Gareett County. 



85 



Yet in the face of this the timber cut for the County in 1914, 7,- 

 750,245 cubic feet, had a value at points of production of $1,379,937. 

 It is the highest in the State. Local forests are being drawn upon for 

 a diversity of products — lumber, tanbark, mine props, mine ties, rail- 

 road ties, lath, piling, pulpwood, shingles, poles, eordwood and posts, 

 to name them in order of value. The cut of lumber represents the pro- 

 duction of some 62 mills, most of them the portable kind, while the 

 lath is a by-product in some of the mills that are large enough to uti- 

 lize their slabs and edgings. The cutting of ties for railroad and mine 

 use is largely a field belonging to smaller operators, while the demand 

 for mine props in the bituminous regions makes another forest indus- 

 try of some value to the individual farmer and small timberman. 



There are 55 miles of railway in this County, with another line, the 

 Western Maryland, following the entire southern boundary. This, to- 

 gether with a considerable mileage of recently improved highways, is 

 proving of much value to owners of woodland in opening up forested 

 districts which it was hitherto unprofitable to log. Garrett does not 

 manufacture any great amounts of wood, the manufacturers being 

 represented by planing mills and yards at Crellin, Friendsville, and 

 Mt. Lake Park. 



The present lack of good forest management means a real loss to 

 the County of an annual revenue amounting at the least to $650,000. 

 "Well regulated forest management, moreover, cannot successfully be 

 introduced until reasonable fire protection is assured, since there is 

 small inducement to make an investment for the improvement of the 

 forest where there is more than an even chance that a fire may at any 

 time destroy the forest, together with any improvements which care 

 and good management have brought about. There is much, however, 

 which may be done by the individual woodland owner until such time 

 as more concerted action, publicly, shall have placed the forests of 

 this County on firm financial basis. 



A force of State Forest Wardens and Federal Patrolmen is en- 

 deavoring to extend efficient service to the County in this respect, but 

 the complete co-operation of every county resident is requisite toward 

 making this in every way successful ; favorable conditions are extant 

 for a good natural growth of timber, with but little necessity for 

 planting or otherwise artificially supplementing natural reproduction. 

 The principal consideration is to so guide the development of the 

 young growth that the resulting older forests may be quickly matured, 

 and of a quantity and quality consistent with successful forestry. 



