" of One of the more spectacular of the numerous rock-holes the plateau of Coeymans limestone has been cleared of stones, soil and rubbish, and has become the object of interested attention.. In May, 1916, we set out 3,000 trees in the nursery and planted 600 larger trees in desirable places for landscape effect. Need of Proper Buildings for a Labor Center We have asked the Legislature for funds with which to repair the old cottage at the so-called Labor Center or to build a new one suitable for housing the employes of the park. It is always difficult to get laborers for the park because there is no place in or near the park where workmen can be boarded conveniently and economically. In July and August, 1916, partly for lack of these accommodations, it was almost impossible to induce workmen to come to the park, and for a time it became necessary to abandon work almost completely and confine ourselves to policing the park and making a small amount of road repairs. Visitors We have no means of learning accurately the number of visitors to the park. The Superintendent has kept a memorandum of his count of persons actually seen, but we calculate that at least onefourth as many more visitors are not seen by him. We estimate that the number of visitors during the year ended December 31, 1916, was about the same as during the preceding year, that is to say, about 12,000. The most notable group of visitors is mentioned under the next heading. Visit of State Geologists On September 5, 1916, the State Geologists of Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Wisconsin, the Director and Chief Geologist of the Federal Survey, together with the staff of the New York Geological Survey and a few invited guests who were in attendance at the meeting of the Association of American State Geologists at Albany, visited John Boyd Thacher Park. Dr. John M. Clarke, State Geologist of New York and Director of the State Museum, acted as leader of the field-trip, which was the first of a series made during the convention. The excursion was made by motor-bus from Albany to the Indian Ladder where the Helderberg escarpment presents such excellent opportunities for observation and study. Dr. Clarke, Dr. R. Ruedemann and Dr. E. O. Ulrich pointed out the minor sub-divisions of the formations, and the members of the party discussed the reasons for the subdivisions and for some recent changes in nomenclature. Contacts between the Indian Ladder beds (Hudson River) and Brayman shales, and between the Brayman shales and Manlius limestones were studied and the cause of the brecciated character of the beds was considered. Upon reaching the summit of the Indian Ladder road, the visitors surveyed the beautiful scenic prospect from John Boyd Thacher Park, and then proceeded toward Thompson's Lake. On this ride the party observed the karst topography which is developed where the Onondaga limestone reaches the surface. Thompson's Lake is believed to rest in a solution basin from which the water drains through underground passages. At Altamont the party was entertained at tea by Mrs. John Boyd Thacher, who gave John Boyd Thacher Park to the State of New York in memory of her husband. The territory visited is classic ground for geologists, and the visitors expressed themselves as highly delighted with the trip. In the evening the party assembled in the office of the Director of the New York Survey at Albany for a conference. On September 6, 7 and 8 the party visited successively the Saratoga Springs State Reservation, the Cryptozoan Ledge near by, the State Reservation at Crown Point, the Au Sable Chasm, Valeour Island, and other sites which are historic and picturesque as well as of geological interest. No Man's Land In January and February, 1916, the Superintendent spent much time in research with a view to learning the ownership of the face of the limestone cliffs forming the eastern face of John Boyd Thacher Park. The State's title to the land forming the park on the plateaus above the escarpment runs only to the edge of that portion of the cliffs south of the Indian Ladder road. Along the face of these cliffs, south of the road, and about a hundred feet from the top, there is a precarious foot-path called the Bear Trail, leading to several physical features particularly interesting geologically and scenically. It is desirable that this trail be improved so as to make it safer and more easy of access, but we would not feel warranted in expending State funds thereon unless the State owned it or had a legal right of way upon it. For the purpose of ascertaining the ownership, we instituted our inquiry. An examination of the deeds conveying property on the low-land beneath the cliffs indicates that the titles extended not to the top edge of the cliffs where the State's title begins, but only to the foot of the talus slope. Back in 1830 this interval between the boundary lines of the low-land and the high-land owners was called "the Commons or No Man's Land." Title to this No Man's Land appears to vest in the heirs of Patroon Kiliaen van Rensselaer, now represented by the Van Rensselaer Land Company of Albany. In March, 1916, we approached the representatives of the Van Rensselaer Land Co., with a view to eliciting an expression of their disposition with respect to conveying to the State either the fee-simple to or the right-of-way over the area including the face of the cliffs and comprising, roughly speaking, from 150 to 200 acres. The land company still has the matter under consideration. Financial Statement of State Funds Following is a statement of moneys received and disbursed on account of John Boyd Thacher Park during the year ended December 31, 1916: Aug. 10. Franklin Secor, refreshment privilege, ice, etc.. $45 00 30 00 25 00 7 00 20 35 $127 35 Battle Island Park is a tract of about 200 acres on the left bank of the Oswego River in the town of Granby, Oswego County, N. Y. It was given to the State in 1916 by Mr. Frederick A. Emerick of Oswego, and was accepted by chapter 308 of the laws of 1916. By the terms of the act of acceptance, Mr. Emerick retains his tenancy and use of the property and right to make improvements thereon for a period of two years from the date of the conveyance. The conveyance is dated April 8, 1916, and the act accepting it became a law by the Governor's signature on April 25, 1916. The law provides that the lands shall be forever |