The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-09-16

has TO ofter.
The meeting was called to order
by President c. Clyde Ridenour at
five o'clock, who introduced Ray
mond H. Miller. the POSTMASTER.
MIR. Miller in his Introductory re-
marks, stated that he has been a
member of the Western Maryland
Sportsmen Club since it first started.
He stated the club was formed in
| 1941 and received their Charter in
1912. At this time they leased fif-
teen hundred acres of mountain land
in the Blairs Valley section of the
county, for the propagation and
conservation of wild game. The
club was not SO much interested in
social activities enjoyed by most
clubs, but their aim was to restore
the lands with game and wild life,
in order that our future generations
may enjoy the same sport as our
forefathers and ourselves. Mr.. Mill
1 er also stated that in June of this
summer the club purchased the
present site of ITO acres, which they
hoped to restock with game and
/ fish and start reforesting project,
with ever greens suitable for wild
game, etc It is on the program of
/ the club to insist that the govern
ment restor ethe old C & o canal
from Dam No. to the lock one
mile West, which is located at the
lower end of Big Slack Water. The
restoration of the canal at this point,
which lies mainly along the club
premises, would not only make one
of the best recreational areas in the
! State, but would be restoring one
of the best spawning beds in the
Potomac River Area.
The first guest speaker introduced
by Mr.. Miller was Russell S. Orr,
Associate Director of the League of
Maryland Sportsmen, and Assistant
Editor of the Rally Sheet" the
league paper. Mr.. Orr spoke of the
+ conservation of wild life and the
wonderful opportunity of this club
to help along that line, from the
physical layout of their land Mr..
Orr complimented the club on their
accomplishments thus far and as
sured them of his and the leagues
cooperation in future developments.
The final speaker was the Honor
able J. Glenn Beall, Congressman
from the Sixth Congressional Dis
trict of Maryland Mr. Beall stated
that during the last session of Con
gress, bill was passed. all0ting
the sum of forty thousand dollars 10
the Department Of Interior, to make
a survey of the Potomac River Ba-
sin, for the purpose of making a
parkway on the ground recently
4 acquired by the Government from
the c & o Canal He said a lot of
people got the word Parkway"
confused with the word Roadway"
The Congressman pointed out, that
as far as a servicable, all-weather
roadway was concerned, this was
out of the question, but that what
they had in mind was a Parkway,
a place to be used for recreational
purposes and the advancement of
wild life only. Before anything def
mite could be done however, they
would have to await the report of
this Survey to the Interior Depart
ment The next step was to see
what recommendations the Depart
ment of Interior would accept and
then the various clubs and individ-
uals interested in this development,
would be given an opportunity to
make their own recommendations
and eventually something could be
worked out, SO that this one hundred
and sixty-four miles of waterway
could be turned into a garden spot
for sportsmen and one of the best
recreational areas in the State of
Maryland.
Following the speakers, splend-
id dinner was served. with the as
sistance of the wives of the mem
bers.
Among the guests present were:
members of the Potomac Fish &
Game Club, the North American
Rod & Gun Club, the Conocheague
Club, the Pangborn Casting Club,
I the Isaac Walton League, the Wood
mont Gun Club, the Tonoloway
Club, the Board of Washington
County Commissioners and the
League of Maryland Sportsmen, Inc.
The next regular meeting of the
Western Maryland Sportsmen Club