Georgia Forestry MARCH 1950 Page (he Georgia forestry Vigilance Is Necessary (from the Moultrie Observer) . WOodl~d fires are becoming an 1ncreas1ng danger in the rural areas _of Colquitt and neighboring count1es. The lack of rain in recent months has created a tinderlike condition which is highly susceptible to the slightest spark of fire. The situation is made more grave by reports of possible arson in so~e sections, particularly that ly1ng along the Moultrie-Adel high- way. which The was forest called prot upon etcotimoankeunfiivt ~ calls to that area within a single day reports havin~ information that some unidentified party is deliberately setting fire to the 1!.UOdlands. _This is the first year that Colqultt county has had the services of a bona fide fire protection unit. For many years the county has been seeking to inaugerate such a service for rural land owners, but only within the last six months have personnel and fire fighting facilities been available for such purposes. It begins to appear that the unit will be given a thorough test during its first year of existence. Until sufficient rain falls in the territory to eliminate the serious danger of fire, there must be a constant vigilance on the part of all citizens in the county. The fire unit personnel and landowners cannot alone carry the burden of watching for fires and reporting them. Any citizen who spots an uncontrolled fire can be of assistance during this critical period. We have thousands of acres of land in Chlqui tt county in timber--a valuable crop both for the present and future. Raging flames can reduce our per capita income materially within a few hours. ll)~ed 1/)~IJ.e .aw.4 BWuj C~eJ (from the Rockmart JournaL) We are pleased to see that ef-. forts are being redoubled in the county to enforce the laws against forest fires. Last week, for example, four cases were made against offenders. James Carter, Polk Forester, points out that woods may be burned under certain conditions, provided the fire warden and neighbors are notified at least 24 hours in advance and that all safety precautions are taken. This is not an unjust request, and anyone violating it purposefully should be punished to the full extent of the law. Because burning woodlands is not restricted always to the property on which the fire is set. All too often conditions cause the fire to spread to adjoining land, destroying timber and other valuable property. In our way of thinking, there are very few cases when burning is necessary. Most often it is done because of a lack of knowledge of the long-range consequences which are, in the main, harmful and destructive. But when one deems it necessary to set fire to his woods, he should make sure that it is being done legally and with proper precaution. Georgia Forestry Vol. 3 MARCH, 1950 No. 3 A monthly bulletin published by the Georgia Forestry Commission, 435 State Capitol, Atlanta. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office, Atlanta, Georgia, under the ac~ of August 24, 1912. Member, Georgia Press Association Ma r ch , 1950 P age T wo . Worst Forest Fire Season in Decade; . Damage Figures Continue to Mount Georgia is experiencing the worst forest fire season in a decade and the destruction by fires continues to100unt as Forest Protec- tion Units over the state carrr on in their greatest organized f1ght a2ainst wildfire. Since October 1. 5,000 separate wildfires have swept 125,000 acres of Georgia forest land (in protected counties alone) and County Forest Rangers and fire crews are now girding for battle with the onslaught of fires expect- ed during March, which is usually the peak month of suppression ac- tivity. Governor Talmadge has thrown the resources of the State into the fight to hold down the fire loss, and has called on all the citizens of the State to cooperate throughout the fire season in preventing fires, in reporting fires to County Protection Units and in giving volunteer aid in suppressing wildfires. The Highway Department , the Department of Public Safety, .and the Fish and Game Commission have aided Forestry Commission forces in detecting , locating and suppressing fires. Many weeks--and in some sections even continuous months--of dry weather, coupled with sustained high winds, have kept woodlands dry and the forest fuel in a highly ignitable condition. Fire danger ratings have been high, extremely critical, or explosive much of the time. (Continued on Page 5) Wildfire sweeps through young growth in Georgia Pinelands. A sup- Pression firebreak (foreground) has been constructed to stop the de- vastating flames Pa ge- Three Georgia forestry SPCA Meeting Shows Southern Pulp Industry Growth Le f t , E. J. Ga yne r , III, SPCA Presiden t, addres s es group. Ri ght, H. J. Halsbe r ger gives Conse r vation Repo rt . Pho tos by So. Pu l p ~ Pap er Hfr . More than 200 del e gates, includ . ing representatives from all the Southeastern States, were in at tendance at the annual meeting of the Southern Pulpwood COnservation As sociation held at the Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, on February 15 . E. J. Gayner III, Vice-President and General Manager of the Brunswick Pulp endPaper Company, and the Associations President, opened the morning session by welcoming those attending the