Georgia forestry, Vol. 16, no. 1 (Mar. 1963)

I
Georgia
FORESTRY

APWP Approved

Thomasville

Progres 1961 -62

Co mm ission Director R ay Shirley, right, inspects finishin g touches of lettering being put on by Hank Slentz, Commission senior pilot. Charles Baker, Mi lledgeville, is the Sixth District pilot .

Commission

Patrol Craft

Identified

All Georgia Forestry Commission

patrol aircraft now are clearly mark-

ed for both air and ground detection.

Strengthening Of Georgia

Commission Director Ray Shirley states that 'FORESTRY' is clearly lettered on the underside of the right wing of each patrol craft. "The

Products Law Urged

bl ack on white 18-inch vinyl film cut out letters are r_eadable at an altitude of 1,000 feet," Shirley add-

Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon, fully endorses a recommendation of Georgia Senator 0. D. Johnson, 46th District,

valued at $956 million, second only to textile s and food manufac turing.
Shirley stated that since 69 percent of Georgia's land are a is in

ed. In addition, 'GEORGIA FORES-
TRY COMMISSION' is spelled out .in four inch, white on red letters along the side of the patrol planes. With

Blackshear, to strengthen the Georgia Law pertaining to the use of Georgia products.

forest, the lumber industry holds a heavy hand on the economic purse strings of all Georgians. It is, there-

thes e identification markings, ground observers will be able to identify the Commission aircra ft. In patrol

Senat or John son 's recommendation for e, only feasible that St ate, Coun- and suppression work, the planes

which dealt specifically with the lumber industry would require s tate and local governments to use Geor-. gia lumber when price an d qualit y are comparable to other wood products . . .and, encourage lumber industries and schools of higher learning

ty , and loc a l govern me nts emphasize th e use of Georgia woods to the maximum where wood is an a cceptable ma teri a l.
The Commission director pointed out that the lumber industries have and are installing programs to up-

are flo wn at low altitudes to take the best advantage of their effectiveness.
J am es C. Turner , Jr., chief, Fire Control Division, pointed out th at the vinyl film letters meet military specifications for letters used on

to coopera te in promoting the s tudy gr ade quality and i mprove packaging supersonic aircraft. The letters are

and dissem in ation of wood to the and merch a ndising to compete with as durable as the airplane fabric,

greatest extent. The recom me ndation is a result of

like products from other regions and competitive materials.

Turner added. Shirley emphasized that the Com-

a report made by Senator Johnson on

Shirley emphasized tha t there is, mission's 25 patrol planes are used

Forestry and Allied products as a as Sena tor Johnson's report indicates, in aerial fire d etection and suppres-

member of a committee established a need to inform the public of the sion work and in civil defense emer-

by Lt. Gov. Garland T. Byrd.

s uperior qualities of Georgia wood gencies. During fisc al year 1961-

In the report , a decline in lumber which is reasonably priced for most 62, patrol aircraft fle w 7,377-hours

employment and production, starting all uses. However, with an informed with 1,652-wildfires reported. Pilots

about 195 3, is cited . Thi s, in an in- public, there must be an air of mu- a lso reported 11,985 controlled

""dustry, - where in the same period, tual cooperation toward a n end of woods fires and 17,603 other types

, I

'" sawtimber volume increased six per- providing leg islative a nd other im_i!l n_t, tot al grow~h incre ased over provements needed to strengthen

of smokes . They directly assisted Commission forest rangers in the

L ..flraw age each year , a nd output wa s utiliza tion of local forest products. suppression of 1,660-wildfires.

SOUTHE R N PINE

Salvage timber before treating and continue close surveilance of treated areas, was cited as urgent needs in control ling the Southern Pine Beetle epidemic in Georg ia.
Georgia Forestry Comm i ssion Di rector Ray Shirley, in discussing control a cti vities with his dis trict foresters and project leaders, recently, emphasized that getting the beetles out of the woods is our main problem. Landowners can assi s t by cutting a nd selling infe s t ed commerci al ti mber. This would enable ground crews to focus their attention on areas of non- merchantable timber and those spots th at are not feasibly salvageable, Shirley added.
The Commission director expressed the value of keepi ng a fin ger on re-infest ation and new spots that may develop between now and Spr~ng.
Russ Smith, entomologist, U. S. Fore st Service, Region 8, Atlanta, praised the Commission and the Georgia people for their positive reaction to th e beetle problem. He said that the infestation has been more aggressive th a n fir st thought. However, th e Commission, by immediately attacking the problem, has apparently averted the loss of millions of dollars in timber growth and production, this in a State where timber products rank third in economic value.
The effectiveness of the control program was brought out in the beetle report which cited 30 -counties in which treatment initially was being carried out. This number has been cut in half.
Management Field Assistant John Hammond, beetle project coordinator, listed the controlled counties as Banks, Forsyth , Greene, Hancock, Jackson, J asper and Jones. Others are Morgan, North Fulton, Oglethorpe, Pike, Putn am, Tali aferro and Wilkes.
Present control activities are centered in Bibb, Cobb, Elbert, Frank-

lin, Habersham, Hall, Harris, and Hart Counties. Other countie s are Heard, Lamar, Madison, Monroe, Rabun, Troup and Upson.
Hammond reported that over onehalf million trees have been cut and treated since mid-March, 1962. This represents a loss of less than 3,775,000 bo ar d feet of sawtimber and slightly more th an 8,950-cords of pulpwood.

Shirley emphasized that all efforts are being made to clear up the beetle infestation before Spring. Understanding and cooperation on all govern me nt and civic levels has made the beetle control program success ful to thi s point. Continued cooper atio~ is needed to see the program through the fin al stages, Shirley added.

