historic reserves. Of this entire area only about 25,000 acres of the Forest Preserve represents original ownership by the State. All the rest has either been purchased by or given to the State. Among the gifts to the State may be mentioned 1,000 acres known as Letchworth Park, given by the philanthropist, William P. Letchworth, embracing the famous Portage Falls and gorge on the Genesee river; 350 acres of the Helderberg escarpment near Albany, including celebrated fossil deposits and beautiful scenery, given by Mrs. John Boyd Thacher and called John Boyd Thacher Park; about 20,000 of the 30,000 acres of the Padisades Interstate Park, embracing notable cliffs and mountains on the Hudson river, given by Mrs. E. H. Harriman, J. P Morgan, and other generous men and women; 200 acres on the Oswego river, recently given by Mr. F. A. Emerick; the ancient Philipse Manor House in Yonkers, given by Mrs. W. F. Cochran, etc. These properties, although all owned by the State, are variously administered. The Forest Preserve is administered by the State Conservation Commission, and there are special State Commissions. in charge of Niagara Falls, the Palisades Park, Watkins Glen, etc. The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society has legal custody and administration of six State properties; and other small properties are in the care of local historical societies. With the exception of the State Conservation Commission, these administrative bodies serve without compensation, and act as public trustees, disbursing State funds when appropriated by the Legislature, often expending in addition thereto private funds on State properties, as in the case of the Palisades Commission and the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society. It is believed that by enlisting the aid of these public-spirited private agencies, the properties are less liable to be used for partisan political purposes than might otherwise be the case. By such means, also, the reserves receive more assiduous, painstaking and intelligent care than is often the case when public properties are administered by State officials already overloaded with public duties. Tree life in New York State is chiefly conserved in the Forest Preserve. The Constitution of the State absolutely prohibits the cutting of trees on the lands constituting the Forest Preserve; but there are no laws to prevent the destruction of trees on private land. The consequence is that the forests of this State are being removed faster than they are being grown. The Forest Preserve is also the principal bird and game refuge in the State, but there are general laws applicable to all parts of the State for the protection of wild animal life. What has been said of the manner of establishing scenic and historic reservations in New York State applies in a general way to other States, but in many of the United States this movement has not progressed as far as in New York State, and other States look to this State for examples, precedents and advice. By City Governments What has been said concerning the establishment of natural and historic reservations by State Governments applies on a smaller scale to those established by City Governments, except that the latter does not include game preserves. The great urban and suburban parks of such cities as New York, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and San Francisco frequently include forest land and serve as preserves for trees, plants, birds, and small quadrupeds like squirrels and rabbits. They also frequently preserve beautiful features of the landscape, as ocean beaches, river banks, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, and regions of scientific interest, as well as historic landmarks. These are generally created at public expense, but private gifts of park lands to cities are increasing in number as their need and usefulness become apparent. They are great democratic institutions, ministering to the health, happiness and education of all classes of people, and especially to those classes of limited means. During the last few years, members of the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society alone have given to the State of New York and to Cities, lands or moneys for the purchase of lands for State and City parks to the value of over $3,500,000 and similar gifts have been made in other parts of the country. You ask how means are found for the purchase and protection of natural monuments. You will see from what we have said that generally these ends are attained by means of public moneys appropriated by the Government. Where they are attained by private gifts, they are frequently the result of the generous impulses of high-minded men and women, acting on their own initiative as the result of personal appreciation or understanding of the good to be accomplished; or are evoked by the solicitation of organized societies or personal appeals. We know of cases of both kinds. Concerning these private gifts, as well as concerning the appropriation of public moneys, the main factor back of them all is the cultivation of public sentiment in their favor, oftentimes by long years of effort. This public sentiment is developed by propaganda, conducted in various ways; by public meetings, lectures, pamphlets, books, newspaper and magazine articles, etc. We have found by experience that hopes long entertained may be realized in the most unexpected moments. We know of one case, for instance, in which individuals and societies had worked for ten or fifteen years without success to secure the preservation of a celebrated historic building near New York. One day, two gentlemen delivered addresses on the subject at a meeting of a women's society. The meeting was reported