- December 17, 1929 – JSA to D. A. Loomis (Lake George Steamboat Company)
Dear Mr. Loomis:
Looking over some papers last evening, I found some letters exchanged between you and me in 1916, copies of which I am enclosing with the thought that you may also like to read them.
I recall with much satisfaction the hearty support you gave my efforts to protect the State Islands, and the importance of that work is not plainly shown on many of the islands where valuable portions were saved by rip-rapping the shore. These loose stone walls have now weathered and appear to be a natural part of the islands, as we believed and hoped they would be. It is regrettable that the Conservation Commission neglected to complete the work, and while I have called it to their attention from time to time, I hope I may be able to take up this problem again more vigorously some time in the future.
At present I am deeply concerned in permanently protecting the Paradise Bay land on the east side of the Narrows. As you probably know, after a long uphlll fight the Tongue Mountain peninsula from Sabbath Day appoint around to Northwest Bay Creek has been put in the hands of the state for protection, with the exception of the Amphitheater Bay, and this has been under contract for several years with the State, and should eventually be taken over. The geographic features of the Paradise Bay section are very favorable, since the owner only uses the extreme south portion of his property, and could retain virtually all of his improvements, 5,000 acres of land and two miles of shore, and still allow the State to preserve the wild beauty of the Paradise Bay land and the shore north which would still be available to the present owner. The State would be continuing in perpetuity the protection which the owner now is giving only temporarily. As you know, the Narrows for may years has been a thoroughfare full of people and the public use of this area will increase, and the camping colony on the islands should have a mainland contact. No doubt you have observed the conflict that always follows an unnatural division of property and this situation is susceptible of great improvement – by better protecting both the private and the state’s interest. At present the public are landed on the dock directly in front of the owner’s private camp, and a dock should be built some distance away on State land and the private owner be allowed to maintain the privacy of his place without seriously interfering with the public interest.
There are economic reasons why the State should act very promptly in the acquisition of this land and in view of your familiarity with that section, and sympathy with its preservation, I am encouraged to believe that you will be interested I doing what you can to help this effort.
The funds have been available for two or three years that could have been used by the Conservation Commission for acquiring this land, but for reasons best known to them, no serious attempt has been made in that direction. It therefore appears necessary to introduce a bill this year, appropriating money for the specific purpose of preserving this famous spot, and the State and national organizations which supported this effort in 1923 and 1924 are again being appealed to for their assistance. I hope you will find yourself in sympathy with this effort and give it such attention as you may think helpful.
With compliments of the Season and with best wishes,
Cordially yours,
JSApperson