Public Works

FEDERAL Program Approved

Approval has been given for the initiation of 23 forestr y projects by Georgia Governor Carl E. Sanders. Cost of the projects is $156,230.
The accelerated public works projects are being administered by the Department of .Commerce, Area Development Administration. The Department allocated $78,115 which Governor Sanders agreed to provide deorgia's matching share from funds already set aside.
The Accelerated Public Works Program was designed to assist .in the initiation and speed-up of State, local and Federal public works projects. It is the purpose of these projects to help provide useful work for the unemployed and labor surplus areas. The program was signed in~o law by President Kennedy on Sept. 14, 1962.
Georgia Forestry Commission Director Ray Shirley stated that the program enables the Commission to proceed with needed construction and improvements that, otherwise,

would be curtailed. Shirley added that the projects are located in 19counties where employment conditions make them eligible according to specificationg of the program.
The Georgia projects include forestry unit headquarters in Dougherty, Henry and Jefferson Counties. Counties scheduled for sub-headquarters or additions are Clay, Montgomery, Wheeler and Elbert. Other additions

New -~~.:;;; ,. Board

Member

Named

New Saw...New Product

A new rnachine.. .a new product... a new day in sawrnilling; .. these results are culminating six years of experimental work by J. T. Griffin of Valdosta.
Griffin states that his new Griffsaw Machine' is unique in that it can produce kerf chips down to 1/8" in width. The chips are known as 'Griffwood Brand Saw Kerf Chip'.
Experiments by Griffin and associates show that increased lumber yield, conventional slab chip yield, and a faster production rate can be obtained through the use of the Griffsaw technique.
The Griffsaw method also elirnanates pinching and heating. This means less down time and higher production.
Griffin pointed out that the new machine operates on the step saw principle. The depth of cut, the number of saw teeth and the infeed rate are controlled so that waste sawdust is almost eliminated. The infeed rate has been run as high as 275 linear feet per minute. At present, however, 225 feet seems most practical. The maximum speed for a sash

gang saw is 35-40 feet per minute. Extensive paper company tests
show that Griffwood Brand Kerf Chips are satisfactory raw pulping material. Because of the narrow kerf more salable lumber is cut from the cants. The new machine can handle at least a 12" cant. By obtaining a kerf reduction from the conventional 3/8" to 3/16" an additional 2X4 can be obtained, Griffin emphasized. These tests are available from the Frick Company, Waynesboro, Penna.
Frick Company engineers, who are making the machine, state that it produces from one log, 61.4-percent lumber, 21.6-percent slabwood, 12-percent bark, and 5-percent sawdust, or 12-percent less ;awdust than in present sawmill log edgers. The sawdust, or fines. is being experimented with for use in roofing as a raw
rnateri~.
Griffin stated that the machine will be leased only to those operators licensed to practice Griffwood. Under the licensing agreement, paper mills will pay a royalty of 30 cents per ton for the use of Grifiwood chips.

B. Fines from Griffwood

l
I

L. H. (Luke) Morgan, Eastman, was recently appointed to the Board of Cornmissioners of the Georgia Forestry Cornmission by Governor Carl E. Sanders. He succeeds Oscar S. Garrison, Horner, Georgia.
Morgan, elected for a seven year term, is one of five commissioners who supervise the forestry program in Georgia. Other members of the Board are Andrew J. Aultman, Sylvester; W. George Beasley, Lavonia; C. M. Jordan, Jr., Vidalia; and Alexander Sessoms, Cogdell.
L. H. Morgan Morgan, a timberland owner in Ben Hill, Coffee and Irwin Counties, is practicing naval stores and pulpwood operations with his father, L. L. Morgan. The timber operations cover some 3,000 acres. In 1956 Morgan went with Rayioner in charge of their land acquisitions in Georgia. He was made area supervisor in charge of management and procurement in the Eastman area in 1962. During the 1963 session of the General Assembly, Morgan served as an aide to House Speaker, George T. Smith. A Navy veteran, 1945-46, Morgan, received his college education at Auburn and the University of Georgia. He studied business administration. Morgan, a member of the Dodge County Forestry Association, is one of its charter members. He is also a member of the Douglas Elks Lodge and the Eastman Rotary Club. Morgan and his wife, the former Jane Evans of Douglas, have three boys, Johnny 12; Luke, 10; and Michael, 6. They are members of the Episcopal Church of Eastman.

TREE

SUPERIOR
The Georgia Forestry Commis-
PROGRAM sion's exceptional or superior tree
program is half completed with the planting of the 1962-63 crop.
Forestry Commission Director Ray Shirley stated that 8,500 two-yearold grafted seedlings have been transferred from the Morgan and PageWalker nurseries to the Arrowhead, Hightower and Horseshoe Bend seed orchards. This brings to some 32,000 spaces planted, Shirley added.
In addition to th_e grafted seedlings, there are 2,100 seedlings in the Arrowhead seed orchard that were produced from control pollinated parents.
The seed orchards, when completed, will provide the Commission with seed that have specific characteristics. This should provide an end product that will bring premium prices to woodland owners and high quality products to manufacturers.
Seed used to grow seedlings are collected by dealers and individuals throughout the State. Therefore there is no control over quality of trees from which seed are harvested, Shirley said.
The Commission director pointed out that trees with low specific gravity and long fibers are being sought for the pulping industry. Whereas, trees with a high specific gravity are being sought for timber production. The naval stores industry is riot being overlooked as high gum yielders are being sought for their use. Other qualities being sought include a straight bole without taper, good prunmg ability, and resistance to weather, insects and diseases.
Species being grafted include loblolly, shortleaf, slash and Virginia pine. Stocking of the seed orchards is expected to be completed by 1965, Shirley added.

