DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND GEOLOGICAL DEVELOPM I""T".;==
Vol. 6
ATLANTA, GA., SEPTEMBER, 1936
No.9
HISTORY OF SLASH PINE---OF PARTICULAR IN LIVING MEMORIAL IS
TEREST TO LUMBERMEN OF SOUTH
DEDICATED TO THE
GROWTH MORE RAPID-ITS WOOD IS HEAVIER, HARDER AND AUTHOR OF "TREES"
STRONGER, AND YIELD OF CRUDE TURPENTINE LARGER .
AND OF A BETTER GRADE.
AREA TO BE K!tfOWN AS KIL-
In covering two decades of all phases of formed on his trip, were expressed in an the history of the Slash pine, Wilbur R. article from which the following passage is
MER MEMORIAL FOREST
Matoon, of the U. S. Forest Service, in the quoted:
June issue of the Journal of Forestry, "Slash pine is fast replacing the longleaf With very impressive ceremonies, an
traces the development of this species of pine over portions of the coastal plains of area far back into the mountains of North
pine from the spring of 1916, when it was the south, as the loblolly is doing in the Carolina, in the Nantahala National For-
practically unknown, to its present import- northern part. Intrinsically it is a better est, was officially dedicated on July 30 as
ant position in forest management in its tree than the longleaf. Its growth is more the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Eigh-
native region, and its possibilities in other rapid, its wood heavier, harder and teen years prior to this date Kilmer was
sections.
stronger, and its yield of crude turpentine killed in action in France.
Mr. Matoon started his silvicultural in- larger and of a better grade. The chief Joyce Kilmer was born near New Bruns-
vestigations of this special in the spring of cause of its spread is its frequent and wick, N. J., December 6, 1886, but spent
1916, using second growth trees. He was abundant seed production, very rapid much of his time in the Berkshire Hills in
on a three months field trip originally growth, tolerance, ability to withstand the Massachusetts during his boyhood. After
planned to make a study of second-growth combination of both hog and fire, and capa- his college years he moved to New York,
longleaf pine from North Carolina south to city to adapt itself to a wide range of where he followed a literary career, and
Florida, and west to southeastern Texas. environment. It appears to have in a high was author of many articles, stories and
It was in Hardeville, S. C., that he no- degree the necessary qualifications for be- poems. It was during this period, in 1913,
ticed a different species of pine, which was ing handled on a large scale under approved that he wrote the poem "Trees," said by
identified as the "SLASH" pine. This spe- methods of silviculture."
many to have been his expression of his
cies was known by the local people as "rosemary" pines, a name, however, that is equally applied in other sections to similarly large clear trees of shortleaf or of loblolly. During the rest of the trip, growth studies were made of this new species of pines along with that of the longleaf species. As the trip progressed, favorable points were noted for later making more detail observations and measurements. It was on this trip that the town of Homerville, Georgia was marked as the "center of gravity of the slash pine."
Another result of Mr. Matoon's study was the earliest known bulk collection, seed distribution, and seed sowing for reforestation purposes. In the fall of the same year some seventy pounds of slash pine seed were collected for the Forest Service. These seed were widely distributed. The
According to the U. S. Forest Service the Slash pine will yield a greater quantity of wood per acre over a period of years than any other species. The table below shows figures, giving the Normal Second Growth Pine in cords (4x4x8) per acre-unpeeled. All trees 4 inches and over diameter breast high.
Since the experiments of Dr. Chas. H. Herty have definitely proven that paper and pulp of a grade equal, or superior to that made from other trees can be made from slash pine, the land owners of the entire southeast have planted great acreages in this species of pine. They have not only planted abandoned areas in this species but have begun to protect, on a system;ttic method, the areas of natural production.
dislike of living in a great "stone box." He finally chose a home in the wooded hills of Ramapos at Mahwah, N. J., where he wrote much, including poems on nature themes.
During the World War he was attached to the intelligence department of the 165th Regiment in France. He was killed in action in the Wood of the Burned Bridge late in July 1918, and was buried near the spot where he fell.
