The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-01-04
FORESTRY IN MARYLAND.
Paper by William Bullock ClarK,
State GeOlOgist of Maryland.

protect her forest interests. By an early
statute the malicious setting on fire of
any woods is punishable by a fine in a
few counties, but as no special provision
is made to enforce it the law affords in
adequate protection and can never COM
pletely control the evil. Atthe last ses-
sion OF the general assembly a general
law was introduced but received little
support from the states representa-
tives With the passage of progressive
legislation elsewhere and the recogni-
ton on the part of many intelligent citi-
zens that the states forest wealth is
being rapidly depleted, there is evidence
at the present time of a more aroused
pubic interest than in the past, and the
day is not far off when Maryland will
take her place with the other states in
placing adequate forest laws on her
statute books. 1t is coming to be real
lied that not only should the remnants
Of our present forests be preserved, but
intelligent treatment should be given to
the large deforested areas that cannot
in all probability be made available for
for any other purposes. An educational
campaign is under way that is adding
many recruits to the forestry movement.
While Maryland has been thus back
ward in passing adequate laws to con-
serve its forest wealth, systematic in
vestigations Of its forest conditions have
been under way for the past six or seven
years. In 1896 the state made provision
for the establishment of a State Geolog-
ical and Economic Survey, and early in
its career this bureau arranged for CO.
operative survey Of the wooded areas of
the several counties with the then Blu
reau of Forestry of the United States
Department of Agriculture. The topo-
graphical survey of the state was al
ready well advanced and the experts de-
tailed by the national bureau plated the
results of their field observations on the
detailed maps at their disposal This
important work, which has been carried
on at intervals since it was first inaugu-
rated, has already resulted in the map
ping of the wooded areas of several
counties, and there is every assurance
that the entire state will ultimately be
mapped in this way.
Investigations to date have been COM
pleted for Garrett, Allegany, Cecil, St
Mary's, Calvert, Worcester, Kent, and
Hartford cOunties-eight of the twenty
three counties of the state. Reports
giving detailed account of the forest
conditions have already been issued by
the Maryland Geological Survey for Gar
rett, Allegany, and Cecil counties, while
the manuscripts relating to St. Mary's
and Calvert counties are awaiting pub
LEGATION. 4 forest map of Worcester
county showing the Commercial types
has already been printed, on the scale of
one mile to the inch. The forest types
are represented on the map in different
colors and a convention is introduced
showing whether the trees are Young,
poles" or ''merchantable. "
1t is believed that this detailed inves-
tigation of the forest resources of the
state will afford a basis for more in
telHgent treatment of the forest re-
sources than would otherwise have been
possible. The information will be at
hand for the establishment of state for
est preserves whenever Maryland is
ready to segregate through gift, or pur-
chase tracts for this purpose To the
investor the data thus rendered avail
aqle will be of the greatest service. Of
chief Importance, however, will be the
information given in these publications
to the land owner in every county as to
the best treatment to be accorded to his
wood lands
These Investigations, however, would
possess intellectually greater value and
produce effects far more lasting if the
state would make provision fora forest
err who could be consulted at all times by
the people of the state, and who, with
the information furnished by the reports
anu maps, COull Instruct INOSG teSlfOuS
of introducing practical methods in the
handling Of their woodlands, and es-
pecially in the reorestation Of tracts
but lately cut down. Proper protection
against fire must also be secured by the
designation Of fire wardens for the sew
cral counties who in emergencies could
secure helpers and who would neces-
sarily be under the control Of the state
forester. When the amount of timber
annually destroyed by fire equals in val
ue that secured by the numbering inter-
ests, it is high time that the same strin-
gent laws should be passed in Maryland
that have been found so efficient in 9TH
err states. There is no question that
Maryland could add enormously to her
material resources in a comparatively
few years by adopting those measures
which 1.-THE experience of other coun-
tries and in recent years the experience
of MANY of our own states has shown to