Georgia Cruising the News

FORESTRY

STATE SE TS A FINE RECORD

Marc h, 1963

Vol. 16 No . I

Frank Craven Editor

Published Quarterly by the GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION
Hox 1077 Maron. C.t-orgia
RAY SHIHLEY - DIRECTOR

Membt-rs, Board of Commissioners:

CHAilU1AN

C. M. JORDAN, JR.

VIDALIA

ANDREWJ.AULTMAN L. H. MORGAN W. GEORGE BEASLEY

-SYLVESTER -EASTMAN -LAVONIA

ALEXANDER SESSOMS -COGDELL

DISTRICT OFFICES

GEORC.I\ FO H E~T I {Y CO:\D1 I SSIO~

DI STRICT 1- 1\oute ~. Statt'sboro
Di s TRin 11 P . 0. Ro\ ~r.. Camilla
DI STRICT llJ .. r . 0. Box 1~~~.
Am<'ricu s DISTRII'T . I\ - ~ P. 0. Bo \ :1:1:1,
!'-:~"''nan
DI STR in \' P . 0 . Rox 96 ,
:'llrRaf'
DISTRICT \ ' I - P. 0. Bo\ 881 :'II il if'dJ:'' ' ill<'
DisTRICT \'11 - Routf' I, !\om<'
DISTRICT \'IiI P. 0 . Ro\ llt~O. \\'a\' crnss
DI S TRICT IX P. 0 ~ Rox .lJf~, (;aine s \ill<'
DI STRICT \ Route 2
Wa s hinJ:ton

On the Cover

IN CU RB ING FOREST FIRES
All Georgia is proud of the forest fire suppression program in our state which has brought about a record low forest fire loss of less than one-quarter of one per cent of Georgia's forest land during the calendar year 1962.
The report recently issued by Ray Shirley, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission says 46,789 acres were burned by 8,595 wild fires, with the average fire size of nearly five and a half acres last year. An improved detection system enabled the Commission to reduce average size, percent, and acres burned on the state's 23,563,000 forest acres.
That system includes the assigning of patrol planes to the Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Districts, with headquarters at Newnan, McRae and Rome, and the relocation of towers for best detection results.
Comparative figures for 1961 showed the 1962 area burned was reduced by 9,828 acres and the average fire size by one acre. The percentage reduction was slightly more than one half of one percent.
Georgia campers, we are happy to note, had the distinction of causing the fewest number of fires, 173, that burned 1,280 acres.
Debris burning caused the greatest number of fires, while smoker and incendiary fires ran second and third respectively. While it is heartening to know deliberate setting of forest fires is decreasing, it is sad to learn that careless trash burning has caused 3,109 fires that destroyed more than 15,000 acres.
Heedless householders in outlying residential districts have let trash fires "get out", and these are responsible for most of the fires of the past year.
Director Shirley deserves the praise of all of us for the good record of the past year in forest fire control in Georgia. He has recognized the need for trained personnel, modern detection facilities, and the latest in fire fighting equipment. And he has worked tirelessly to provide the desired facilities and accomplish results.
(From the Macon Telegraph)
BELTS FOR COUNTY CARS
A recent auto accident in which a county policeman was thrown into the windshield and seriously injured has convinced the county that seat belts are wonhwhile. Authorities said that the man would not have been pitched into the glass had he been wearing a seat belt. The belts are now to be standard equipment for all county patrol cars.
City police have been sold on the idea of belts for some time. A recent report from the Forestry Commission says that belts have been installed in all its vehicles including tractors and fork lifts.
Safety experts say that wearing seat belts greatly increases a driver's chances of surviving a crash. In many instances injuries are not as severe.
Why not place them in all county and municipal vehicles? For that matter, why shouldn't they be made standard equipment in private vehicles?
(From the Marietta Daily Journal)
CONDITIO NS RIPE FOR W OO D FIRES

The Georgia Forestry Comfl'ission, through its Arbor Day programs, attempts to bring about a better understanding of our forest s to our youth. Whether the MAN or TREE of TOMORROW, both must receive proper care to be of serv1ce or value to the community .
]I .>mh<'r o f the Ceorg-ia P rPss Association.
Second-class pos t ag e paid at Macon, Georgia.

For the next five months the stage is set for forest fires. The one item which has about the greatest influence of having wood fires is fuel conditions. Present fuel conditions are ideal for fires. Within the last month we have had a good deal of green grass, leaves, and needles turn brown and fall to the ground. This new accumulation of burnable material is evenly spread over most of our grass and forested areas, besides some of our agricultural lands. A lighted match dropped in any of these places could start a wild fire; whereas two months ago most grass areas and agricultural lands had been in vegetation. Where a spark from a trash fire may have landed on green grass through the summer months, now a spark from such a trash fire would fall on brown burnable fuel. During the summer months a pasture, cotton, or corn field could be depended on to stop a wild fire, now, the pasture, cotton, or corn field can be a greater hazard for the starting or spreading of fire than just plain woods. For proof of these burnable fuel conditions just notice our woods and fields for the next few months and see how much material you have that would resist burning compared to what will burn. The need for caution and care is on us and only our wise use of outdoor fire, w heth er. it be a discarded match or camp fire, will result in the preven tion of a destructive wild fir e.
(From tbe Jack son llerald)

ARBOR DAY

Shortly after the end of the Civil War, a man named Sterling Morton r1oved to Nebraska from his native lvJonroe, New York.
He immediately became interested in planting trees around his new home. Nebraska was a raw , new state. The towns and the country places didn't have the big trees he had been used to back in New York State.
The neighbors soon became interested in Mr. Mort on's tree planting project, and they, too, began setting out young trees around their homes. The idea spread throughout the county and eventually throughout the state.
The name of Sterling Morton is remembered today because he was the true founder of Arbor Day, a special day which is now celebrated throughout our nation.
In 1872, the N~braska legislature passed a law establishing the first Arbor Day. The original bill described the festival as "A day especially set apart and consecrated to tree planting".
This year marked the 72nd anniversary of Arbor Day in Georgia. It isn't a legal holiday, but it is a very important day--a day when we pause to pay tribute to the tree. It is a day in which school boys and girls throughout the United States usually conduct a program and participate in a memorial planting ceremony on the school grounds or in a public park.
A tree means many things. It provides beauty. It provides shade. It provides nuts and fruits. It provides fuel and lumber. It provides turpentine and other Naval store s products. It provides the raw materials for paper. and dozens of other products.
You could trace tree planting ceremonies back to the beginning of civilization, but the first formal ceremony, which we pattern our program after hete today, had its start in
Ohio in 1882.
The Nebraska idea, in 1872, did not attract much attention in other
sta tes at first, but 10 years later in Cincinnati, Ohio, two techniques in
the observance were added. The citizens of that city introduced the pra~ tice of planting memorial trees and they made the observance a school festival.
Today, Georgia doesn't wait until

- ~

.;!~---~-~.~ ~

. .... ...

