stitutional Convention rejected it, and the real policy was left as before, with some slight changes as to procedure.

It seems to me the difficulty is, confusion of thought in the public mind in analyzing the proposition. This confusion is as between the aesthetic value of the Adirondacks and the utility value, and the confusion is due to the fact that the public is not quite clear as to the use they desire to have made of the Adirondacks, and this problem will never be solved until the people of the state have a clear point of view as to whether the Forest Preserve is to be used for park purposes or as a Forest Preserve. The two are not synonymous. The difficulty is, we are trying to do two things that cannot be done at the same time. In other words, the whole Forest Preserve cannot be a public park without any interference whatever, and at the same time a Forest Preserve which implies governmental regulation.

The problem of clearing up this confusion in thought, requires courage and education, in order to clear up the hostile attitude at present in the public mind and to educate the public along the lines of a proper policy in regard to the Adirondacks.

I have already referred to the enlargement of the state's holdings, and have also spoken along the line of bringing home the importance of giving serious consideration to this question of public policy.

Another suggested line of improvement which I would bring to your attention is a wider extension of the methods of forest protection through telephones, observation towers and patrols.

Another practical suggestion is, gradual introduction of simple forestry methods permitting taking out of first growth and development of second growth. The difficulty of introducing forestry methods into the Forest Preserve is due to the lack of confidence of the general public in the administration of the work. The public, generally, don't seem to be willing to trust any department of the state government to take hold of this proposition, and don't apparently believe that we are going to get efficient results. On the other hand, they have always claimed there would be only one result, and that is the practical denuding of the whole Adirondack park. A great many people are of the

opinion that if the state took hold of this proposition and attempted to carry it out it would result in a return to conditions that existed before the constitutional prohibition of 1894. This apprehension must be met by a courageous plan of education, and by bringing home to our citizens that a tree grows to maturity and then dies, and that it should be harvested like any other natural crop. We need a better understanding among the people generally of what scientific forestry really means.

I think, gentlemen, for the reasons I have stated, that this problem is one of the big problems before the people of the state at the present time; and it is a constructive proposition. The people are tired of destructive propositions and policies; the people are tired of investigations; the people are tired of somebody tearing down somebody else. They are looking for constructive policies, policies that give assurance of doing some practical good for the benefit of all the people of the state.

As I said before, I have no well defined plan in mind; nor is what I have said spoken in any spirit of criticism of the present system of the Forest Preserve. I know Mr. Pratt and like him and believe he is doing what he thinks is entirely proper within the confines of the present constitutional provision in regard to the Forest Preserve.

Gentlemen, if I have inspired thought that may ultimately work out a plan that will at the same time permit scientific forestry, create an efficient system of water storage, afford a revenue to the state, and protect the Forest Preserve as a playground and recreation ground for the whole people of the state for all time, I will have contributed in a small way to the solution of one of the most vital problems in our state government. (Applause.)

Now, gentlemen, I think that is the proposition. It may be impossible to work it out, but if we can only stir up the people to think about it I believe it can be brought about. I am simply going to leave this one question with you to think about. Here we have a great natural resource,-four million acres of land, timber and water,-belonging to the people of this state, one of the heritages that have come down to them for the last 150 years. Certain conditions exist there which they have created by the methods they have pursued with reference to the Adirondacks. Is it being ef

ficiently treated by the people of the state? I am talking to you as representatives of the people of the state. The Legislature does not create but the people themselves create the organic law of the state, and the responsibility is upon all the people of the state to answer this question: Are we, as a people, making the most of this great natural possibility? That is the proposition, gentlemen. I think it is a vital problem, and if I have in any way inspired thought along that particular line I will be more than satisfied.

THE TOASTMASTER: I am sure we are all quite in harmony with the views which the Secretary has expressed, and that he represents the advanced thought of Northern New York upon the subject to which he has addressed himself; and I believe he has been inspired more or less in his conclusions by his association with us through all these years

SECRETARY HUGO: Yes, I have.

THE TOASTMASTER: -and we hope ultimately his influence in government will prevail. I am sure he may count upon our support in this matter and in any other thing he undertakes. (Applause.)

