Germany 141 
should not be threatened or violated. 
In all doubtful cases, the advice of the 
State Office was to be solicited. 
The administration of railways in 
constructing new lines and in enlarging 
stations (Ehrenbreitenstein) sometimes 
has regard to the protection of the 
beauties of scenery. Moreover, the 
administration occasionally incurs con- 
siderable expense in preserving old 
and remarkable trees, as at Barmen, 
Dortmund and Sedlinen. It was also 
recommended that railway embank- 
ments should be planted with shrubs, 
in which birds may build their nests. 
The Home Department directed 
the chairmen of the land districts 
(Landrate) and the magistrates of the 
towns to promote the interests of 
the whole population by protecting 
natural monuments. This requirement 
for the care of natural monuments must 
only be ignored, when inconsistent with 
the interests of the public health. 