The memorial comprises approximately 3,840 acres, the entire watershed of Little Santeetlah Creek in Graham County, North Carolina. It will be available to the public for recreational, aesthetic and scientific purposes, and will be under administration of the Forest Service Personnel of the Nantahala National Forest. No commercial activities will be permitted within its area.
recipients included the Georgia Forest School, then a part of the University of Georgia and at that time the only forest school in the south. Other recipients were nurserymen in several foreign countries, including France and Japan.
Mr. Matoon's impressions regarding the occurrence and the promise of the slash
With the manufacturers of white paper, pulp and kraft paper rapidly turning their attention to the south as a source of wood for the manufacture of these products we predict that this industry will be one of the. leading sources of revenue for the lumbermen of the south within a few years. Plants have already been estab-
The establishment of the Memorial Forest was the result of the cooperation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Catholic Writers Guild of America with the U. S. Forest Service, to honor the memory of Alfred Joyce Kilmer as an outstanding lover of trees. Through his poem "Trees" and other writings he reflected the spiritual
Pine for silvicultural management, as
(Continued on Page 3)
relationship of the forest and trees to men.
2
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
Forestry-Geological Review
Published Monthly by the DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND
GEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT State Capitol, Atlanta
CLAUDE E. BOGGS, EDITOR
during the fall and winter months. Consequently, the excessive rains occurring during those seasons run off the surface carrying soil material with it. The two. main factors that influence the amount of soil lost are the slope of the land and the character
land or forest products.
Third class: Sub-marginal land should be either sodded to a heavy growing grass or replanted to forest crop. In the poorer areas the use of kudzu, wild h~meysuckle
and other rapid growing vegetation may be
Forestry Division
of the rain. Ordinarily, the steeper the necessary to improve these lands before
Elmer E. Dyal, State Forester________Atlanta JackFTohreusrtmeron_d__,___A___s_s__t_.___S__t__a__t_e____________Atlanta
slope and the harder the rain, the more soil will be removed in a given time.
being reforested. ROTATIONS AND FERTILIZATION
Claude E. Boggs, Educational Mgr. __Atlanta T. P. Hursey, Dist. Forester______________Rome
W. D. Young, Dist. Forester______Gainesville S. L. McCrary, Dist. Forester________Augusta R. R. Evans, Dist. Forester__________Columbus
The soil of Georgia has been cultivated from a comparatively few years to as long as 150 years and in most cases no protection has been afforded these soils during the
1. Winter cover crops when not sown broadcast should be planted in rows on the contour.
2. Winter legumes when grown on land
W. G. Wallace, Dist. Forester______Savannah R. D. Franklin, Dist. Forester______Waycross H. D. Story, Jr., Dist. Forester_________Albany
Mrs. N. N. Edwards, Bookkeeper-Treasurer ____________Atlanta
rainy seasons. Consequently, erosion has removed in many cases all the top soil and portions of the sub-soil. To replace these soils it is necessary to expose this soil form-
other than the first class should be fertilized with superphosphates, and in some cases lime should be added to correct soil acidity.
3. Corn or hay crops should follow the
Miss Hazel E. Nicholas, Secretary to State Forester______________________Atlanta
M. E. Murphy, Nurseryman____________Albany
Mrs. W. L. Davis, Clerk State Nursery ____________________________Albany
ing material to the activities of weathering and then incorporate organic matter into this mixture, which is a slow and tedious as well as expensive process when attempted
plowing-in of winter legumes to utilize the nitrogen stored by the legumes, and if cotton is included in the rotation on this land it should come the second or third year
Geological Division Richard W. Smith, State Geologist,
by man, and when left to nature, literally after the legume is plowed into the soil. thousands of years are necessary to rebuild Crop rotation, green manure, and catch and
and Secretary to Commission._Atlanta a fertile soil.
cover crops control erosion, improve fer-
G. WG. eColroicgkismt ay__,___A___s_s__t_.___S___t_a__t_e____________Atlanta
HOW TO CONSERVE SOILS
tility, reduce the loss of plant food by ero-
Lane Mitchell, Asst. State
Our soils should be divided on the basis sion and leaching and thereby save the pur-
Geologist __________________________________Atlanta of the use to which they are best adopted: chase of larger quantities of commercial
Miss Margaret Gann, Clerk____________Atlanta First class: Productive land. This should fertilizer.
