The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-12-05
OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS
A Correspondent Discusses Poll
tics, Forestry, Roads and
Schools.
OUR FORESTS FAST DISAPPEARING.
Something Should Be Done to Protect Our
Native Timber-Roads Given Attention
and Our Public School System Hauled
Over the Goals.

- SAtS i&HAuCA VI 1iiC bbi-lNAN-
Your recent invitation requesting
correspondence strikes me as the
proper plan to instruct and interest
your many readers.
The stalwart Republicans of Gar
rett county are to be congratulated
upon their last and greatest victory,
as 1t was won under local leadership.
The REPUBLICAN can Justly claim
much credit for the zeal, energy and
intelligence displayed in pushing the
press to the front, educating and en-
tightening our people upon the de-
vious devices of Democracy in trying
to defraud the voters of their rights;
and now with victory the duties, dan
gers and difficulties of leadership and
government of our county affairs will
largely devolve upon the press. All
Republicans are leaders and should
offer advice and suggestions for, lin
many councils is much wisdom
The protection of our forests, the
improvements of our schools and the
betterment of our roads are most i'm
portant matters and demand the i'm
mediate attention of our people. If
legislation is required to protect
these interests action should be taken
to secure it,
Garrett county, once famous for
her fine and extensive forests, produc-
ing every kind of the most valuable
timbers will soon be importing lum-
Der. A number of large corporations
are now operating in this county and
it is believed in five years our noun
tains will be stripped of their virgin
forests. Many of the states are tax
ing action to preserve and protect
their forests. The government has
reserved large tracts of timber in the
territories. 1t is predicted by late
Secretary of Agriculture at the pres
ent rate of consumption and destruc-
ton of our forests in less than one
hundred years the United States will
be barren, sterile and waterless, not
producing enough to sustain present
population. Certainly our local
streams and springs are drying up,
our rivers so small and shallow that
even the fish are dying or deserving
them.
Something should and could be
done at least to protect our splendid
maple sugar groves. If properly de-
veloped the sugar crop of our county
would be worth at least $4,000 an
nually. Many of our farmers are sell
ing their trees and lumbermen are
manufacturing them. This wanton
wastage of our most valuable and
beautiful tree is greatly to be de-
plored-the growth and glory of cen
turtles destroyed for paltry pittance.
Garrett county, covering an area
half as large as some states, sparcely
settled, with large areas of rough
mountain lands, with comparative
OclA DooiS. lldS lCsOlllCCS
ly known or developed, requires skill
full and careful road building, but the
wisdom and intelligence of our peo-
pie demand some immediate improve
ment. Agitation and discussion will
suggest some better system of max
ing and working our roads. The
value of our lands will be greatly in
creased, desirable migration secured,
the cost of transporting our products
to market largely decreased by secur-
ing better highways. Our roads,
originally laid out without system or
science, can hardly be repaired with
out great wastage. If they were
properly located or graded the money
expended upon them would place
them in mach better condition.
Our public schools are a disgrace
to the State, a reflection upon the
intelligence of our people, a wrong
and an outrage upon the innocent
and unprotected children, who are
growing up in ignorance in this en-
lightened and progressive age. The
last Democratic State Convention
suggested commission to investigate
the condition of our schools and re-
port to the next Legislature. This is
adding insult to injury. What is
wanted and demanded is intelligence
and integrity in their management.
The money is wasted, inefficiency
and decentralization rapidly destroy
ing the system. No other community
would be so patient and long suffer-
ing. The petty positions of trustees
are peddled out by these political
hucksters. For pure and simple,
stupid insolence commend me to the
Maryland State school authorities.
No wonder Democracy died. It's
leprous and putrid remains are now
ripe for interment.
1t is asserted that the people have
no remedy for for such a shameful
state of affairs. Well, if such is the
fact the county commissioners should
refuse to lew the funds The DeoDle