in the newspapers; and the next day a woman gave $50,000 for the purchase of the property. The main thing is to keep at the work hopefully and persistently and a large measure of success will come eventually, because the ends sought appeal to the intelligence, the humanity and the generosity of the people. You ask for addresses of societies following lines of work similar to ours. There are not any societies with exactly the same scope as ours, but among organizations with similar aims and sympathies may be mentioned: The American Museum of Natural History, Dr. Henry Fairfield Osborn, President, New York City, N. Y. The New York Botanical Society, Dr. Nathaniel L. Britton, President, New York City, N. Y. The New York Zoological Society, Dr. William T. Hornaday, President, New York City, N. Y. The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Science, Dr. Charles D. Atkins, Director, Brooklyn, N. Y. The American Civic Association, J. Horace MacFarland, President, Harrisburgh, Penn. The American Forestry Association, Charles L. Pack, President, Lakewood, N. J. The American Geographic Society, Washington, D. C. There are many forest, fish and game protective associations in different states but they are too numerous to mention. There are many Audubon Societies, named after the great American naturalist, John James Audubon, which are particularly interested in the protection of birds. There are also numerous local antiquarian societies devoted to the preservation of ancient landmarks. One of our most esteemed correspondent societies in the latter field is the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, with headquarters in Boston, Mass. For Government literature on these subjects, we would advise you to write to the Honorable The Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C., and to Dr. George Otis Smith, Director of the United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C., asking them for all free publications concerning National Parks and National Monuments. Outside of the publications of the National Government, you will probably get more general information on these subjects from our Annual Reports than from any other source. We trust that the information which we are sending you will reach you. The uncertainty of trans-Atlantic mail service is a great impediment. Yours truly, THE AMERICAN SCENIC AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY By the Secretary. NEW YORK STATE RESERVATIONS Under this general heading we give a recapitulation of all the New York State properties which are preserved as public parks and monuments* on account of their scenic, historic and scientific interests, so far as we know them. They are mentioned in the order of their creation. 1849. Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, comprising about six acres. Originally purchased by the Land Commissioners. Subsequently put in hands of ten Trustees appointed by the Gov ernor. 1879. Newtown Battlefield Reservation, in the towns of Emira and Ashland. Comprising about 16 acres about six miles southeast of Elmira City. Original monument erected in 1879, on plot donated by Alfred Searles. Fifteen acres additional given in May, 1912, by his daughter, Mrs. Hattie F. Elliott. Made a State Reservation by chapter 167 of the laws of 1913. Administered by five Commissioners appointed by the Governor. 1883. Niagara State Reservation, comprising 112 acres of land and 300 acres of land under water. Created by chapter 336 of the laws of 1883. Administered by five Commissioners appointed by the Governor. (See index.) 1885. Adirondack Forest Preserve, comprising 1,701,894 acres in the Adirondack Mountains. Created by a series of laws beginning with chapter 283 of the laws of 1885. Administered by the State Conservation Commission. (See index.) 1885. Catskill Forest Preserve, comprising 110,970 acres in the Catskill Mountains. Created by chapter 283 of the laws of 1885 and subsequent laws. Administered by the State Conservation Commission. (See index.) 1887. Senate House, Kingston. Purchased by the State Trustees of Public Buildings pursuant to chapter 134 of the laws of 1887. Administered by the Trustees of Public Buildings. 1892. Fire Island State Park on Fire Island and adjacent shore, on the south side of Long Island. Comprising about 118 acres of land orginally purchased by the State in 1892 and ratified by chapter 111 of the laws of 1893, for a quarantine station. Erected into a State Park by chapter 474 of the laws of 1908. It is administered by five Commissioners appointed by the Governor. 1895. Saratoga Battle Monument, Schuylerville. Comprising about two acres. Accepted by the State by chapter 555 of the laws of 1895. In the custody of the State Comptroller. 1895. John Brown Farm. North Elba. Comprising 243 acres, given to the State by Henry Clews and others in 1895, and accepted by chapter 116 of the laws of 1896. Really a part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Administered by the State Conservation Commission. 1896. Grant Cottage, Mount MacGregor. Not owned by the State but maintained by it, pursuant to chapter 667 of the laws of 1896. Belongs to the Mount MacGregor Memorial Association. 1896. St. Lawrence Reservation, comprising about 181 acres, consisting of islands in and lands along the St. Lawrence River. Created by chapter 802 of the laws of 1896. Administered by the State Conservation Commission. *1897. Stony Point Battlefield, at Stony Point on the Hudson River. Comprising 35 acres. Created by chapter 764 of the laws of 1897, passed at the instance of the American Scenic and His * Corresponding to the National Parks and National Monuments, q. v. list has been verified (except as to acreage) by the Comptroller's office. This |