No. 103. IN ASSEMBLY, MAY 18, 1886. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. STATE OF NEW YORK: OFFICE OF THE FOREST COMMISSION, Hon. JAMES W. HUSTED, ALBANY, N. Y., May 18, 1886. Speaker of the Assembly: SIR. We have the honor herewith to transmit to the Legislature the following report as a supplement to the one of January 29, 1886. We are, respectfully yours, TOWNSEND COX, SHERMAN W. KNEVALS, Commissioners. To the Legislature of the State of New York: In pursuance of a requirement of the law, the Forest Commission made a report to your honorable body in January last. As the Commission had then been in existence only a few months that report was necessarily brief, and they now avail themselves of the favor asked and granted at that time to substitute the following, which is respectfully submitted herewith, as being the First Annual Report of the Forest Commission: ORGANIZATION. The Act of Legislature creating the present Commission was passed May 15, 1885, and in the same month Theodore B. Basselin was appointed a commissioner. Subsequently, and on or about the 15th day of September, 1885, the Commission was completed by the appointment of Townsend Cox and Sherman W. Knevals. The first meeting of the Commission was held on the 23d day of September, 1885, at which time the Commissioners divided themselves by lot in pursuance of law, Theodore B. Basselin drawing the term of two years, Townsend Cox the term of four years and Sherman W. Knevals the term of six years, from February 1, 1886. Before proceeding further it may be well to reprint here the text of the law under which the Commission is to act, as it will be necessary in the following pages to refer occasionally to certain paragraphs: LAWS OF NEW YORK, 1885, CHAPTER 283. AN ACT to establish a forest commission, and to define its powers and duties, and for the preservation of the forests. PASSED May 15, 1885; three-fifths being present. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. There shall be a forest commission which shall consist of three persons who shall be styled forest commissioners, and 297414 |