18 Fourth Annual Report of the 



paternalistic or socialistic for the State to supply trees at cost to 

 private owners and free of charge to State institutions. 



During the past year the State has bought 1,711 acres of 

 forest land. This purchase was an inheritance due to the final 

 perfecting of title to tracts contracted for by our predecessors. 

 The purchase of forest lands is today suspended, through lack 

 of funds available therefor. 



Cuba Reservoir 



The Legislature, in 1913, committed to this department the 

 administration of the Cuba Lake Reservoir in Allegany county, 

 formerly a part of the canal system of the State. This commis- 

 sion has instituted a system of leasing lands adjacent to the reser- 

 voir for use as summer homes and for agricultural purposes and 

 has received from the lessees a total of $2,642.20, of which 

 $2,141.20 was received and turned into the State Treasury during 

 the fiscal year covered by this report. It is our plan next spring 

 to plant trees and make other betterments to this property which 

 will not only improve its appearance but enhance its value. 



Trespass on State Land 



The great betterment of conditions as to trespass on State land 

 and timber thievery cannot be more clearly shown than through 

 tabular comparison covering the years just preceding, and the 

 years subsequent to the creation of the Conservation Commission 

 in 1911: 



1909 

 1910 

 1911 

 1912 

 1913 

 1914 



This unprecedented showing of removal by trespassers of less 

 than two hundred dollars' worth of timber last year has not oc- 

 curred by chance. It has been brought about by determined en- 

 forcement of the law and insistence on penalties. Today it may 



