The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-11-05
THE FORESTS OF GARRETT COUNTY
Garrett County as Seen in the Report
of the MARYLAND State Board of
Forestry

county is at the present time more than
double that of anv other country in the
State. 1t is not only the largest county,
but has the largest area of forests, and
since there is so large a portion of
mountain land better adapted for
growing timber than any other purpose,
timber production must continue to be
one of its chief sources of revenue. A
forest survey of the County was made
during 1908 and 1909 and furnishes the
basis of this report. 1t was found that,
while the timber resources of the
county were much more important than
any other natural resource, the revenue
from the woodlands was far below its
natural production, due to destructive
methods of cutting and the prevalence
of forest fires. 1t is the purpose of
this report to show the Importance of
the forest resources and how the highest
degree of usefulness for the forest
lands may be attained by conservative
management.
Garrett county is in the shape of a
right-angle at the northwest corner.
There are four prominent mountain
ridges in the county, all having
northeasterly and southwesterly trend.
The most important is Backbone
Mountain and it's continuation as Big
Savage Mountain, the two being
separated by the gorge of the Savage
River. This ridge attains an elevation
of about 3400 feet in the southwestern
end of the county with an average
height of nearly 5000 feet throughout
its length For about half its length it
separates the drainage of the Potomac
River from that of the Youghiogheny
River, tributary of the Monongahela
River. Meadow Mountain, the next
ridge to the west of Backbone Mountain
and Big Savage Mountain, extends
about half way across the county, hav
ing an average elevation of about $500
feet. 1t is characterized by an even
out line as viewed IN profile and is more
or less fiat topped, yielding soil of
sufficient depth in some places for farm
lands. In consequence, some clear
ings extend over the crest of the noun
tain, which otherwise is we'll wooded.
Between Meadow Mountain and Big
Savage Mountain is a succession of
irregular shaped hills, densely wooded.
Negro Mountain lies to the west of
Meadow Mountain and has about the
same elevation. Both extend from the
Pennsylvania line southwestward to a
junction point near Thayerville where
Cherry Creek flows into Deep Creek.
Winding Ridge with its extension OF
hills along the Youghlogheny River
forms the fourth principal elevation IN
the county. This ridge is less marked
because of a lower elevation and
numerous breaks, in which it contrasts
sharply with Meadow and Negro
Mountains. The southern boundary of
the county is natural one formed by
the Potomac River. While the county
has no navigable waters, there is an
abundance of streams, some of which
have great water power possibilities, as
yet undeveloped. With the exception
of glade lands all the soils of the county
will support a good timber growth.
The soil along the crest of the noun
tains is generally thin and less pro-
ductive, but on the lower slopes and in
the valleys is invariably found a sandy
loan of considerable depth. The best
agricultural soils are in the valleys be-
tween Backbone Mountain on the one
side and Hoop Pole Ridge and Meadow
Mountain on the other, and also be-
tween Negro Mountain and Winding
Ridge. These are the shale and sand
stone soils of the Hampshire and
Jennings formations. 1t is in these
sections that most of the clearing has
been done. Woodland here sells for $40
to SIS per acre after the timber has
been cut. Land in other sections not
suited for agricultural uses has been
sold for so cents to 81. so per acre after
the merchantable timber and mine props
were removed The average price,
however, is much higher than this.
Land once cleared is seldom allowed to
grow up again in forests. and some
clearing is constantly going on. 1t is
estimated that 1000 acres of land has
been cleared in the past five years.
The glade lands occupy considerable
areas in the central and western parts
of the county. These are upland swamps
devoid of tree growth, covered with a
growth of coarse grass, making them
favorite grazing ground upon which
hundreds of cattle and sheep feed during
the summer. During the wet season
the glades are practically covered with
water. Where the glades have been
thoroughly drained they make good
farm land
The different types of land in the
county may be divided into farm land,
woodland, and glades. Since the settle
ment of the county, the clearing of
land has gone steadily forward, with
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