meeting, outlining the growth of the southern J1.1lpwood business and describing the great contribution of the Southern Pulpwood Conservation Association to the wise management and use of the southern forest resource. Gayner cited the fact that the southern pulp industry now repre- sents an invesbnent of $624 million, whereas in 1933, total capital in- vested in the industry was only $105 million. Production capacity has risen from 3,000 to 19,000 tons per day. from 18, 00E0mnpelonymtoent12h8a,sooion:c. reWasoeodd consumed in 1933 totaled less than two million cords; in 1948 nine million cords were consumed by the industry. The second feature of the open- RinegposrtesbsyioHnenwryasJ.thMe alCsboenrsgeerrv, atFioorn- ester-Manager of the Association. Malsberger reviewed the progress and acconplishnents of the Associa- tion during the first decade of its operation. He related the expansion and increase in all phases of As- sociation activity including J1.1bli- city and ed.Jcation, fire protection, planting, management assistance, examinations of cuttin~s, and dem- onstrations. W. K. Beichler, State Forester of North Carolina discussed '*Plann- ing a State Forestry Program", and named the following as es~ential legislation for the most progress- ive operation of a state forestry agency: Adequate state-wide .co~t!ol of for wthiledfpirroedsu'ctaiodneqaunadtedifsatcr1:il~1tt.1ieosn of seedlings; adequate fac1l1t1es to give marketing and management assistance to owners and operators (Conti nue d on Page 10) March, 1950 Page Four The first edition of the"Forest Farmer Manual", just published by the Forest Fanners Association Cooperative, is a valuable addition to the files of all Georgia timberland owners and operators. The Manual is a "must" reference and reading material for all those interested in forest management, production and utilization. The Manual was edited by Paul W. Schoen, Executive Secretary of the Forest Fanners Association COoperative, and is a veritable storehouse of information with answers to many of the questions and problems commonly confronting timber growers and farmers. The material is well presented in a readily understandable and usable form. All major phases of forest management, production, marketing and utilization are covered in the Manual. The material is the accumulative contributions from leading authorities in many fields of forestry and the wood using industries. The first portion is devoted to an overaH description of "Our Southern Forest", Tree Growth and Relationsh1ps", and- the "Management dSouthem Forests". The management section provides information on approved silvicultural practices, measurement of standing timber, hardwood elimination and pruning. Forest protection from fire, insects, and disease fills one section of the Manual. The space devoted to reforestation gives useful information on the various methods of planting. Forest owners can get many valuable tips from the ''Harvesting, Mar, keting and Measuring' section of the Manual. This section covers methods of estimating and measuring standing timber and forest products that have already been harvested. Marketing advice on all classes of products is included, with samples of timber sale agreements and pulpwood contracts. The "Naval Stores" section covers woods work, marketing, the loan program, and the production phase of the industry. A hicllly-useful section of Manual is the final secti-on, entitled "Professional Services" and containing a catalogue of national, regional, state and private organizations and services which are directly engaged in, cooperate in, or are interested in forestry and the forest products industries. . Here'.s one of the net<. forestry s~gns be~~g erected along Georgia's h~ghiAXlys tn aLL protected counties. fhe attractive green-and-white panels urge public support of the forest protection program and emphasize the stake of aLL citizens in the forest resources. fhe boLdLy-Lettered, doublefaced signs measure three by five feet, and wiLL serve to forcefuLLy remind aLL wayfarer& that the ultimate success of the Forestry Commission's protection and fire prevention program depends upon the active cooperation, support and assistance of aLL the pedple of the State. }>age Five Ge o,-g ia fo,-estry Damage Mounts in Extensive Outbreak (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) The extensive, valuable timberlands of South Georgia have been the most severely hit, though accumulative fire reports show extensive damage in all sections of the State. The progressive worsening of the situation is seen by a comparison of figures on the numbers of fires and the acreage burned during recent months in the 79 counties having organized protection units .. No in- formation is available on hre loss in counties not having organized protection. During October, which usually signals the beginnin~ of thefireseason, there were 98 hres covering 850 acres. November fires numbered 773 with a total loss of 16 600 acres. supPressed by The number of Protection Unit s fidr~ers ing December climbed to 984, w1th the burned area totaling 27,848 acres. Fires during January in protected rounties reached the seemingly record number of 1,671 and burned 45,175 acres. However , preliminary figures on fire damage during February - indicate