The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-11-07
STATE AID FOR Our
PUBLIC ROADS.
GeogiCaI Survey Reports Great Halt
Years Progress.
AGRICULTURAL SOILS STUDIED.
System of WarJen Established To
Guard Against Forest Fires-Tin-
Der Seedlings For Farmers.

The semiannual meetings of the
State Geological Survey and State
Forestry Boards were held Friday
afternoon at the offices of the
Maryland Geological Survey at the
Johns Hopkins University. All
the members of the State Geoligi-
cal Survey Board, which includes
Governor War6eld, Comptroller
Atkinson, President Remsen, of
the Johns Hopkins University,
and President Sylvester, of the
Maryland Agricultural College,
are ex officio members of the State
Forestry Board, which also in
cludes Prof, William Bullock
Clark, State Geologist; ex.Gov. L.
E. Jackson and Mr.. Norman
James.
Professor Clark, chief Of the
Geological Survey, presented an
account of the surveys work dur
ing the last half year. The new
road map of the State in three
sheets, and new maps of three
nties-Baltimore Anne ARM
del and Dorchester-all of which
are in press, were submitted to the
board. On the State map, which
is or the scale of three miles to
the inch, the leading roads and
streams are shown together with
all cities, towns and villages. 1t
has been compiled and edited by
Prof. Edward B. Mathews, Assist
ant State Geologist.
With the close of this season.
field work about seveu-eighths of
the State will have been SURVEYED
for the base topographic map on
which is plated the distribution
of the geological formations, agri-
cultural soils and forest growth.
Somewhat more than one-half of
the State has already been survey
ed geo,ogically, while little more
than one-third of the agricultural
soils Of the State have been deter
mined and the results plated on
the base map.
The report on the highway work
of the survey was presented by
Chief Engineer Crosby, who said:
Up to date applications for State
aid have been received for more
than $50 miles of road, and I9t
miles have been surveyed. Plans
have been made for 1913 miles, and
estimates amounting to 1887, DOC
have been sent to the counties as
the probable cost Of these improve
ments. Contracts have been ap-
proved for SO sections Of road, to-
falling 50 miles and calling for an
expenditure of about $500, 600.
More than one-half of this work
has been completed up to October
I, and 54 sections, amounting to
Al miles, the total cost of which
was $257,2II.o6, have been accept
ed and settled for. 1t is hoped
that at least 80 more miles of road
may be fully completed by the end
of the present season.
In addition to the above has
been. the work on the Baltimore.
Washington road. Between II
and IS miles of this road have
been graded and drained, and
about eight miles of macadam
practically completed. The work
is still going and will be pushed
as long and as rapidly as weather
conditions will permit"
Mr.. F. w. Besley, the State
Forester, gave a report on the
summers work in forestry. He
said that the educational feature
of the work, with true forestry en-.
deavor as new as it is in thi:
State, must be an important one
He reported that during the sum
mer several lectures and addresse:
on forestry had been given before
various organizations. The way
in which these addresses were re
ceived indicated lively interes
in the subject and had helped tC
broaden the work. Articles in tn,
newspapers aud magazines were