The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-02-01
FOREST RESERVATION PLANNED.
Senator Brown of Garrett County in
PRODUCES a Bill.

| HAal y idiIu S4oIeStS, winch nave surfer
ed severely in recent years from the
inroads of lumbermen, have aroused the
interest of Senator McCulloh Brown of
Garrett county, and he has introduced
in the Legislature bill providing for a
State Forestry Board, whose duties will
be to promote the planting and preser-
walton of trees. This board is to consist
of seven members, including the Gov
ernor, Comptroller, president of Johns
Hopkins University, president of the
Maryland Agricultural College, State
Geologist and two practical lumbermen
engaged in the manufacture of lumber
within the State, who shall be appointed
by the Governor for a term of two
year.
The are to serve without pay. Pro-
| vision is made for State forester, whose
salary shall not exceed $1,000 a year and
expenses. The board is authorized to
purchase lands suitable for forestry cul-
ture and reserves, using such money not
otherwise appropriated which may be
standing to the credit of the forest re-
serve fund. Upon recommendation of
the State forester, the Governor is to
appoint such forest wardens as are nee
essary, to serve for two years without
salary, but shall receive such compensa-
ton as the forester shall allow for SER
vices actually rendered The bill appro-
PIRATES So, 800 annually to carry out it's
provisions.
1t is understood I that if the bill be-
comes law private parties will donate
to the State a considerable tract of
woodland in Garrett county as nucleus
for system of State forest reserves.
This land has been surveyed and exam
ined by the United States Agricultural
Department, who have reported that it
is well adapted for the purpose of de-
monstrating what can be done by intel
ligent and systematic effort working on
the trained lines laid down by modern
fOresters. 1t is possible that others may
follow this example, but even if they
do not there are many thousands of
completely or partially defOrested lands
in the State which are no longer valuable
for timber and are not suitable for cul-
tivation, and which might be purchased
for small sum per acre and turned
ever to the care of the Forestry Board
The money would not be sunk by the
State, as the land would constantly be
getting more valuable, and the timber,
when ripe, could be sold, the money 60
ing to purchase more land or to defray
| other expenses of the board Pennsyl-
vania has such a system and has large
forest reserves in different parts of the
State, comprising, all told, about 700, =
900 acres. There is in thatIStaSe a De-
partment Of Forestry which ranks in rec
ognized Importance with those of Edu-
cation, Agriculture and Internal Affairs.
Experimental plantations have been
established for the cultivation of white
pine and black walnut and it is proposed
to plant large areas of worked-out min
eral lands in scrub pine, which is becom-
ing esteemed as a source Of wood pulp.
A forest academy has been opened in
the South Mountain reservation at
which there were 20 students last year
receiving elementary forest instruction.
This reservation has also been utilized
as a sanatorium for the cure of incipient
cases of tuberculosis and the results
have, in many instances, been remark
able. There is at present. d strong
movement for State sanatorium here
and it might be well for those interested
to combine their efforts with those of
Senator Brown, for what better location
for cottage settlement for such in
valids could be found than a State forest
reservation in the mountains of Garrett
county?
Pennsylvania is however, not alone in
the promotion of forestry, for several
States have engaged in the reformation
of large areas, and the general govern
ment, as is well known, has many for
est reservations and employs a large
number of experts, both to care for
these and to give assistance to land
owners who wish to plant new forests
or give better care to those they now
have. This time is ripe for Maryland
to move in the matter, and Senator
Browns bill should be passed.