People v. Brooklyn Cooperage Co. facts for kids

People v. the Brooklyn Cooperage Company was an important early legal battle about how forests should be managed and how trees should be cut down in the Adirondack Park. This case involved the State of New York, Cornell University, and a famous lawyer named Louis Marshall in the early 1900s. It helped shape how we protect forests today.

How It All Started

In 1898, the New York State Legislature decided to create a new school. This school was the New York State College of Forestry at Cornell. It was set up with the help of William F. Fox and Governor Frank S. Black.

Cornell University was given $165,000 to buy about 30,000 acres (about 120 square kilometers) of land. This land was in the Adirondack forests. The idea was to use it for experiments in forestry, which is the science of managing forests.

The new college was led by Dean Bernhard Fernow. He used to be in charge of forestry for the United States government. Dean Fernow quickly set up a special demonstration forest near a place called Axton, New York.

Fernow's Plan and the Company

Dean Fernow's plan was to cut down all the trees in sections over 15 years. This method is called clearcutting. After cutting, he planned to plant new evergreen trees.

The college only received $10,000 a year from the state. This wasn't enough money for their big plans. So, Cornell made a deal with the Brooklyn Cooperage Company.

Under their agreement, Cornell kept 1,500 acres for its own use. The company bought a part of the timber from the rest of the land each year for 15 years. Most of the valuable red spruce trees had already been cut down. So, the company mainly used hardwood trees.

Fernow even built a 6-mile (about 10-kilometer) railroad track. This track helped deliver the cut logs to the company's factory in Tupper Lake. The Brooklyn Cooperage Company used the hardwood to make barrels. They also turned other wood into chemicals like methanol and charcoal.

The deal was very good for the company, but not so much for Cornell. Fernow did create the first tree nursery in New York State. However, Cornell didn't get enough money to replant all the areas that were clear-cut. Many of the new trees they planted, like Scots pine and Norway spruce, didn't grow well. This left large areas of the forest bare.

Why People Were Upset

The way the demonstration forest was being managed caused a lot of anger. People who owned land nearby, especially around Saranac Lake, were very unhappy.

Smoke from burning leftover branches and wood scraps filled the air. Also, Dean Fernow's way of dealing with local landowners made things worse.

People like Ellsworth Petty, who was an Adirondack guide, spoke out against the plan. He wrote many letters to the state government. Because of these letters, a special "Committee of the Adirondacks" was sent to visit the Axton site.

The committee looked at what was happening. They decided that the college had gone too far. They felt the college was doing more than what the state originally intended for forestry experiments.

The Big Lawsuit

The New York State College of Forestry at Cornell was closed in 1903. But the Brooklyn Cooperage Company still wanted Cornell to keep its part of the 15-year contract.

So, a lawsuit was started. It was called "People against the Brooklyn Cooperage Company." Cornell University was also involved in the case. The goal was to cancel the contract.

What Happened in Court

During the trial, a forest expert named Charles S. Chapman spoke for the people. He said that Dean Fernow made a mistake. Fernow had chosen to clear-cut the forest. Chapman believed Fernow should have used a different method. This method, called the "selection system," involves choosing only certain trees to cut down.

The first court agreed with "the people" and ruled against the Brooklyn Cooperage Company.

But the company didn't give up. They appealed the case to a higher court, the New York State Supreme Court. Edward M. Shepard represented the company, and Edward B. Whitney represented the people.

On July 12, 1906, the company lost again. Judge Kruse wrote the court's decision. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York agreed with the first court's decision. However, they did allow the company to try to argue their case again if they paid the court costs.

When Louis Marshall heard about the decision, he wrote about it. He questioned Fernow's approach, saying, "This 'tremendous' tract of thirty thousand acres was to be cut down 'flat' ... in order that the scientific foresters might start a new forest ... This is scientific forestry?"

What This Meant for Forests

The lawsuit and its outcome were very important. They helped shape how forests were managed in the United States for many years.

The 30,000 acres of forest land involved in the case were later given special protection. They became part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. This means they are now protected as "forever wild" land, where logging is not allowed.