38 



The Forests of Maryland. 



fered with the proper development of the yotmger growth. 



A telephone line three miles in length has heen constructed across 

 the Skipnish Keserve to the lookout station at Stem Rock on Snaggy 

 Mountain, which overlooks the State lands, and thence along Snaggy 

 Mountain to Point Lookout, another observation station near a forest 

 warden's headquarters. This line is connected with the farming set- 

 tlements nearbj% enabling the lookout watchman to summon assistance 

 quickly in ease of forest fires on the State's property or in the vicinity. 

 In addition, a fire line has been constructed along the West Virginia- 

 Maryland State boundary for a distance of one mile, to aid in check- 

 ing forest fires that originate in "West Virginia and threaten State and 

 private lands in ]\Iaryland. 



The Patapsco Reserve, consisting of lands purchased by the State 

 under an appropriation of $50,000 made by the Legislature of 1912, 

 supplemented by lands given by Messrs. John M. Glenn, "William L. 

 Glenn, Richard C. Norris, and Rollin Norris, lies along the Patapsco 

 River in Baltimore and Howard Counties, between Avalon and Hollo- 

 field. This Reserve includes some of the most picturesque points along 

 the Patapsco. The lands, for the most part, are well wooded, some of 

 them heavily timbered, and it is the purpose of the Board to maintain 

 them as a natural forest. In addition to the lands owned by the State 

 in this region, a plan of co-operation between the private owners of 

 land held for water rights, and the State Board of Forestry, is in ef- 

 fect, covering 1,038 acres, which gives the State the use of the land for 

 park purposes in return for its protection in the matter of patrol 

 against fire and tresspass. 



Several miles of trails have been constructed, a small amount of 

 forest planting has been done, and through the co-operation of the 

 Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company several miles of fire line have 

 been constructed adjacent to the railroad. It is the purpose of the 

 Board of Forestry to make these-lands available as a pleasure ground, 

 under reasonable regulations, for all those in the State who wish to 

 use them. 



The Patapsco area is not only one of great natural attractiveness, 

 being so near Baltimore that its use as a recreation ground is certain 

 to be more fully appreciated, but it is also important to protect the 

 watershed of the Patapsco River, which plays such an important part 

 in furnishing water power for several industrial enterprises. Between 

 Relay and Alberton, a distance of 11.4 miles, there ai-e 10 water power 

 developments, 8 of which are now in operation. The power for these 

 plants is furnished by the Patapsco River, and its value for that pur- 

 pose is measured by the evenness of flow and freedom from silt. A 

 forest cover is essential to maximum efficiency in regulating flow, and 