..

Mac on Yout h Mus e um conservation s t uden t s observe Geo rgia's annual A rbor Day. Ch arles Pl ac e, Jr. , GF C l&E nssi s t ant, instruc t s t he y o uth on pl an ti ng.

Arbor Day to plant trees. The s ix nurseries of the Georgia Forestry Commission each year grows millions of seedlings which are transplanted in every county in the state.
But Arbor Day does give every student a chance to see how a tree is properly planted. It gives him a new appreciation of the tree, which means so much in the lives of all Georgians.
Arbor Day, then, allows each citizen to re-dedicate himself to the protection, preservation and perpetuation of our state's leading crop-Trees.
We, in the Georgia Forestry Commission, know how to plant a tree, fight fir e which threaten s the life of trees, treat forests for insects and
diseases and give directions in the
correct way in which trees should be thinned and harvested, but we c an't describe a tree as did Joyce Kilmer, who said:

Go v. Carl Sanders signs Arbor Day proclamat ion. Wit nessin g th e signing i s GFC Direct or Ray Shirley and G FA Exec. Director Harvey 13 rown.

"I think that I s hall never see A poem love ly as a tre e. A tre e whose hungry mo ut h is pres! Again st the earth's stoeet flowing breast, A tree that looks at God all day And lift s her leafy arms t o pray, A tree that may in s ummer wear A ne s t of robin s in ber ha ir , Upon wh ose bosom sn ow bas lain, Wh o intimat e l y l ives with rain. Poe ms ar e made by fools like we, But only God c an make a tre e. "

THOMASVILLE

by "Rip'" Fontaine, Jr.

To the South and West stand the past untouched...to the East and
North the present grows for the future. In the center, day in and day out, throbs the 'bud' of the City of Roses ... Thomasville.
Its industry is its heart beat and forestry is one of the principal carriers of employment and income. In 1962, the total value of all forest products produced in Thomas County was e stirn ated at $1,745,469. This included pulpwood, sawtimber and naval stores.
The pulpwood producers, sawmills, crate factory, naval stores operators and cabinet shops offer hundreds of Thomas Countians employment. In 1962, some 561 Thomas County wood-using industry employees had a take horne pay of more than $1,566,928. The monthly wage, $234, is $14 higher than the 1959 figure.
In the adjacent counties ofBrooks, Colquitt, Grady and Mitchell, the manufacture value of pulpwood, sawtimber and naval stores was estimated at $3,607,168, according to a 1961 Extension Service report. During the same year, the four counties had round pulpwood production of
95,549-cords. The employment and income fig-
ures for the four county trade area are estimated at 600 and $2-rnillion, respectively.
Making a major contribution to Thorn asville' s economy are a nurn ber of wood-using industries. They include Balfour, Bracey and Keadle Lumber Companies, Thomasville; Mitchell Bros., Metcalf; and Georgia Crate and Basket Company, Thomasville. Others include pulpwood dealers and naval stores operators.
Balfour is among the larger contributers with 75-ernployees and a payroll of more than $300,000. In
addition the company spends some

$685,000 annually for raw forest materials and another $150,000 on freight. The company reports that their pine chip production is valued at more than $204,600. In the production of lumber Balfour utilizes approximately 15,000,000 board feet of sawtimber and 13,418-cords of pulpwood. Balfour began operation 27-years ago with 12-ernployees. It is a division of Georgia Crate and Basket Co. which employs from 350375 employees.
The Bracey Lumber Co., started in 1932, has an annual payroll of $55,000. A maker of doors, sash, cabinets and stair work, their annual production runs between
250,000-300,000. Production in 1932 was about 50,000 per year. Thomasville's economy also receives the benefit of some $40,000, for raw materials, and approximately $10,000, freight, spent annually by the company.
The Keadle Lumber Co., a producer of lumber and chips, has a working force of 22. They draw, annually, some $100,000. In addition the company spends about $90,000 annually on raw forest materials.
Approximately $125,000 are paid out in salaries to some 66 employees at Mitchell Br.os. The Company spends another $200,000 for raw material and $50,000 for freight. The producer of dimension stock, paneling, flooring, chips and dressed and rough lumber utilizes some 6,000,000 board feet of sawtimber annually.
Three pulpwood producers in Thomas County , Robert C. Brown, Torn Carter, and W. P. Miller, ernploy some 16 workers. These men draw approximately $36,000 annually. Their combined pulpwood production comes to about 9,000-cords annually.

During 1961 there were 18,523cords of pulpwood and 9,613,000 board feet of sawtimber cut in Thomas County. In naval stores there were 136,186 faces being worked by six producers.
The pulpwood cut was valued at $287,107, sawtimber, stumpage value, $255,332; manufactured value, $1,070,435; and naval stores, $85,870. These figures do not include post, poles, veneer and other specialty products.
Thomas County leads the southwestern section of the State in sawtimber growing stock, according to a recent U. S. Forest Survey of Southwest Georgia. The survey shows 60-percent of Thomas County in commercial forest land. The 207,200 forest acres is an increase of12,000acresover the 1953 survey.
The report showed Thomas County with 606,600,000 board feet of growing sawtimber and 2,241,000 cords of pulpwood. This is an increase of some 100,000,000 board feet and a reduction of 30,000 cords over the '53 report.
However, the growing stock showed only 1,960,000 cords of pulpwood. This is second to Lowndes County which showed a 6,000 cord margin over Thomas Co. In addition there are 281,000 cords of cull timber, which is tops for the Southwest area.
In 1953, Thomas County had a growing stock of 1,861,000 cords and 407,000 cords in cull timber. These figures indicate a reduction in cull timber and an increase in growing stock.
In the four county trade area there are 632,000 forest acres or three percent less than in 1953. The net volume of sawtimber for the four counties is 1,134.2 million board feet. The four county area also has a net volume of 4,561,000 cords of growing pulpwood. The cull timber total is 588,000 cords of pulpwood.
Providing forest fire protection and forest management service for Thomas County is the Thomas County Forestry Unit under Forest Ranger David Westmoreland. The unit has a budget of $18,353 of which $12,799 goes for salaries of its five employees.
The upward trend of forestry in Thomas County must be maintained to supply present industry and to attract new industry to the Thomasville area.

