Georgia forest lookout [Dec. 1931]

Volume 1

ATLANTA, GA., DECEMBER, 1931

Number 12

SOUTH GEORGIA FOREST MRS. W. W. STARK

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

FIRES

PIONEER IN FORESTRY

AIDS WITH FIRES

Mrs. William W. Stark, Commerce, Ga.,

Crucial Test Successfully Met-Tim- was not only among the first to promote Roadside Fires to Be Suppressed-

ber Protective Organizations Effect-

the cause of forestry in Georgia but one who did very effective work, especially

Equipment Available to Forest

ive in Greatest Threat Yet Con- among women's clubs and schools. She Service for Emergencies.

fronted-Unorganized Land Own- was second vice-president of the Georgia

ers Willing Fighters-Total Area Forestry Association for four years in the

Burned Over Only Small Percent- early years of the organization, being the While directing the forest fire cam-

age of Whole-Spectacular Swamp Fires Give Appearance of Wide

first woman to hold executive office in the Association.
While serving as vice-president, Mrs.

paign in South Georgia, State Forester B. M. Lufburrow communicated with Governor Richard B. Russell, Jr., and with Cap-

Conflagration.

Stark put on an aggressive campaign in tain J. W. Barnett of the Highway De-

the interest of forestry in the women's partment, and obtained permission for use

"Since forest fires have been successful- clubs of the state, offering two silver lov- of highway forces and equipment in for-

ly controlled during the long dry spell we ing cups to the districts of the Georgia est fire control. Division highway engi-

have had, they can be successfully con- Federation of Women's Clubs doing th,e neers in South Georgia conferred with

trolled at any time," says State Forester best work in promoting forestry. The first Mr. Lufburrow and the following day a

B. M. Lufburrow.

cup was awarded to Mrs. Nora Laurence highway tractor was put on an important

That forest fires have been successfully Smith, of Ashburn, for the best record. fire near Valdosta to make firebreaks.

combatted during this crucial test is evi-

(Continued on page 3, column 2)

Captain Barnett has stated that orders

denced by the fact that less area has been

would be issued to all highway crews to

burned over during the fall than usually

suppress camp fires and warming fires, and

occurs. A survey now being made sub-

to otherwise take care of fires started

stantiates the statement.

along highways. He has also issued or-

Many fire s have broken out but realizizing the great damage that fires will do to the trees during the long drouth, citizens generally have been willing fire fightc

ders that highway forces render assistance
whenever possible in fire control when
called upon by representatives of the Ge~rgia Forest Service.

ers with the result that except for swamp

The aid thus made available for forest

fires, the burned area of each fire has

fire suppression in the state is considered

been less than usual.

by State Forester B. M. Lufburrow to be

very important and of great help to prop-

T. P. O.'s Splendid Work

erty owners in protecting their lands

Timber protective organizations have met the situation splendidly. Prompt, systematic and intelligent attacks on out-

against fire damage. It is an aid which the Georgia Forest Service values very highly.

breaks have restricted the burned area to

a small percentage of the whole. The ~imber protective organizations have been

In great demand to aid in fighting fires in

unorganized areas. Men and .equipment

have been supplied and as a result, much

Unorganized area has been saved thanks

to the T. P. O.'s.

'

(Continued on page 2, column 1)

MRS. W. W. STARK, COMMERCE PIONEER IN GEORGIA FORESTRY

Lincoln county land owners appealed to the county commissioners for the use of convicts in fighting forest fires in October and received assistance from that quarter. Chatham county has a forest fire fighting truck and convicts are subject to call in assisting in forest fire control.

2

GEORGIA FOREST LOOKOUT

GEORGIA FOREST LOOKOUT In dealing with swamp fires the Geor- damaged timber with comparative ease. gia Forest Service, cooperating with land Those who have swamp timber that fire

Published Monthly By

owners, only undertook to hold the flames has damaged would do well to immediate-

GEORGIA FOREST SERVICE

in the swamps. This was accomplished ly cut and log it, getting it away from the

State Capitol

Atlanta, Ga. both by direct fighting and by backfiring. swamp as soon as possible to avoid rapid

C. A. Whittle, Editor

State Geologist S. W. McCallie says decay and insect damage that will set up

Staff of the Georgia Foreat Service

that it is the belief that the Okefenokee if left in its present place.

B. M. Lufburrow, State Forester......Atlanta C. A. Whittle, Director of Education and
Utilization .................................... Atlanta
Everett B. Stone, Jr., Assistant State Forester ................................ Gainesville
H. M. Sebring, Asst. State Forester,
- Macon C. Bernard Beale, District Forester,

swamp once had much more timber land than at present, the timbered area being reduced by fires burning the peat soil from under the trees. The burned soil areas are now occupied by water instead of trees, the islands in the swamp now covered with trees having escaped the fire.