that the January figures will be far surpassed. from the careless use of fire in burning off fields, pastures, new ground, -or in carrying out "control burning" operations. Care on the part of all persons is the only Forest fire danger in Southeast Georgia reached the explosive stage during the third week in February, and preliminary figures showed tha~ during the first three weeks of the month more than 1,200 wildfires had burned 25 first and' 000 eigh acres of th forest rtyim~biesrtrin~cttshe alone. A rash of destruct1ve f1re s also swept areas in the ninth ~d tenth districts (northwes~ Georg1a) during the third week in February. Most other areas of the st a te, notably the southwest , west and northwest continue to report large numters of fires in protected counties and increasing acreage losses. Carelessness and incendiarism appear as the two main causes of fires during the present outbreaks. Many of the fires have originated Be,-e jast-aoving flames 1"ace thro P,-otection Units as th e extended dr~ yea,-s, II March, 1950 :s of Woods Fires means of reducinb the fires start- ing in this manner. A large number of fires have been deliberately set by persons with a malicious or mi~ chievous intent. To combat th1s cause of wildfires, law enforcement activities of the Georgia I\Jreau of Investigation and Forest Fire Wardens is being greatly intensified. >ugh pines of South Georgia. Score s of such fires are being fought dai~y by ~ ht and high winds combine to make ~ his the worst forest fire season in ten Page Seven Ge org i a f ore stry Lamon Williams , Candler County Ranger, has received the written thanks and praises from a lando'IVler in his county. Williams and his assistants recently stopped a fire that probably would have destroyed the home and barn of Mr. and Mrs. G. F. McElvy, of near Register, Georgia. Mrs. McElvy wrote Ranger Williams as follows: Just to thank you and your associates for yottr kindness and promptness in putting out the fire on the Lester's and our property on last Friday. Had it not been for you and your outfit, it very likely could have proven disastrous for us .. ..... It makes 1i fe more worthwhile to know there are some people who are willing to keep and look after your property, when one is unable to help one's self . . . . . . Mr. McElvy and I greatly appreciate your kindness, and if in any way either of us can be of service or cooperate with you please advise. Ranger E. P. Eubanks, Cowet a County, has just moved his unit into their new headquarters on the Newnan citywatershed. The structure includes an office for the unit, living quarters for the Ranger and shower facilities and uni tpersonnel. Land for the building was deeded by the city of Newnan to the Forestry Cbmnnssion. Coweta Cbunty employees and personnel of the Protection Unit worked together in construction of the building. ~ Frank King, Lowndes Cbunty Rang er, will not have to worry about sending one -of his boys to college. Ranger King's oldest son, Jimmie, was the winner of the first annual Southern Cross~ountry Bicycle Marathon and the $2,50~ Schwinn Memorial College Scholorship. Jimmie covered the gruelling 63 miles from Waycross to Valdosta in the record time of three hours and 15minutes, and the local paper recorded. "Waiting at the finish line was Frank Kin~, county forester, father of the f1rst place winner. Mr. King happily took his son in his arms as the boy disnounted from his bike. The father then walked Jimmie around to keep him in motion ~ile cooling. Ma r athon champion Jimmi e Ki ng , ri ght , son of f ran~ Ki nR , Lo wnd es County Range r, r ec e ives his coLl eqe scho l arsh t. P f r O'M f r ank Sc htJJi nn . J i mm i e wi ll at t end Ge org1. a Tech . March, 1950 Page Eight Conference Program Outlines Southern Forestry Progress More than 400 delegates, including representatives from 12 Southern states, attended the annual Southern Forestry Conference held February 17 and 18 at the George Washington Hotel, Jacksonville, Florida. President, South Plywood Manufacturers Association, veneer; Fred V. Doutt, chief chemist, Champion Paper and Fiber Company, chemical utilization; and Justin R. Weddell, St. Regis Paper Company, promoting wood and forest products . Featured speaker of the opening session of the Conference, which was sponsored by the Forest Farmers Association, was Marcel Leloup, Director of the United Nations Di vision of Forestry and Forest Products. Leloup stated that The prosperity of Southern forestry i~ of interest to the whole world," and he complimented the spirit of cooperation between forest industries and forest owners. . A rosiness session of the Forest Farmers Association concluded the conference. In the business session all officers and regional leaders were reelected. Other speakers during the first session included W. M. Oettmeir, President of the Forest Farmers Association; A. E. Wackerman, Professor of Forest Utilization, Duke University, and L. K. Pomeroy, well known forest operator. John P. Herndon, formerly Superintendent of the Davisboro Nursery, has been appointed Assistant District Forester of the Eighth District, with headquarters at Waycross. He will work under M. E. ~ixon, Eighth District Forester. Frank S. Wright, assistant to Florida's Governor Warren, addressed a luncheon meeting of the Conference on "The Place of Forestry in a Southern State". Herndon has directed operations at the Davisboro Nursery for the past tv;o planting seasons. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Forestry, is married and is the father of two children. The principal address of the Cbnference was delivered by Senator Frank P. Graham of North Carolina. Graham congratulated the forest farmers for their cooperative endeavors in the fields of forestry Curtis Barnes, formerly Dodge Cbunty Forest Ranger has been named assistant to Olin Witherington, Third District Forester. education, research, and legisla- Barnes has served as Ihdge County tion. Ranger since the unit began opera- tion in July of last year. He is a SPeakers in the final sessions graduate of the University of Georgia of the COnference included Oswald Lightsey, First Vice;President, ' School of Forestry. Barnes is married and he and his wife have Southern Pine Association, on lum- established residence in Americus. ber; B. E. Allen, Assistant to the General Manager, Union Bag and Paper Cbrporation, pulpwood; F. H. Milton Pierce has been appointed Vogel, Alabama Polytechnic Insti- Ranger of the Dodge County Forest tute, poles and piling; E. M. Protection Unit. Pierce is a gradu- Oliver, American Turpentine Manufacturers Association, naval stores; E. W. Jones, President, Railway Tie Association, ties; Don Nichols, ate of the University of Georgia and has had previous experience in farm forestry work. qe and his wife reside in McRae. Page Nine Georgia forestry Governor TaLmadge proclaimed the week of February 19 ~5 as Keep Georgia Green Week and the observance throughout the State served to impress upon all Georgians the necessity of protecting and developing the forests that provide the raw material for a 300 million dollar business every year mid furnish a livelihood ~or more than 120,000 of the state's citizens. In proclaiming Keep Georgia Green Week, the Governor called on all Georgians to cooperate fully in helping to prevent woods fires and hold down the loss and destruction that results from wildfires. r Throughout Georgia, Keep Green Week was marked by numerous news articles, radio broadcasts and special programs. "JOE BEAVER" By Ed Nofziger Foreat Service, U. B. Department of Agrlcultur~ "A is for, Ah . . . Always-" Harch,l950 Page Ten George Vitas Reassigned Smokey Says: George Vitas, for the past three years Information Specialist in the Division of Information and Education, Southern Region, U. S. Forest Service, has taken over as I4strict Ranger in charge of the Mt. Mitchell District of the Pisgah-Croatan National Forest. Vitas requested this assignment toobtain additional field experience. Vitas has worked closely with educational and publicity personnel of public and private agencies throughout Georgia and the South during his period of service in the Southern Regional office. Fe has constantly cooperated in providing valuable counsel and actively contributing to the I&E literature used in the South. Edwin A. Heers, 11t present Ranger of the Mt. Mitchell District, will succeed Vitas as Information Specialist of Region 8. Keep Green Issue The Jeff Davis County Ledger published its se-cond annual "Keep Jeff ~vis Greerr' edition on February 16. J. E. Baynard is Editor of the Ledger, which is published by the Rogers Publishing Company, Pazlehurst. The special "Keep Green" issue was printed completely with green ink. The entire front page was devoted to describing the great loss suffered every year in Georgia and throughout the country from woods fires. Smok-ey Brar and "Keep Georgi a Green" sea 1s adorned the top of the front page along with a five-column illustration depicting Shameful Facts About Forest Fires. Througbout the special edition the bulk of the space was filled with ads and editorials boosting fire prevention and the proper man~gement of woodlands. Many of the ads were sponsored by private and civic organizations in Hazlehurst and throughout Jeff Davis CoUnty. There's No Profit In Wild Woodtt Fires! PULPWOOD MEET (Continued from Page 3) of woodlands; adequate resources to carry on a full, sustained informa- tion and education program. Other speakers at the meeting included: William A. Duerr, South- ern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, who covered "Guid-es profitable Forest Management"; wto. J. Barker, Clemson College Exte~- sion Service, Clemson, South Caro- lina, who described the program carried on cooperatively between the pulp industry and the extension service in his state; J. Harold Foi 1, Gaylord Container Corpora- tion, who described and gave results of some of the forestry operations carried on by his company in louis- iana; and A. W. Pitts, an indepen- dent pulpwood dealer of Pittsview, Alabama. A business session of the Association was held in the afternoon, and a banquet in the evening featured President Gayner as Toastmaster and an illustrated lecture byJ. H. Stone, Regional Forester, . S. Forest Service, on his recent attendance at the Third Wo r1 d Forestry Congress. R. W. Wortham, Jr., Southland Paper Mills, Inc., was elected to head the Association during the coming year. Georgia Forestry lfARCH 1950 Entered as second-class matter at tne Post Office, Atlanta, Ga.