Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-12-14

$50 rf.*t~ : = 49, y ~ -
The other day, up 10 Western Mary
land, b man stood "a 10 TO- Of d met.
81 tower, and looked around him al
the woods and mountains. The toyas
under him rose on -four stilt-lil<e ls,zs,
and was topped by small wooden
box with sides Of glass and wood les
windows gave him q vgyw Of forests
that still covered the hills as far as
his eye could see. A hundred ana
fifty thousand acres Of them coated
the mountains below tho peak where
the watch tower stood, and with his
glass the man could get pretty thor
ough view OF all Of them.
He had been climbing his tower each
morning and descending again at
night for the six or eight weeks that
The fire weather. lasted. On this
particular morning the air was clear,
and be chuckied with relief Is hts eye
took Ia The first OF the ranges about
him, for there was no smoke to cloud
Its clearnoss. Many another morning
one quick look 70 DIX It In his mind,
and he was at bis phone. His voice
went over the wires that led down the
side of the tower and on the clcarinRs,
and the nearest Forest Warden collect
ed his tools and was OF to a fire some
where within the thousands OF acres
that constituted his timbercd domain.
When he rcaeeed II, there was work.
The lookout know il; hence the chuckle
The recent chuclle, though, was
quickly smothercd. Down in corner,
noar clearing, . ring or two OF smoke
went up ia little, twisting splrals.
With muttercd exclamation he was
at his speaking outfit. Several hurri-
ed calls, and The Warden started from.
HIS home. Travelling on horseback
over the mountain trails, with the
teiephoned directions never out Of bis
mind, Il did not take him long 70 reach
1T Others, summoned over the wire,
were there ahead Of him, and once
reached, the fire was almost as quick
~ out
As they turned to leave the spot
dog trotted into sight, then turned
tail, and was on In a second The
Forest Warden, as the man from The
tower was called, had seen Il, though,
and recognized IL too. The dog was
the property Of q man nearby Who
raised few Sheep for his living.
His own acres being few, the sheep
we're somewhat fnrIned out on the
country surrounding. This Ore bad
been the fourth In one spot within a.
week. and the Warden began 70 make
deductions. For II Il known 70 those
who dwell 10 the mountains and woods
that hres make pasture. Even when
quickly out, the harm they do 70 the
timber Is Infinitely greater, Of course,
but what Of that, when the timber be-
longs 10 another, and The grass Isl
yours for this taking. Il
So occasionally such men as this
start fre In the forest In years
past they were freanenl, and sanction
cd BY common consent That was b..
fore the days Of Forestry Board end
the Forest Warden. u works differ.
emily nov. The man suspected Of
starting che succession Of fires 81 his
ona spot will be pat under Tho sur
vellihnce Of The forest officers, and u
caught u such work there arr forest
laws 70 cover the case
More Important, though, Ghan shisl
woEk shas ne wsrdcns 40 II ostaF|
work, which shows The public where
is osn best interests lie Public sen.
iiment takes years 70 form, and IL BOT
charged 10 minute, but now Il isI
swinging around 70 q point wherc
burning woods for grass u frowned
upon, and the timber Of The State s.
steadily drawing the sort OF care
which economy, publIc-spirissdness
and good management demand.