Turpentine Operators Active
Much credit is due turpentine operators for their suppression of fires during the drouth. The danger to turpentine "faces" was made more acute by the drouth. Operators patrolled their lands closely and were able to rally help and fight fires which

..............................................Waycross W. D. Young, District Forester......- ....Rome

Backfiring Methods

otherwise would hava spread and destroyed much property. It is noticeable that

Jack Thurmond, District Forester,

The greatest difficulty about holding as soon as one passes northward out of

- Savannah Charles N. Elliott, Assistant Director of
Education ---- Atlanta H. D. Story, Jr., District Forester,

fires to the swamps and to restricted areas in the swamps, has been promiscuous backfiring. by timber owners or turpentine

lands operated for turpentine, there is less fire fighting and more widespread burning by each fire.

................................................ Albany lease holders, who become panicky when

W. G. Wallace, District Forester,

the smoke drifts in their direction. In

............................................ Columbus fact, the extension of swamp fires has

Causes of Fires
Most of the fires started during the

Mrs. Nellie Nix Edwards, Secretary to the been more largely due to unnecessary drouth were evidently accidental. Those

State Forester ..............................Atlanta backfiring than to the spread of the orig- who believe in burning off the woods real-

Mrs. R. S. Thompson, Secretary to Direc- inal swamp fire. New blazes were thus ized that it was too dry to start fires withtor of Education and Utilization, Atlanta started in the swamps where it is possible out doing great injury to the ~rees. Hunt-

Forest Fires-Cont'd

the original fires would not have reached. ers were probably the chief offenders. Some of the most valuable service ren- Building fires in swamps to smoke out

Spectacular Swamp Fires

dered by the staff of the Georgia Forest 'possums or 'coons that have taken refuge

Swamps, bays or ponds, as they are va- Service was in restraining unnecessary in hollow trees or logs, or the burning of

riously called in South Georgia, are the backfiring, and in coordinating and con- briar patches to drive out rabbits were

scenes of the most spectacular and per- trolling backfiring so as not to spread fire probably the ways some fires were started.

sistent fires. On account of the long to land that need not be burned as a Some were started as warming fires made

drouth these swamps or low lands that are protective measure.

by hunters and by roadside campers. Some

usually full of water or very damp, are The foresters helped to correct the ten- few doubtless used fire to avenge some

now quite dry. The soil is made of or- dency of property owners and turpentine real or fancied wrong. Railroads evident-

ganic matter derived from moss, grass and lease holders to begin backfiring an un- ly started quite a number of fires.

forest litter. When dry this soil will burn. necessarily long distance from the threat- Several South Georgia counties offered

This is what is occurring in some of the ening fire. They usually make roads or $100 to $200 reward for evidence to con-

swamps.

fences the starting point for backfiring vict woods burners. These rewards were

When the swamp soil burns the trees without much regard to their distance supplemented by offers of $50 to $500 by

of that area are left without root support from the fire. Much area is often thus large timber owners, and should have a

and crash to the ground. Until enough unnecessarily burned. The correct meth- wholesome effect.

rain comes to saturate the ground, these od, of course, is to establish a firing line
swamp fires will continue to smoulder and as near to the fire as practicable. In the NOTES FROM THE FIRING LINE

burn. Fanned by winds, the soil fires flare absence of roads, streams, trails or other Holes 5 and 6 feet deep were found

up and make rapid headway through the natural breaks from which to backfire, burned in peat soils of swamps.

surface vegetation and emerge from the plowing may be employed. By the aid of

swamps to the higher pine lands where tractors and plows on swamp fires, the Forest fire fighters learn to detect a

grasses and undergrowth create an intense Georgia Forest Service was able to estab- woods fire from a peat fire by the odor

and harmful blaze.

lish close in firing lines, thus saving many of the smoke.

When a swamp fire has only started thousands acres from unnecessary burn-

and occupies little space it can be held in ing.