Geor~ia Forestry Commi ss ion M a c on, G eor~ia
Dear Sirs:
A word of prais e f or OUR Forestry Unit at Fort V a ll e y, Buddy U p ton , Re~~ i e Ko ch en and Dot B a ssett.
On Dec. 18 the schoolbus dri ver noticed a fire on the side o f the ro a d . He to l d our 10 year o l d daughter to call some on e to hel p .
Since n o one was at home, she removed the bath room w i ndow to ~ et in the house to call the local fo r e s try u n it. B ein ~ acquainted with the unit' s per s onnel, she told them to hurry out that lire w a s in d addy's pines on Charlie Batchelor's f a rm.
Only a very small pla c e was burned. Had it not been for the quick thinkin ~ of ou r dau~h ter and the rea din e s s and speed o f " Our" Forestry Unit we would not have any tre e s and probabl y no home, ba m or larmin ~ equipment.
R e~~ie, Bud d y, Dot and j o Ann , o ur d a u~ht er, ha s mad e our Chri stmas a trul y h appy on e.
G ra tefull y ,
Mrs . C. R . Ba t ch elor
M r . Ed. Rich a r dson, Ran~ c r Mont~omery Fo r estry U n it Mt. Ve rn on, Geo r~ i a
Dear Mr. Richardson:
On behalf of Ryder Truck Lines we appreciate the cooperation you extended to us when we cl eared Hi ~hway 221, a few miles Nor th of Mt. Vernon, of the Ryder trai l e r wh i ch was d es troyed by fire.
T h e m an you sent, Mr. Wiley Kinch en, was not on ly friendly and court eous, but volunt eered to ~ive us a hand and, f r ankl y, without hi s h e l p, th e task of ~ e ttin~ the traile r off t h e hi ~hway wou ld have taken mu c h lon~er.
At o n e tim e, the f ire b l azed up a~ain and had your equi pm ent not been present to cool th is fire down th e c a ble and ch ains o f the wreckin ~ company wo uld h a ve been ruined. It w as c erta inl y a cons o lin~ facto r t o have th e e quipm ent and Mr. Kinchen available in th e event s ometh 1 n ~ un e xpected happen ed.
R y d e r Tt"uck Line s will be f o r e ve r ~ raleful.
Cordi a ll y yours ,
j ames R. Stelt s D ire ctor of Sa f ety Mr. A . L. jacobs Mr. Grable Rick s Geo r~ i a Fo r e s try Commission M cR ae Road Du b lin , G eor~ia
D ea r Sirs :
I'm l a kin~ th l s opportunl ty to express my appr eciation for th e ~ oo d job you a ll did In or~ani zin~ and in s tru c tin ~ t h e class, Bas i c Rescue, (Li ~ ht Duty) 18 S ept. -6 Nov., 1 96 2,
Mu c h thou~ht an d e ffo rt w ent in to th e t a sk of promo tin ~ i n t e r e s I an d enthu s i asm, wh i c h I beli eve l aid U1e ~ ro und wo r k to es tabli sh Rescue., Squa d s in our county. Y o u all are th e first m s truct . s to hand in comp lete and d erail r ecords of the c l ass, whi ch i s so h elpful to CD Directors.
T hl1Ilk you both for a j o b we ll done.
Yours lnJ/y,
M r s. W. C . Faulk

MEETINGS AND EVENTS... Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention, April 4, Pink Beds, N. ( .. .Sta te FFA Field Day, May 3, C oving t on... NF A Camp, Jun e 3-7, P erry...Georgia Forestry Association, June 12-13, Jekyll Is land... FF A Camp, June 24-28 , Waycross ...Southern Forest Tree Improvemen t Com mitt e e, June 26-27, Gulfport, Mi ss .

MEMORIAM ... Fran k A. Osborne, w-

vestigator, 7th and 8th Districts,

and night watch-

man , Macon C e n-

ter , for the Geor-

gi a

F orestry

Comm i s si on for

26-year s has

died. Director

Ray Shirley s tat-

ed th at Osborne' s job effieiency

Frank A . Osbo rn e a nd devotion to his work was a

tr ibut e t o him as a man and to the

State as an employee.

RESIGNAT ION ... Bob Gore , s pecial

inves t igat or , has resigned from the

Co mm is sion to

take over the

duties of the

State F ire Ma r-

s hal' s office.

Bob has been

wi.th . the C.om-
ffilSSlOn s1nce

1951, serving a s

7th District In-

Bob Gore

vestigator until 1955 when he

was prom oted to Chief Investigator.

In 1960, he was ass ig ne d as Speci al

Investigator. Gore ' s duties with the

C om missi on incl ude d , in add ition to

heading the fire inves tigation pro-

gram, handling of th e safet y pro-

gram, investigating th e ft s and break-

ins, personnel investigation and

checking co mpen sati on cases . The

personnel of the Georg ia F orestry

C ommission wis h him the be s t of

luck in his new pos ition .

Logging

Ge org ia For es tr y Commission Direc tor Ray Shirley recently was elected c hairman of the Southeastern St at es
Fores t Fire Compact Commission. li e s uccee ds Ge org e IV. Dean, s tat e fores t er, Va. Other office rs include C. II. Co ult e r, state fo rester, Fla. , vic e-c hairman, and James B. C artu>rig ht , fl. S. Fore st Ser v ic e , sec .tre as . Sen at or A lvin Kidue ll, Ky ., and r?. eprese ntative Lacy Thornb urg, N. C., is exe cut ive committee memb(' rs.

