40 



The Forests op Maryland. 



co-operating with the City of Frederick in the management of these 

 lands. There is nothing of greater importance to the health and pros- 

 perity of cities and towns than an abundant supply of pure water. 

 This is being recognized and means are being devised to secure it. 

 One of the prime requisites is as complete control as possible over the 

 watershed from which the water supply is derived. Complete control 

 is seldom practicable, but the acquisition of at least the immediate sur- 

 roundings of the reservoirs is imperative. It has been fully demon- 

 strated that a forest cover for a watershed is the best of all to insure 

 freedom from silt, to prevent polution, and to conserve the fullest 

 amount of the precipitation. Such forests properly handled are a 

 source of revenue without reducing their value for watershed protec- 

 tion. Hence the municipal forest should become popular with cities 

 and towns, especially where mountain water supplies are possible. 