Smoke put up by a woods fire is white,

check by digging a trench around it. On

Destructiveness of Swamp Fires

but when it gets on the face of turpentine

account of the drouth no water is near and No forest fires are more destructive trees it takes on a dark hue.

is not depended upon for combatting the than those burning in dry swamps. For fire burning the soil. In case the swamp the most part the swamps are occupied

The Arabia bay in Lanier county was

fire has been neglected and allowed to by valuable hardwoods and cypress. Be- the largest fire, covering about 8,000 acres.

spread, as has been the usual case, trench- cause of the normal presence of moisture Before foresters got to the fire it had

ing or any other method of combatting soil fires is impractical. Only enough rain-

in the soil the tree roots are shallow. Lack of moisture weakens the vitality of the

emerged from the swamp and had burned several thousand turpentine "faces". Work-

fall to saturate the soil will put an end to trees and renders them more susceptible ing day and night in cooperation with tim-

them. It was these swamp fires persisting for
weeks, throwing up a great amount of

to injury from heat. This with burning of the soil brings disastrous results.

ber owners, the fires were confined to the swamp in three days.

smoke to spread as a dense pall for miles

Salvaging Swamp Timber

The South Georgian says he has "secur-

that resulted in reports that all South The fact that swamps are dry makes it ed" his land when he has backfired and

Georgia was on fire.

possible to enter them and harvest the checked the main fire from further ap-

GEORGIA FOREST LOOKOUT

3

........

proach, which is a pretty good way to de-

Mrs. Stark-Cont'd

were as follows: President, Warner Hall,

scribe it.
Plowing furrows in ground that has not been wet for months is another thing. With a tractor and road plow on which two or three ride, furrows can be plowed.
Two members of the forestry force scouting for fires, put out two fires single handed by beating out the flames.
The best way to get bystanders to fight

The second cup was won by Mrs. Don Barnes, of Royston.
In her own district (ninth) Mrs. Stark offered cash prizes to schools organizing fo~estry clubs and making the best exhibits of wood and woodcraft. She also carried on a publicity campaign in the newspapers of her district and arranged for forestry meetings in the schools.
Mrs. Stark has been prominent in woman's club work in Georgia for several years, having been treasurer of the State

Decatur; Vice Presidents, Henry H. Estes, Gainesville, and J. M. Tinker, Athens; Secretary, Chas. N. Elliott, Covington; Treasurer, Lewis H. Johnson, Decatur.
Prominent guests attending the conference were Clinton G. Smith, Supervisor of the Cherokee National Forest; Miss Cecelia B. Branham, Brenau College, Gainesville Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hall, Atlanta; Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Jennison, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and R. R. Ozmer, author and prominent au-

fire, the foresters found, was to go in and Federation, chairman of credentials and thority on the southern Appalachians.

show them how. The initiative and hard civil service; state chairman of woodcraft

fighting of foresters led one land owner in public schools; state superintendent of

to say that the Georgia Forest Service had stewardship of the Georgia Baptist W o-

saved him many thousands of dollars.

man's Missionary Union; chairman of for-

estry, publicity, fine arts, illiteracy and

FOURTH DISTRICT W. G. Wallace, District Foresrer
Columbus

J. The highway crews that went on the public welfare in the Ninth District Fed-
fires rendered fine service and were highly eration of Women's Clubs; president Wo- T.

Fountain of Reynolds to Plant

complimented by men in the forest ser- man's Improvement Club, Commerce; his-

Large Acreage in Pines

vice.

torian of J. E. B. Stuart Chapter U. D. Mr. T. J. Fountain of Reynolds, one of

C.; historian James Pittman Chapter D. the twelve Master Farmers of Georgia, is

The lookout tower on the top of Ware hotel at Waycross was used to advantage in detecting outbreaks of fires in the Way-

A. R.; historian of Madison county and now is engaged in writing a history of the county. She also is president of the

planning reforestation of more than two hundred acres of formerly cultivated land by planting direct with longleaf pine mast.

cross region.

Woman's Missionary Society of the First Mr. Fountain has the reputation of being

Baptist church of Commerce.

thorough in anything he undertakes, there-

While the state foresters from the whole country were visiting the Superior Pine Products area at Fargo a fire call came in. A crew dashed off in trucks and were back in half an hour with the fire out. Capt. I. F. Eldredge in charge of the forest, in the meantime proceeded calmly to explain

It is with great pleasure that Mrs. Stark is listed in the Georgia Forest Look.out's gallery of notable pioneers in forestry.
ANNUAL TRAIL CLUB MEETING

fore successful. Although the direct planting of pine seed on areas to be reforested has not generally proven successful it is hoped that this experiment will produce the desired results, and if so, the method followed will be available to others wishing to plant by seeding.

their plans of operating the 225,000 acre

area.

Tennessee-Georgia

at Helen.

Driving an automobile on a twisting

Hikers

Convene

Old Indian Trail on Pine Mountain To Be Opened up as Scenic

Highway and Firebreak

woods road through a smoke so dense one could see only a few feet ahead is another incident in a forester's life on the firing
line.
The reporter who surveyed the fire

Sixteen hardy hikers from the Smoky Mountain Club of Tennessee, traversed their rugged peaks and came into the Blue Ridge of Georgia on the week end of November 7-8 for the annual meeting of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.