TR EE FARMS... Georg.i: a l eads a ll s ta t es in tre e farm acre s , 6 , 451,093, according to E. A. Davenport, Jr., c ha irm a n , Ge org i a Tree Farm Committee. Daven po rt repo rts th at pr evi ously top ra nked Al a bama 1s second with F lorida third.
L E AD ERSHIP . .. P a s t Govern or Ern es t Vand iver h as be en re cogni zed for his s usta ined, effective and farsighted leaders hip in forest research by th e Georg ia Fores t Res earch Co un cil. Coun cil Dire ct or H. E . Ruark a nd Georgia Forestry Commiss ion Director and Research Co uncil Board Membe r Ray Shirley made th e presemation.
OFFICE RS... Owen Riley, con s ultant for es t er , P in e ~l o un tain Va lley , has been elec ted c hairman, Georg ia Ch apter , Societ y of American F oresters . He s ucceeds F rank Bennett, Cordele. Other officers are Wal te r Ston e, Un io n Bag-Camp Paper Corp. , Stat esboro, chair man elec t ; and Vern on Yow, fo re s try profe s sor , ABAC, Tift on , SecTreas .

PhD DEGREE... The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has approved the offering of the PhD Degree in Forestry at the University of Georgia. Work toward the PhD may be undertaken in the fi:-: lds of silviculture or forest resource management, according to the School of Forestry Dean, A. M. Herrick.

APPRECIATION ... Patterson Baptist Church officials recently expressed appreciation to the Pierce County Forestry Unit for their role in extinguishing a blaze at their church. The efforts of local citizens and Ranger Willard Davis and his men confined the blaze to the front entrance of the church.

Frank Albert, center, 1963 Southeastern Section, Society of American Foresters chairman, Jacksonville, Fla., is congratulated by outgoing chairman II. E.
Ruark, Macon. Other officers, L-R, are Harry Johnson, Jacksonville, secre-
tary-treasurer, and William R. Sizemore, Tallasee, Ala., chairman elect. f D.
Cumbie, Waycross, right, is outgoing secretary-treasurer.

REGION 8 ... Lawrence S. Newcomb has been named assistant regional forester in charge of Recreation and Lands for Region 8, USFS. Southern Regional Forester James K. Vessey said that Newcomb succeeds Philip Bryan who has retired after 37 years of government service.

the foresters

NAVAL STORES... The U.S. can produce at least two and one-half its present output of naval stores products, according to a report just issued by the USDA. The report is based on a study started as a result of increases in demands for and prices of naval stores products in 1959-60.

Horace C. Eriksson is the new deputy regional forester for R eg ion 8, U. S. Forest Service, announced Regional Forester James K. Vessey. Eriksson was assistant regional forester, Timber Management, for the Rocky Mountain Region.

Georgia Forestry Commission personnel are taking a ten-hour first aid course divided into five two-hour sessions. Above, Donald C. Freyer, assistant Sixth District forester, Fire Control, Milledgeville teaches artificial re s piration. His victim is Mil ton Roberts, ranger, Bibb County, Macon.

Southern Fire Chiefs s hare problems at mee ting in Panama City, Fla. Seated, 1-r, are john Bethea, Fin.; Doc Attaway, Ala.; john Shire r, S. C., Rill Mitchell, Okla., and Joe Burnside, Texas. Standing 1-r, are Paul Tillman, N. C.; H. 0. Stewart, Miss.; jim Turner, Ga., jim Talley, Ark.; Cullen Valentin e, La.; and Lee Fine, Mo.

0 ak chip storage results show
advantages over conventional oak roundwood stonrge, according to a recent summer study of oak and gum chip storage.
The study, a cooperative effort between the Georgia Forestry Commission, U. S. Forest Service and Brunswick Pulp and Paper Co., was published in August, 1962. The project, beginning in 1960 and completed in 1961, was conducted at the Brunswick Pulp and Paper Co.
The project was initiated in an effort to find whether excessive chip deterioration during outside storage would be a disadvantage. It was already known that chip storage has advantages over roundwood storage through ease of mechanical handling and in uniformity of chips supplied to the digesters.
Paul J. Bois, forest products tech-
nologist, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, USFS, and the Forestry Commission, worked on the project with Robert A. Flick and William D. Gilmer, technical director and forester, respectively, Brunswick Pulp and Paper Co.
Compacted chip storage piles, constructed with a crawler tractor, were sampled to determine the amount and kind of deterioration present after periods of one, two, three, five and six months. Measurements were made of specific gravity losses, moisture content and fungus at-

This is a cross section of the green gum pile exposed for chip sampling after six months of outdoor exposure.
tack. In addition pulping tests were made to measure the effect of chip deterioration on pulp quality.
Bois stated that three chip piles were used in the study, one of oak and two piles of gum. One of the gum piles was kept wet throughout the study to test the theory that high moisture content would retard wood deterioration. The test did not indicate any substantial improvement in retarding the deterioration rate. The fresh, green wood, for the three piles, was chipped separately from mill-run material.
The wet gum pile contained approximately 60-cords of chips, the green gum pile, 95-cords, and the oak pile, 100-cords. Temperatures were measured by thermocouples in

the chip piles at 12-locations. Study results indicated that speci-
fic gravity losses may be reduced by c~mpacting the piles, and a very close correlation was found between the amount of fungus infection and the specific gravity losses in the chip piles. Comparisons, between losses in the experimental chip piles and roundwood storage, indicated more loss in gum chip storage, but, less in oak chip storage.
Air-borne contamination, falling on the chip piles, was a disadvantage encountered in chip storage. This resulted in high dirt counts that particularly could be a problem with bleached pulp.
In other findings, specific gravity losses in chip pile storage may be reduced by compaction .. the higher the proportion under compaction, the less the deterioration. Specific gravity losses (loss of wood substance) amounted to only three percent after six months of open storage in the compacted center portion of the oak chip pile.
Green gum compacted chip pile areas lost 6.2-percent in specific gravity and losses rose to 25.3-percent in the uncompacted areas after six months of open storage.
Digester screened yield~, were unaffected by chip storage. Total yield dropped after 60-days of storage. Pulp strength losses primarily were confined to loss of tearing resistance, which showed a drop of 10percent after 90-days of storage. This is not considered excessive in comparison with roundwood storage.
Moisture content changes were measured at the Macon Forestry Center, fungus, deterioration losses and specific gravity changes at the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisc., and fiber quality and dirt and cleanliness measurements at the Brunswick Pulp and Paper Co.
Free copies of the complete report are available from the Georgia Forestry Commission, Box 1077, Macon, Ga.

