The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-11-04

this statement in reply to a question
without offering recommendation in
the matter. He did point out that it
was the policy of the department to
protect beauty spots.
Mr.. Armstrong declared that the
area is serving the primary purpose
of protecting the water supply of
Baltimore and also is augmenting the
city's park system. $50 long as !
have anything to do with it," he de-
clared, 81 will consent to nothing that
would destroy the beauty of Loeb Ra-
ven."
Chief among the agents of forest
destruction, according to Mr.. Besley,
are forest fires. The total amount of
funds at present available for forest
! protection in Maryland is $4,000 a
year, whereas Massachusetts, with
little more forest land than Maryland
spends annually for this purpsoe S72,-
900.
The spring fire season this year was
the most destructive fire period in the
history of the Maryland Department
! of Forestry. A total loss of 100000
was suffered, the area burned extend
ing from Baltimore to Frostburg.
An addition of S55, 900 in the annual
appropriation is>deemed necessary for
adequate protection from fire for the
forests of this State.
Maryland today is dependant upon
outside sources for more than eighty
per cent of her lumber supply, most
of it coming from the South and some
from the Far West.
At the present rate of cutting, it
has been estimated that the Southern
States will be out of the exporting
class within the next ten years, and
Maryland, according to Mr.. Besley,
with other Middle Atlantic States,
will have to compete for the timber
of the Pacific Coast at rapidly increas-
ing prices and high freight rates, un-
less it solves it's forestry problem at
the present time.
1.-The solution lies in adequate fire
protection and increased productive
ness of our forest lands" he declares.
"Under private ownership these lands
are not providing more than one-third
the crop they are capable of produc-
ing under scientific management.
"Maryland has 2,22S,000 acres of
forest land, which, if fully productive,
would furnish our full timber require
ments or value equivalent based on
present uses. Private initiative has
failed and will continue to fail to meet
our timber requirements.
at is the duty of the State to lead
the way in safeguarding our future
timber supplies. State forests are the
answer and at least should constitute
ten per cent of the total forest area.
The bulk of the area will be in the
mountainous sections, though consid
cradle land should be acquired in
Southern Maryland and on the Eas-
tern Shore as demonstration forests"
With regard to the proftableness
of large-scale timber growing, it was
pointed out that in 1911 the Federal
Government purchased 2,205,027 acres
of cutover land in the White Noun
tains and the Southern Appalachians
at a cost of S15,393, 1888. During the
next ten years the only additional ex-
pense in connection with the invest
ment was S1,406,587 for administra-
ton and fire protection.
At the end of that time the value of
the holdings had increased to S20,621,-
929, which represented a net gain of
S6,228,041.
AS an example of acquisition of
forest land by State, the purchase
of 100000 acres for S2,456,300 by
Pennsylvania was cited. This land,
purchased since the founding Of the
Pennsylvania Forestry Department, it
was said, shows net gain in value
of S4,930,488, according to the 1928
report of Governor Pinchot
Records of the forestry department
show that the present annual growth
of wood and timber in Maryland is
approximately S0,000,00O cubic feet,
or nearly fifty per cent greater than
the growth. The annual consumption
of wood and timber in the State is
200, 100000 cubic feet, or two and one
half times the annual growth.
Maryland forests contain tree spe-
cies of the greatest variety and the
highest commercial value known in
the Eastern United States. No sec
ton of the country is more favorably
suited for timber growing than Mary
land because of its valuable tree spe-
cies, suitable soils, nearness to timber
markets and the presence of impor-
tant wood-using industries.
Speaking of individuals who are be-
ginning timber growing as a CONNER
cial enterprise, Mr.. Besley cited the
case of Harry Orem, of Cambridge.
Mr.. Orem purchased 100 acres of
land which had just been logged in
norchaSter county, Savaral wears 400