Mr. A. S. Persons, president of the Meriwether County Timber Protective Organization, with the commissioners of Harris and Meriwether counties, and officials of the Meriwether Foundation, Inc., made an organized tour in automobiles of an old Indian trail leading along the ridge of Pine

area from an aeroplane and reported all Forty-five members of the Georgia Club Mountain from Warm Springs to Tip Top,

South Georgia on fire must have met with poor visibility due to widespread smoke

were present. The annual conference was featured by

where the Columbus-Atlanta highway goes over Pine Mountain. This old Indian trail

floom very few fires.

a square dance in the spacious hall of follows along the ridge for a distance of

Mitchell Mountain Ranch and a hike to the about twelve miles, and is the location of a

One farmer in the fire region said his top of Tray Mountain, one of Georgia's proposed scenic route that has long been

land had not had a wetting rain since highest peaks. This trip was one of the in the minds of hundreds of Georgians.

Jlarch.

most enjoyable of the year on account The Hon. George Foster Peabody, in a

of the colorful autumn foliage and the letter to the Columbus Inquirer-Sun, called

"Let's Report All Fires and Help Stop cool, pleasant weather.

the attention of people in this section to

'Ein", appears in large letters on a black Mr. E. G. Frizzell, of the University of the scenic possibilities of Pine Mountain

board in the lobby of the Appling county Tennessee Experiment Station, was the and its attraction to tourists. Dr. Peabody

COurthouse, placed there by County principle speaker on the program. He in all probability, has dreamed of a scenic

Arent Walker who is also secretary of a gave a very interesting and inspirational route along the ridge of this beautiful

tbnber protective organization. Mr. Walk- talk on the Smoky Mountains and the ac- little mountain range.

er is an ardent fire protectionist.

tivities of the Knoxville club. Dr. H. M. The Georgia Forest Service is anxious

Jennison, botanist of the University of to see this project developed, and to have

. A group of students studying forestry Tennessee, made a short talk on the Great the entire mountain range finally incor-

~ Stockton Consolidated School, headed Smoky Mountain National Park.

porated into Timber Protective Organiza-

Professor Guy Waddell, rendered valu- Officers elected for the coming year tions similar to the one now protecting
~ service fighting fires at Arabia bay. for the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club the timberlands around Warm Springs.

4

GEORGIA FOREST LOOKOUT

Parson Huit Preaches Fire Protection D. C. Brumbalow, county agent, and STATE FORESTERS

A. H.

From Pulpit
Huit, colored preacher and

land-

Senator E. R. King were of considerable assistance in organizing this T. P. 0.

MET IN SOUTii

owner, living in Chattahoochee county believes in preaching fire protection from

SIXTH DISTRICT

Georgia and Florida Hosts to One of

the pulpit. Parson Huit is one of those Jack Thurmond, District Forester

Most Successful Sessions of Na

good souls who believe that if you set

Savannah

tional Association - Studied Pine

the Devil's weapon, fire, to destroying

Belt.

God's woods the Devil is likely to catch you.

soon Protective Work Started on Liberty

On October 16, the opening session of

EIGHTH DISTRICT H. D. Story, Jr., District Forester

T. P. 0.

the National Association of State Foresters

On October 15th, Mr. W. I. Staf- was held at Savannah with the Georgia

ford, Patrolman on the Liberty County State Board of Forestry as host and with

Albany

T. P. 0. started fire-break construction Secretary of State John Wilson acting as

work on the 21,000 acres of land listed toastmaster. The visitors from all parts

Flint River T. P. 0.

in the organization.

of the country heard words of welcome

Flint River Timber Protective Organiza- The work is being done with a Fordson from T. G. Woolford, Atlanta, president

tion,' located in Decatur county with a tractor and side plow. In wet weather of the Georgia Forestry Association; J.

small area extending into Seminole county, this type of output is not so good but due Cheshire Nash for Savannah; and United

was formed September 22 with an area of to the continued drouth in Southeast States Senator William J. Harris. E. 0.

33,016 acres owned by W. G. Powell and Georgia the bays and ponds are all dry Siecke, president, responded. After an-

son, George S. Tucker, Dr. H. H. Brinson, and plowing with this type of outfit has nouncements by State Foresters B. M.

Charles Hodges, G. W. Donalson and C. M. proven to be the most economical and Lufburrow of Georgia and Harry Lee

Freeman.

successful.