In the fo'? ground is a 100-c ord oak chif' f'ile and in the background, a 90-cord gum pile .

The fa miliar voice of KIB 2 15 ha s signed off for the last time . Henry Salmon, Floyd County dispatcher, retired Dec. 14, 1962 after 21 years s:-rvice with the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Salmon came with the old Department of Forestry in 1942 under Ra nger G. W. Boggs. Salmon stated th a t it was not uncommon to farm during the day, when the fire situation permitted, and fight fires during the night. The equipment, in the early days of the unit, consisted of a pick up, five rakes and flaps.
The veteran fire fighter explained that sawmill crews often closed down their operations to help fight large
Rangers

Retirement
Henry Salmon
Of The

fires. This help was paid $ 1 per day for raking fire lines.
Salmon's 21 years of service g ives him the most longevity of any person ever to serve with the Floyd Unit. Salmon expressed sadness in leaving the Commission but emphasized that he has enjoyed being a part of the development of the Floyd County Forestry Unit.
Commission Director Ray Shirley stated Salmon has been a credit to both his State and community. The efficient manner in which he has carried out his duties is a tribute to both he and his family. The State has lost a man with the highest integrity and regard for responsibility.
Quarter

Dodge County ha s had a major rol e in the expansion

of forestry in Georgia . The incre a s e in forest land from

173,300 to 221,800 acres is evidence of this expansion.

In accordance, the number of fire s , a creage burned, and

average size decreased with th is expansion.

In 1951, there were 203 wildfires averaging 11.40 acres

per fire . In 1962, 91-wildfires averag ed 4. 21 -acres or 1.16-

acres less than the State aver age . The man behind these
figures is Dodge County Fores t Ra nger J. D. Beauchamp.

On becoming ranger in

195 2, Beauchamp establish-

ed the Dodge County Keep

Gre en Committee in an ef-

for t to reduce forest fires.

The Committee now has

gro wn into the Dodge County

Fores try Association which

is promoting forest fire pre-

vention, management, and

marke ting of forest resources

in the county.

] . D. Beauchamp

Beauchamp, through land-

owner cooperation, demons trated some of the first hard-

wood control work by hand and mis t blo wi ng in the State.

Reforestation has been a primary target of his efforts with

some 34,000,000 seedlings pl anted in th e last decade.

Through Beauchamp's effort s B-10, A-7 and A-3 proc-

1 tices were put in the Dodge County ASC Program. In addi-

tion fire breaks now are part of the program's require ments.

His most recent contribution has been in converting

four lift type plows to wheel type. The wh e e l plow in-

creases the speed of the tractor, decreases the chance of

bogging, enables plow to maint ain a cons is tent depth on

' all terrain and is safer to operate.

The Georgia Forestry Associat ion , on four occasions,

has recognized Beauchamp and Dodge County for having

the most outstanding county in general performance.

When you speak of forestry in Dodge County, you speak

of . D. Beaucham .

"Educational programs, through school children, have

helped promote forestry throughout Brooks County."

Brooks County Forest
Ranger E. J. Hall has used

this philosophy in operating

the county unit for the past

20-years. The effectiveness

of the program is evident in

the county's fire record.

During the past ten years,

the average size fire has

been reduced from 21.92 to

8.49 acres per fire.

Improved detection me-

thods and better trained

E. ]. Ha ll

personnel have been beneficial in reducing the acreage

loss figure. Patrol craft and improved radio communica-

tions have been the outstanding contribution s.

In the late 40's and 50's the unit would get word of a

fire through the local radio station and telephones. L a nd-

owners would call in the fires to the station and they , in

turn, would relay the fire location.

The county fi re protection program received another

boost in 1958 when the Notification To Burn County Op-

tion Law was passed. That same year Hall received the

Outstanding General Perform ance Award for the State

from the Georgia Forestry Association.

For a four year period, 1942-46, th e forestry unit was

operated from the county agent's office. A dowctown of-

fice was us ed from '46 until 1959 when the unit wa s mov-

ed to its pres ent location on Ga . 33, South of Quitman.

Since 1942 the unit has grown from a one-truck, twocar 'rake' organization into a mechanized unit. The equipment cons ist of three tractors, two transports, and one tractor truck with trailer.
Ha ll be c a me ranger of Brooks County in 1942 when the Gec,rgia Fore s try Commis s ion was kno wn as the Department of Forestry. Prior to coming with the Commission he was an assistant to the vo-a teacher at Merven, Ga .

Inc reased forest management assistance, added and improved fire

protection facilities an d a reforestation program aimed at the fu ture

hig hlig hted the Georg ia Forestry Commission 1962 annual report.

Commission Director Ray Shirley praised the cooperation extended the Commission by all Georgians in the fight against the Southern Pine Bee-

tection system with detailed manning schedules prepared for each county.
The inovation of a radio interchange between truck and tractor has

tle epidemic. Through combined ef- increased fire suppression efficiency.

forts, a State Insect and Disease Committee was established. The Commission with the support of the committee obtained emergency funds. Governor Vandiver allocated $492,000 of which $300,000 cov:e rs_the peiiod of this report, July, 1961-June,1962. The U. S. Department of Agriculture allocated $305 ,000 in matching fun ds .
More woodland owners, 4,260, were given forest management assistance than in any other year in

Tractor operators can keep in cont act with patrol planes and other suppression units in the operation area.
Seat belts were made a permanent fixture in all commission vehicles including tractors. The move has reduced crippling injuries and made employees more safety conscious.

