The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-04-05
FORESTRY BILL PASSES
Important Measure II Now Up To
Governor Warfield.

A special from Annapolis to the Balti-
more Sun of last Sunday says of bill
passed by the Legislature on Saturday:
"A bill of Importance TO the State
passed the House last Saturday and
went to the Governor for his signature.
This is Senator Browns bill establishing
State Board of Forestry to promote
forest interests and arborculture in
Maryland. The board is to consist of
seven members, including the Governor,
Comptroller, president of the Johns
Hopkins University, president of the
Maryland Agricultural College, the
State GeOlogist and two others to be
appointed by the Governor They are
to serve for term of two years with
out compensation.
THE bill further provides for the APP
pointment by the board for a State
Forester at salary of $4,000 a year.
One section of the bill follows:
And be it enacted, That the State
Board of Forestry shall have the power
to purchase lands in the name of the
State, suitable for forest culture and
reserves, using for such purposes any
surplus money not otherwise appropri-
ated which may be standing to the cred
it of the Forest Reserve Fund: and to
make all rules and regulations govern
ing State reserves; and that the Cover
nor of the State is authorized upon the
recommendation of said State Board of
Forestry to accept gifts of land to the
State, the same to be held, protected
and administered by the State Board Of
Forestry as State forest reserve, and to
be used so as to demonstrate the practi-
cal utility of timber culture and as a
breeding place for game. Such gifts
must be absolute, except for the reser-
walton Of all mineral and mining rights
over and under said lands and stipula-
ton that they shall be administered as
State forest reserves, and the Attorney
General of the State is directed to see
that all the deeds to the State of lands
mentioned about are properly executed
before the gift is accepted.
The State Forester may. under
authority from the Governor, commits
sion forest wardens to assist in guard
ing the forest interests. Heavy penal
ties for violations of the forest laws are
provided.
"The bill appropriates SO, 800 a year
for two years for the expenses of the
forestry commission, which is created
by the bill
Mr.. Brown lives in Garrett, where
the lumber interests are large and where
the fountain head of many streams are
situated. He finds that the forests of
his county, which are the finest and
most extensive in the State, are rapidly
disappearing before the sawmill He
is satisfied that the State should own
large forest preserves which would not
only be a source Of profit to the State
in the future, but would also preserve
game birds and animals from extermi-
nation.
Senator Brown has the assurance Of
gift to the State of fine body Of
young timber land near Oakland, in
Garrett county. The land is accessible
and worth $40 to SIS an acre and in
extent is about three square miles.
Senator Brown believes this tract
will make a splendid beginning for
forest reserve and a nursery and refuge
for game. In future years he hopes,
after the advantage Of the forest re-
serve is demonstrated, the State will
purchase large tracts Of cheap lands in
various counties for the growth of trees
and for game preserves.