Pennsylvania Act 1927-168 — COOK FOREST STATE PARK

Act text

COOK FOREST STATE PARK
                 Act of Apr. 14, 1927, P.L. 295, No. 168              Cl. 32
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for the acquisition by the Department of Forests and
        Waters, in the name of the Commonwealth, of certain lands in
        Jefferson, Forest, and Clarion Counties, Pennsylvania,
        belonging to the A. Cook Sons Company, for use as a State
        Park and Forest Reservation; making an appropriation for said
        acquisition; providing for the management of said property by
        said department and defining the uses to which the property
        shall be put.

        Whereas, Under authority of an act of Assembly approved the
     fourteenth day of June, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, a
     commission was appointed by the Governor to investigate and
     report as to the advisability of purchase by the Commonwealth of
     seven thousand two hundred and nineteen acres of land of A. Cook
     Sons Company lying in Forest, Clarion, and Jefferson Counties,
     Pennsylvania, said lands to be set aside as a State park; and
        Whereas, The report of said commission recommended the
     purchase of seven thousand two hundred and nineteen acres by the
     Commonwealth, for use as a State park, at the sum or price of
     six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) cash, reserving the oil
     and gas with the right to remove the same; and
        Whereas, A corporation of the State of Pennsylvania, known as
     Cook Forest Association, has undertaken to procure subscriptions
     of money to assist in the purchase of said holdings of A. Cook
     Sons Company, for the purpose of conveying it to the
     Commonwealth for use as a State park and has secured
     subscriptions in the amount of about one hundred thousand
     dollars ($100,000); and
        Whereas, The amount necessary for said purchase is six
     hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($650,000); and
        Whereas, Said Cook Forest Association has offered to the
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that it will transfer to said
     Commonwealth its rights of purchase of said property and the
     contributions heretofore and hereafter obtained by it to assist
     in acquiring Cook Forest; and
        Whereas, It is recognized that the acquisition of said
     property by the Commonwealth, for the use of all of the people,
     will be of great value in furnishing recreation and
     opportunities for education and scientific study, as well as the
     monetary value to the people by reason of the increasing tourist
     trade which it will tend to bring to the people of Pennsylvania;
     therefore,

        Compiler's Note:  Section 303(b) of Act 18 of 1995, which
            created the Department of Conservation and Natural
            Resources and renamed the Department of Environmental
            Resouces as the Department of Environmental Protection,
            provided that the Department of Conservation and Natural
            Resources shall exercise the powers and duties conferred
            upon the Department of Forests and Waters by Act 168 of
            1927.
        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That for the purpose of
     preserving and perpetuating a portion of the original forests of
     Pennsylvania, particularly of the conifer family now largely
     extinct, in the interest of wholesome outdoor recreation, and
     the study and enjoyment of the same, to the people of the
     Commonwealth, for forestry conservation, and the preservation
     and maintenance of distinctive natural views and conditions, and
     the advantages to the people of the Commonwealth arising
     therefrom, and from the revenue of the tourist trade, the
     Department of Forests and Waters is hereby authorized to
     acquire, in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
     certain lands at and near Cooksburg in the counties of Forest,
     Clarion, and Jefferson, State of Pennsylvania, now belonging to
     the A. Cook Sons Company, comprising substantially seven
     thousand two hundred and nineteen acres, and referred to in the
     preamble hereof, the same to be laid out, preserved, and
     maintained as a public place or park, to be known and designated
     by the name of "Cook Forest Park": Provided, however, That in
     taking title to said lands the said department is authorized to
     except the oil and gas, as heretofore conveyed, with the right
     to remove the same in the ordinary and customary manner.
        Section 2.  The sum of four hundred and fifty thousand
     dollars ($450,000) is hereby appropriated to the Department of
     Forests and Waters for the purpose of purchasing of said
     property. No part of said consideration shall be paid until the
     title to said property, excepting the oil and gas as aforesaid,
     shall be approved by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth.
     And it is hereby made a condition precedent to the payment of
     said purchase money that Cook Forest Association shall pay into
     the Treasury of the Commonwealth the moneys heretofore and
     hereafter collected by it from the people for the purchase of
     said State park, as recited in the preamble of this act, which
     sum shall not be less than two hundred thousand dollars
     ($200,000), and is hereby appropriated to the Department of
     Forests and Waters to be applied towards the purchase of said
     property, the same to be applicable to said purchase under the
     direction of the Department of Forests and Waters.
        Section 3.  After the said property shall have passed into
     the possession of the Commonwealth, the Department of Forests
     and Waters shall have full control and supervision thereof, with
     power to adopt and carry into effect plans for the improvement,
     preservation and use thereof. The department may enforce such
     rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of this
     Commonwealth, as it may make for the protection of life and
     property, the maintenance of good order, and the carrying into
     effect the full and proper use of said property as a State park.
     The department shall also have power, with the approval of the
     Governor, to make and carry out such plans for the profitable
     utilization of the dead and down timber, and such other
     operations for the profitable employment of said lands, as may
     not be inconsistent with their full use as a State park, and as
     to the said department seems to be to the best interests of the
     Commonwealth. Any moneys derived therefrom shall be paid into
     the Treasury of the Commonwealth.
        Section 4.  The lands so vested in the Commonwealth of
     Pennsylvania under the provisions of this act, shall be exempt
     from taxation, except that said lands shall be subject to an
     annual charge for schools and roads in the township where said
     lands are located as may be provided by law for State forest
     lands.