Commission history, Shirley added. Weed tree control operations were performed on woodlands of 282 landowners. In addition technical assis-

ta nce_, 183 cases, was provided on the 17 Georgia watersheds in an ef-

fort to improve soil and water conditions through good fore s t management.
The Commission Director placed emphasis on the establishment of an

all time average size fire record, 5.37 acres per fire . The acreage burned was _also reduced by 11,600 acres over 1960-61. This was accom-

plished with the addition of two counties, Jeff Davis and Peach, being brought under organized protection. The increase of 211,900 acres brings

to 15 3 counties or 23,563,000 forest acres of the States 25,772,200 forest acres under protection.

The report showed that of the

counties under protection 25 are combined. County units combined

this past fiscal year are MarionSchley, Hous ton-Pulaski, Tift-Turner, Crawford-Peach, Forsyth-North Fulton, and Lamar-Pike-Spalding. The cost-per-acre for combined units range from 10-13 cents a nd for noncombined units 13-16 cents.
The decrease in average size fire and acres burned was due, in part, to the strengthening of the fire detection program. Three additional light patrol planes were assigned to the 4th, 5th, and 7th Districts which provided the Commission with patrol craft in each district. Two Navy torpedo bombers are being converted into aerial tankers. These were obtained through the surplus program of the Federal Government. Greater emphasis was placed on the tower de-

Shirley stated that these factors paid-off in greater efficiency and savings last October and November when the worst fire conditions since 1954 hit the State. During this period there were 2,074 wildfires that destroyed 7' 738 forest acres. During the same period in 1954, 1567 fires darkened 17,405 acres.
The annual report shows that a program to develop trees with superior qualities and genetic characteristics desired to produce higher quality wood products is approximately 50 percent complete. There are 31,729 living grafts in the Commission's truee seed orchards. This re-

presents an increase of 86 percent in living grafts since 1958.
The Reforestation Division received a financial boost when Georgia obtained free use of $1,260,863 forestry facilities. President John F. Kennedy signed an act providing for the various States to continue using Soil Bank forestry facilities without cost to the states in June. The Commission constructed the following facilities with Soil Bank funds from 1956-60: Morgan, Page, and Walker Memorial Nurseries; expansion at He rty Nursery, and seed extractory, cold' storage building and Eastern Tree Seed Testing L aboratory at the Forestry Center, Macon. Georgia received the largest amount of federal assistance than any State to provide the forest trees needed by landowners.
In the 1961-62 fisc al year, 3,362 Georgians were shipped 54,342,250 seedlings. Another 61,475,000 pine seedlings were obtained by Georgians from industry nurseries. Thes e figures are several million above the post Soil Bank years when the Commission supplied industry with seedlings.
An effort to provide the best services possible was made with the establishment of a two-month in-thefield training course for new personnel on the Waycross State Forest. A State w.\de training session provided instruction in radio com mun ic a tions, fire control operational prodecures, us e of forest fire weather forecasts , fire suppression s afety, and use of tools and equipment.
Study areas in weed tree control, prescribe burning , and direct seeding were initiated. In addition a research project on gum and oak chip storage and a release on interior and exterior plywood was completed. "Georgia Wood -Using Industries, .a Utilization Report and Directory" was prepared. In addition the Commission contributed personnel and their expenses toward the completion of the forest resource survey conducted by the USFS.
Shirley added that with Georgia' s forest acreage increasing more than 1.5 million acres in the past ten years, there is an even greater need for good forest management practices. Through a policy of service and assistance and a well rounded training program, the Commission will provide landowners the 'tools' through which they can realize the greatest income from their forest resources .

Less th an one-quarter of one percent of Georgia forest land was destroyed by fire during calendar year "1962, according to Ray Shirley, dilrector, Georgia Forestry Commission.
The year-end report showed that .199 percent , or 46,789-acres, was . ' burned by 8,595 wildfires . The average size fire was 5.44 acres. Shirley cited an improved detection sys t em as enabling the Commission to re-

duce average size, percent and acres burned during 1962 on the State's 23,563,000 forest acres.
In comparing 1961 figures, Shirley pointed out that area burned was reduced by 9,828-acres, average size by one acre, and percent by .057 in 1962. The Commission Director had high praise for county rangers who have th e job of carrying out the fire suppression program.

The improved detection system included assigning patrol planes to the Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Districts with headquarters in Newnan, McRae, and Rome, respectiv e ly. In combined units, towers were relocated for be s t detection results. J a me s C. Turner, chief, Fire Control Division, emphasized that a goal of detecting 90-percent of the daytime fires was established as a State standard.
Turner pointed out the need for additional precautionary me as ures in debris burning. He said this category once again led in number of fire s, 3,109; and acres burned, 15,029. Smoker and incendiary fires ran second and third, 2,098 and 1,187 fires that destroyed 10,464 and 8,580 acres respectively.
Turner added that Georgia's campers had the distinction of causing the least number of fires, 173. The se fires burned 1,280 acres.
Shirley emphasized that trained personnel, utilizing modern fire fighting equipment, enables the Commiss ion to assure Georgia landowners of a sound and efficient fire control program. This, coupled with public acceptance and cooperat ion continues to guarantee that Georgia's losses from wildfire will be held to a m1n1mum.



r.

(

I

r

I..

The Kiwa ni s Club of Reynolds, in damaged by fire in January, 196 2.

cooperation with the Taylor County This plot is being used to s how mor-

Forestry Unit, has set up a forestry tality and the loss of growth in

demonstration area South of Reynolds. young pines.

The recently dedicated six-acre

Lawrence Cook furni shed the land

demonstration area consists of four and labor for planting the trees. A.].

one-acre plots of slash pine and a Fountain supervised the planting

two-acre plot with a row of loblolly operations.

pine planted in 1960 between those

Attending the dedication ceremo-

planted in 1959.

nles were H. A. Sealy and John

;r,_

The purpose of the demonstration Montgomery, ASC committeemen;

area is to show tree growth at var- Austin Guinn, Taylor County forest

ious spacings and the e ffect of ferti- ranger; Wi lli am L. Lanier, executive

lizer and fire on the trees. The spac- director, ASCS; and Roy F. Jones ,

ing being used is 4X4, 6X6, lOX 10, ASCS office man ager and Kiwanis

and 12X 12 feet.

C lub of Reynolds president.

A section of the loblolly pwe was