Baker of Florida, visiting foresters were

Dr. R. L. Z. Bridges listed 5,640 acres in Fire-breaks are constructed on this or- introduced.

this T. P. 0. on November 3 for protection ganization by plowing two furrows 25 to After a tour of Savannah, the foresters

which makes a total of 38,656 acres.

30 feet apart and burning out the inter- proceeded to Brunswick, visiting Old Mid-

W. G. Powell and son, Lamar Powell, vening strip. Mr. Stafford states that way church enroute. At Brunswick the

signed up a large portion of this area. for the 50 miles of break that he has al- Hercules Powder Company pine stump

They have been engaged in the naval stores ready plowed the average cost for plow- utilization plant and the Georgia Creosot-

business for a good many years, working a part of their land for turpentine and grazing cattle on their holdings. They have been interested in fire protection and have actually been protecting a large area

ing has amounted to $2.00 per mile. The burning out of the strip will be done just as soon as there is a little moisture in the soil and will be contracted to different in-

ing plant were inspected. Proceeding to Waycross, a night session
was held. E. 0. Siecke delivered the president's address. C. S. Judd spoke on forestry in Hawaii, Prof. Paul Chapman told

for several years by putting in fire breaks dividuals at $1.50 per mile which makes of forestry in vocational schools of Geor-

unassisted.

the total operation cost $3.50 per mile. gia, and State Forester Fred Merrill of

There are good prospects for a large To date Mr. Stafford has reported no Mississippi and H. L. Demmon, director

T. P. 0. in this locality as people are very fires on the land listed in the Liberty T. of the Southern Forest Experiment Station

much interested.

P .. 0. but on unprotected lands in the at New Orleans, spoke on the effect of

Dr. Bridges is a naval stores operator; county numerous fires have occurred which fire on longleaf pine.

Charles Hodges is grazing cattle on his have caused untold damage. All land- Visits were made to forests of the Tim-

land and has shown unusual interest. He, owners in this county are urged to see Mr. ber Products Company, Cogdell and Supe-

with Lamar Powell, assisted in the organ- Stafford and arrange to cooperate with rior Pine Products Company, Fargo, on

ization of the unit.

him in the protection work and be care- Tuesday. Reaching Jacksonville a night

The officers are: W. G. Powell, presi- ful with fires in this time of great danger. program consisted of addresses by Fred

dent; Lamar Powell, vice-president, and

Morrell and A. B. Hastings of the U. S.

Charles Hodges, secretary-treasurer.

Treutlen T. P. 0. Constructs Breaks Forest Service on cooperative relations of

All budgets have been completed and

federal and state forest services.

work is to begin soon.

Fire break construction work has start- On Wednesday visits were made to the

Cemocheechobee T. P. 0.

ed on the Treutlen T. P. 0. as Mr. James Osceola National Forest and naval stores

The Cemocheechobee Timber Protective Fowler, Jim Gillis and M. H. Newsome go laboratories, and to the McCloskey tur-

Organization of Fort Gaines, in Clay into their fifth year of fire protection pentine still near Lake City where brief

county, was organized September 5, with work. They use the plowed and burned talks from E. W. Hadley, V. L. Harper and

an area of 10,055 acres and 14 members. breaks and have obtained good results Geo. P. Shingler of the federal service

The officers are: E. R. King, president; with th!iJm since they started the work. were heard. A visit was made to branch

Zach Arnold, vice-president; and D. C. Several small fires have started on this naval stores experiment station at Starke,

Brumbalow, secretary-treasurer.

organization's area but due to the efficient and state nursery at Raiford.

The members are as follows: Zach Ar- system of protection used they were ex- At Ocala a business session was held,

nold, Senator E. R. King, P. C. King, G. W. tinguished before doing any material dam- and the next day the forestry party visited

Garrison, A. J. Shaw, W. G. Grimsley, age. The few fires occurring in this coun- Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, return-

A. C. Sutton, W. G. Gay, J. W. West, ty were started from trains and roadside ing to Jacksonville, where the session

Mayor B. M. Turnipseed, N. H. McLendon, fires. No fires appear to have been start- formally ended.

Dr. J. 0. Baldwin, J. E. Peterson, J. B. ed by any local individual as the educa-

Grimsley.

tion against woods burning in Treutlen Birds have effectively controlled two

This area is pretty scattered but there county has reached a stage where all the outbreaks of the southern pine beetle on

is a chance to block it in so that it will people know the harm that results and the Pisgah National Forest,. North Caro-

be fairly solid when the people see how theY. are all anxious to keep the woods 1ina, according to observations of R. A.

the organization functions.

rough.

St. George, of the Bureau of Entomology.