MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 287 



the present status of securing conviction must always render this law 

 an inadequate protection unless special provision be made to enforce 

 rt This can be accomplished thoroughly only through the services 

 of special officers. 



Protection from forest fires in other states has been secured by the 

 appointment of fire-wardens, whose duties are to enforce the fire law 

 and exterminate forest fires. Chief fire-wardens are now regularly 

 appointed by state authority in New York, Pennsylvania and Minne- 

 sota. In other states, where, as yet, these officers are not provided, 

 local officers of the law (constables, etc.) have been made fire-wardens. 

 The benefit of these systems of fire service in states, counties and 

 townships possessing woodland is unquestionably great. As an 

 example of this, it may be stated that the work of fire-wardens in the 

 Preserve counties of northeastern New York has resulted in a recent 

 very marked control and reduction in the number of forest fires. In 

 addition to the special state fire-warden of New York, over two hun- 

 dred supervisors in these counties are appointed deputy fire-wardens. 

 The state provides that a compensation of two to two and one-half 

 dollars a day be paid to deputy fire-wardens for actual time spent in 

 fighting fires. In special cases of need these officers may hire a tem- 

 porary force of men to assist in subduing fires; and for such service 

 a per diem rate of two dollars is paid. 



The establishment of a fire service for Western Maryland seems 

 imperative. This section combines the most heavily wooded coun- 

 ties Washington, Allegany and Garrett and should, therefore, 

 very fitly form the basis for establishing such protection. It is be- 

 lieved that the plan of combining the duties of fire-wardens with 

 those of supervisors of these counties would be thoroughly feasible. 



EXCLUSION OF GRAZING FROM FOREST LANDS. 



The damage done to forest land by grazing is in the destruction 

 of seedlings, by tramping and browsing, and in laying bare the 

 surface, which is afterward dried out and washed. Under these con- 

 ditions reproduction is either seriously checked or prevented. 



A well-managed forest cannot serve for two purposes good pas- 



