The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-10-07
NEARBY FORESTS ARE PRO-
TECTED BY FIRE TOWERS
Maryland Has No National For
ests But State Looks After
100000 Acres Timberland

Years ago many of Americas best
forests, some in this section contain
ing millions of feet of valuable lum-
Der, were wiped out by fire. Even to-
day we read of serious fires which
rage through valuable tinberland in
Garrett and Allegany counties, but
this menace and waste is being check
cd greatly by the organized efforts of
the National and State governments.
In fact, nearly every State, as well
as the Federal government, recognizes
the necessity of conserving our for
ests in every way possible, and the
State and Federal forest services are
using every means at their disposal to
prevent destruction of existing forests
as well as promote the growth of ad
ditional timberland.
Much of the timber that once grew
in the virgin forests of North America
has been cut to be put to mans uses,
but considerable part-that which
fell prey to f1ames-had been a pure
waste. One big part Of the work of
the forest services, therefore, is to
prevent fire and, when fire does break
out to check it as quickly as possible.
Forest rangers who are on the con-
slant lookout for incipient forest fires
naturally cannot depend on their in
dividual efforts to extinguish blaze
once they do find it, nor can they al
ways locate a blaze, single-handed,
since they must use lookout points
which often are far away from the
wisp of smoke they discern. One of
the chief weapons of the fire-fghters,
then, would naturally be supposed TO
be a quick means of communication.
And whereas it might at first seem
incongruous to find telephone lines
strung throughout the uninhabited
wilderness, the need of the forest SER
vice for such excellent means of COM
munication explains the paradox.
In Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia there are four natural for
ests comprising 100000 acres. The
forestry departments Of these three
states have supervision over 20,O0O,-
600 acres There is an old saying that
"self-preservation is the first law of
nature" With this thought as an OBJ
iect lesson each of these states has
done much toward the preservation of
the forests within its borders, so
that timber which has been ruthlessly
destroyed in the past may be renewed
and waste lands reforested for the
benefit of future generations.
The United States is great agri-
cultural and grazing country, and nat
urally the very life of these industries
is dependent on the forests, it is reas-
enable to understand why the Forest
Service should come under the general
supervision of the Department Of Ag-
riculture. The keynote of forest ad-
ministration is service. When the ma
tional forests, limited in number and
acreage were turned over to the De-
partment of Agriculture in 1905, Sec
rotary James Wilson issued an order
to the foresters and rangers to con-
serve these public properties ito the
greatest good Of the greatest number
in the long run"
With this as an objective, the Ma
tional Forest Service and the depart
ments of forestry in the states have
performed wonders in making the ma
tional and state forests a real place
Of recreation as we'll as increasing the
monetary value of the properties.
To the camper, sportsman and seek
er after health, rest and recreation,
the national forests offer unriveled OPP
portunities for outdoor life and enjoy
ment. Roads and trails marked by
signs make the forests reasonably &C
cessible, and thousands of people visit
these natural Fairgrounds each year.
Especially is this true of the State
forest at Swallow Falls and other for
ests of note in Western Maryland.
There are countless secluded spots
along the banks of streams and lakes
where the camper may pitch his tent
and stay an indefinite time. The sites
are free and generally require no per-
nit. He may choose his own camp
ground and help himself to dead wood
for fuel and to forage.
In localities frequented by large
numbers of people recreation areas"
are being established and log shelters,
camp fireplaces and other convenien-
ces are provided for the visitors. The
only restriction that the forestry de-
partment imposes is that the fish and
game laws of the state be observed
and that the visitor look to the fire
protection and proper sanitation of
his camp.
Fire is an ever-present danger in
: the forests. The great size of the for
ests compared with the size of the
patrolling force, the difficulty of
reaching remote areas, the prevalence
Of lightning in the mountains and the
constant use Of fire in the daily life
of the people in the industries all COM
bine to make the hazard an exception
| al one