Wild Life Management for Allegany Park 7 l 



be preserved the best samples of virgin forest and other natural 

 vegetation in the region, and any specially valuable or interesting 

 geological exposures or physiographic features. A systematic effort 

 should be made to restore in this area as near virgin conditions as 

 possible, so that in a generation from now a good sample of almost 

 primeval forest, with its native plants and animals, would be avail- 

 able to the public, not only as a memorial or monument, but also 

 for educational, scientific and recreational purposes. (See Con- 

 wentz, '09; Adams, '13; Sumner, '20). Special precautions should 

 be taken to make fire protection for this area as near perfect as is 

 humanly possible. Such a sanctuary should not be fenced unless 

 fencing is unavoidable, but should be carefully guarded by a high 

 grade of specially trained protectors or Nature Guides who would 

 not only guard but also help to maintain the preserve as natural 

 as possible, and who would be able to assist in teaching the public 

 a proper appreciation of natural history. The Nature Guides for 

 this sanctuary should keep thoroughly posted as to the conditions 

 on the area, and should see that the sanctuary is not injured by the 

 visitors. This would necessitate not only guarding especially valu- 

 able, interesting or rare objects, but also insuring the proper rotation 

 of use by the public, so that the trails and special features may be 

 allowed time to recuperate after severe use. A large area within 

 this sanctuary should be made an absolutely wild preserve of virgin 

 conditions. If necessary, special areas should be purchased for this 

 purpose. 



A small museum (see Smith, '14) and a nature library (Graves, 

 '19) should form a part of the equipment of this sanctuary, and 

 there should be provided also special camping sites,' shelters and 

 automobile parking facilities. The museum and library would be 

 particularly valuable to campers, to visiting groups of school chil- 

 dren, and to those specially interested in one or another branch of 

 natural history. 



This sanctuary should have a carefully worked out system of 

 marked trails, so that city people not familiar with the woods would 

 have no hesitation in penetrating the forest solitudes (Adams, 

 '10, '21). A good series of pocket maps ought to be made available. 



The sanctuary might not be fenced but might be marked by two 

 strands of wire, and would materially assist, by its overflow, in 

 stocking all other parts of the Park with wild life, — even the 

 angling and hunting preserves. 



