The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-11-19
WESTMARYLAND WARDENS
INSPECTED BY OFFICIALS
Need of At Least Three More
Fire Towers In County Ex-
pressed by Assistant Forester
NEED MORE EQUIPMENT

The forest fire fighters of the Mary
land mountains have been given a
careful inspection during the past ten
days by Assistant Forester Walter
]. Quick, Jr., who is in charge of for
est protection throughout the State.
In making his reports Tuesday to
State Forester F. w. Besley, at Balti-
more, Mr.. Quick emphasized the need
for additional fire fighting equipment
in order that the forest wardens and
their crews might do an efficient job
in protecting the Maryland mountains
from fire. He pointed out the diff
Guilty of fire control in the mountain
Gus area due to precipitous slopes,
scarcity of good roads and poor tele
phone facilities.
Need Telephone Service
The inspection of the Garrett coun-
ty wardens was made in company
with A. L. Sines, district forest war;
den for the county. In general, it
was found that the wardens had been
diligent in kepeing their equipment
in good condition and handy for i'm
mediate use. Forest fire towers Wis
tied at Shaggy Mountain, Thayerville
and Bittinger were in operation and
plans were considered for improving
the service by securing new maps and
additional telephone connections.
Fires, which are promptly discovered
by Garrett county towermen, at times
must burn for an hour or more before
distant fire fighters can reach the
scene, clearly indicating the need for
telephone line construction by inter
ested parties in order that forest war;
dens close to the fires may be notified
promptly. The lookout system for
Garrett county was found to be only
partially developed, large portions of
the county being without means of
promptly discovering fires. Need for
at least three more towers was ex-
pressed by Assistant Forester Quick.
Younger Men Desired
In commenting on the fire fighting
organization, Mr.. Quick indicated that
the forest wardens are from among
the best citizens of tine county and
stand especially high in their local
communities. Their active interest
and loyalty to their task of forest
protection are particularly fine. The
report to the State Forester, however,
recommended the gradual replace
ment of some of the older wardens by
younger men who are better physi-
cally able to engage in the arduous
task of fire fighting. District Warden
Sines announced a special campaign
to organize additional fire fighting
crews throughout the county so as to
provide the wardens with dependable
fire fighters instead of groups of in
feror laborers that sometimes drifts
onto the fire lines.
Extensive Area Involved
In discussing Mr.. Quick's report,
State Forester Besley, at Baltimore,
stated that organized forest protec-
ton had existed in Garrett county for
well over twenty years. The first
tower, however, was built in 1915,
but numerous wardens had been COM
missioned prior to that date. He said
that an efficient organization and ade-
quate protection facilities are of
prime Importance in the county, due
to extensive forest areas covering 60
per cent of the county and valuable
State forests covering over 10000
acres. Mr.. Besley said that every
effort is being made to improve pro-
lection facilities in Garrett county be-
cause of the great Importance of the
mountainous area in supplying large
amount of the future timber for the
State. He announced that the State
Board of Public Works, headed by
Governor Albert C. Richie, has just
authorized telephone line improve
ment for the Thayerville tower, which
will be completed before spring. The
State Forester indicated that the De-
partment of Forestry is providing the
forest wardens with fire fighting
equipment as rapidly as funds be-
come available. At the present time
$500 is provided annually for this
purpose which must be used cautious
ly in supplying the $50 forest wardens
and 5000 registered fire fighters
throughout the State.