Our next speaker is one of whom we all ought to be proud; a man from Northern New York. No man has had a better chance than I have had to observe him in his work during the last three years in the public office which he has filled so capably, and it gives me great pleasure now to introduce to you Speaker Sweet, of the New York State Assembly. (Applause.)

SPEAKER SWEET: Mr. President, and members of the Empire State Forest Products Association: When I accepted the invitation to be present with you to-night it was with the understanding that I should be relieved from taking any part in the program. However, I consented to come and make a few extemporaneous remarks. I want to say that I am pleased to be here, for one reason because I feel that I am really one of you, being in the paper business myself; and I am proud to say that this is one of the years in which we can feel that we have come into our own. (Applause.) Besides, I am glad to be here and express the sentiment which I know is shared by many, that you men,

representing the association which you do, contribute so largely to the industrial activities of our state in the way of lumber, pulp and paper.

I have been exceedingly interested in the remarks both of Secretary Hugo and of Mr. Clancy in extending to you the words of welcome to the City of Syracuse. I live in the shadow of the city and enjoy coming here, and, as a resident of a neighboring village, feel proud that your association has honored Central New York with this meeting.

I am much interested in what Secretary of State Hugo, has said, particularly in what he has said regarding the idea of the state utilizing its natural resources, because prior to the convening of the Constitutional Convention, it became my privilege to make somewhat of a study of the possibilities from a timber standpoint of the lands owned by the state. It has been my privilege to trail some portions of the Adirondacks. I have seen, what to me, represented a great asset, and I have had an opportunity to confer with the Conservation Commission of the past and the present, and also with some of the men who hold the lumberman in awe, as to what their responsibility was to the people of the state; because to waste is a sin; and I believe to-day in the State of New York taking such action as will result in providing a substantial revenue to our treasury from the Forest Preserve, along the lines that have been outlined here to-night. As it stands to-day, the people of the state are consenting to the loss of this opportunity, and I believe they should avail themselves of it. Since the referendum has been successfully considered by the people, in the election of last November, I sat in conference with those who I believe are vitally interested in the proposition of acquiring for the State Park $7,500,000 worth more of the Adirondack property. It seemed to me that, with the nucleus of the $7,500,000 now about to be made available by act of the Legislature, and the timber resources on the lands that the state already owns, there is a possibility of the state, in a comparatively short time, owning every acre of Adirondack forest land. According to the provisions for the expenditure of this $7,500,000 for the purchase of Adirondack lands, the acreage of the privately owned lands can be acquired as far as possible, to provide an asset of timber to be scientifically lumbered; and I believe that the majority

of the people of this state, under a proper system of education, will have confidence in the lumbermen of the North Country, and, under the regulations laid down by the Legislature, under the supervision of a commission-either the Conservation Commission or some other commission,-will be willing and glad to permit the taking and removal of the matured timber which is daily going to waste on the forest lands of the state. It is true that the waste is equal to the new growth every day of the year, and the figures which were compiled, through my own effort and the efforts of the last Conservation Commission, showed where a revenue, after the system once became thoroughly operative, could be brought to the state treasury amounting to upwards of $2,000,000 annually from this source. Now, through scientific lumbering, if $2,000,000 revenue can be made available annually, how long would it take to carry out the idea I previously advanced, the acquiring by the state of every acre in and the balance of the entire Adirondack forest? I believe, as Secretary Hugo has stated, that all this must be, and can be, accomplished through a proper educational campaign. I am not so sure but that it would be a good idea to invite to your gatherings of this kind, your annual meetings, the representatives of the press of our state, representatives of the Society for the Protection of the Adirondacks, representatives of the sporting clubs,-the Camp Fire Club and others; and I believe they would soon become convinced, by the intermingling of ideas and personalities, that they could trust the interests of our state with the carrying out of a plan to bring about the desired object, through a constitutional amendment to our present Constitution.

Another thought which has seemed pertinent to me to bring up at this time is the duty of the state to co-operate with the private interests in our forest land region in the question of reforestation. If more of those who now show such strenuous opposition from the great City of New York -and I think that is where most of the opposition emanates -could go into some of the private holdings and see the work of some of the lumber companies in their work of re forestation, a great deal of this bugaboo of "timber thievery" as it has been called in the past, would be dispelled. I