Research

Scope and Content Note

These bound volumes contain resumes summarizing transactions, recommendations, and appraisals of lands for potential purchase for new state parks. These recommendations were made by the Conservation Commission in conjunction with laws of 1916 and 1917, by which land was acquired "for the use of all the people" through the sale of bonds. The recommendations were submitted to the Commissioners of the Land Office by the Conservation Commission, and upon approval of the recommendations or receipt of approved vouchers, the Comptroller could issue bonds or warrants for payment.

A memorandum in the series from Conservation Commissioner George D. Pratt to the Commissioners of the Land Office, dated December 14, 1917, outlines the procedure followed in compliance with these two laws. The recommendations were submitted in numerical order. They consisted of duplicate copies of letters making recommendations for purchase of particular pieces of property, and accompanying maps showing the location of the proposed purchase and its relationship to the general topography and state land in the vicinity. None of these maps is included in the series, and all of the records in the series are carbon copies. White copies are resumes of transactions and recommendations. Pink copies are reports of appraisers and foresters used to estimate land value. Documents of both types are identically numbered for transactions for the same land. Often a handwritten notation of approval of the appropriation, with date, appears on the white copies.

The series contains 510 short accounts of transactions. The resumes contain information on: location and present ownership of the land in question; costs to purchase; description of the land; estimated valuations; recommended purchase price; and types of timber located on the land.

Also included in the series are the following unnumbered materials: a memorandum on a court damage award on a claim filed by the Taggart Paper Company; correspondence regarding appointments made by the Conservation Commissioner to the position of Appraiser of Forest Lands; a procedural statement on the valuation of forest lands; and a memorandum on a private land purchase by the Oval Wood Dish Comany.