The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-11
Recommendations Submitted BY
the Conservation Commission.

The MARYLAND Conservation Commits
sion, consisting of B. N. Baker, William
Bullock Clarke and Edward Hirsh, has
submitted its first annual report to Gov
ernor Crothers.
After reviewing at length the national
resources of Maryland, including forests,
rock. mineral and coal deposits. soils,
water power and agricultural products,
the commission submits the following
recommendations
The establishment of State conserva-
ton bureau with an adequate annual APP
propriation to meet the expenses con-
nected with the propagation OF work
which is normally the function OF such an
organization. Similar bureaus have been
established in other States in accordance
with the plan proposed by the Natlonai
Conservation Commission and are prov
ing of much value in the development OF
the States national resources.
The continuation of the valuable work
is now under way by the following State
scientific bureaus, viz, the State Geolog-
ical and Economic Survey, the State Ag-
rcultural Experiment Station, the state
Board of Forestry, the State Shell tlsh
Commission. The State Weather Service,
and the State Board of Health. The re-
suits of their work have been widely COM
mented upon both at home and abroad,
and Mar, land has gained in recent years
a reputation for progress which 1t could
not otherwise have attained. The rela-
tivelv small amount which these bureaus
cost the State has been returned many
fold by the increased development OF the
natural resources with which they deal.
1t would be a good Investment for the
State to increase The amounts already APP
propriated to them.
The study OF the problem of the recla-
nation of the great swamp and marsh
areas adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay.
The drainage of these regions either I'M
der federal or State auspices would add
largely to the wealth OF the State. 1t is
important 10 know the character OF these
swamp and marsh lands and the cost OF
their reclamation. Much aid can be Sc
cured from the State Geological Survey
and the State Weather Service in the con-
duct of such an investigation and the
Water Resources Branch OF the United
States Geological Survey also stands
ready to co operate whenever the State
makes provision for the work. 1t IS inn
portant that engineering plans should be
prepared for the several areas IN order
that accurate information may be avail
able as to the cost entaled. If the States
should see fit to undertake the project at
her own expense, the sale OF the lands
thus reclaimed would ultimately relm-
burse the Safe Tor the outlay.
The acquisition on the part OF the State
at an early day of the deiorested areas
around the headwaters of the streams
afording our chief water supply since the
public health and industrial activities OF
the State depend on the preservation OF
their flow. Such lands can in most in
stances be purchased at small expense
and could be turned over to the State
Board of Forestry 10 administer as Stale
forester reservations. Several States are
to day acquiring such lands at State eX-
pense with a view to the preservation OF
the water resources. Maryland would be
greatly benefited by such a policy and
the commission strongly recommends an
adequate appropriation to this end.
Dealing with the reclamation OF swamp
lands and the demonstration of cut-over
lands, and i'll all other related matters,
The policy of cooperation between the
State and federal governments be adopted
and consistently pursued. The resources
involved depend primarily on natural
supply and movement of running waters,
and since nearly all the inland waters of
Maryland are interstate, and are largely
connected through head-waters and
source streams with navigation over which
vision, 1t is especially desirable that the
interests of the people of the State and of
the entire country should be considered
jointly. This policy, necessary for the
ultimate protection Of the interests of the
State, is in accord with the principle
adopted by the National Conservation
Commission that mo agency, State, fed
eral corporate or private. can do the
work alone"
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