Any information appearing in this publication may be used at any time provided proper credit is given.-The Editor.
THE EFFECT OF EROSION
include all of our soils with a comparatively level topography which can be farmed profit_ ably without terracing or be covered with catch and cover crops.
Second class: Marginal land. Land which
NEW MANUAL ON PRESSURE TREATMENT OF WOOD
ON SOILS
By W. 0. Collins, Professor of Soils, College of Agriculture, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Soils are the products of weathering, both
will return its profits from cultivation only under favorable conditions. In this class belongs the soils that must be terraced and covered with strip crops and cover crops to prevent erosion. This class includes the lands with slopes varying from 3 o/o to pos-
Pro.viding for the first time a practical handbook on the science of treating wood with chemicals to prevent decay, a "Manual on Preservative Treatment of Wood by Pressure" has just been issued by the Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
chemical and physical activities entering sibly 10 o/o.
The practice of pressure treating cross-
into the formation of soils from our rock Third class: Marginal-land. Land which ties, poles, posts, bridge timbers and other
and mineral matter. The reactions neces- will not return a profit under our average wood nsed in permanent locations under con-
sary to bring about the disintegration and agricultural conditions. This includes steep ditions conducive to decay has been estab-
decomposition are of necessity very slow slopes from 10 o/o or above and also badly lished for many years and is steadily grow-
since they are caused by change of tempera- eroded land with: less slope and other lands ing, according to Forest Service figures. In
ture, rainfall, frost action, wind and run- not ordinarily farmed.
the period 1921-30 more than 280,000,000
. ning water. It can be seen from these statements that the formation of soil is an ex-
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF LAND
cubic feet of wood was treated annually. This was nearly twice as much as the an-
ceptionally slow process from the standpoint First class: Rows should be run on the nual average in the preceding decade.
of time. However, it is necessary for this contour and green manure crops should be However, practical wood preservers wish-
lapse of time to take place before a produc- grown to maintain organic matter content ing to improve their practice and beginners
tive soil can be formed from the rock and of soils{ in order to control erosion and con- wishing to learn the business have found
mineral matter. Then after this material serve moisture. This group of soil should reference material widely scattered, and
has disintegrated and decomposed, an ac- be given first consideration if fertility and much of it out of date and varied in author-
cumulation of organic substance, largely the physical condition properly maintained at ity. The manual, prepared to remedy this
refuse of plant and animal life that ordi- all times. Terrace as necessary to check situation, was written by J. D. MacLean,
narily live in the soil, must be incorporated erosion that has already started.
senior engineer, of the Forest Products
into this mixture of rock and mineral matter Second class: All of this group of land Laboratory, maintained by the Forest Serv-
before it is true soil.
should be terraced to control erosion, crop- ice at Madison, Wis., in cooperation with
Under natural conditions vegetation grow- ped with close growing cover crops to be the University of Wisconsin.
ing on the surface of the soil protects this used as green manure or hay crops, and The publication is based on the results of
soil from being washed away by running when clean cultivated crops are grown strip extensive research at the Laboratory and
water or blown away by wind, so the process -l!rops should occupy alternate strips to pre- on numerous experiments and observations
is continuous and cumulative. The older a vent erosion during the period when the made at commercial treating plants. Dr.
soil gets theoretically, the more productive clean cultivated crops are being grown. MacLean has outlined the characteristics of
it should be.
These lands should never be left bare at both woods and preservatives as they affect
When man enters into the picture of soils any time, being covered with catch and cover treatment, and has set down in usable form
he removes this vegetation, plows up the soil crops when not being used for cash crops. the mathematical material needed in control
material, plants and cultivates his crop and A good portion of this land should be also of treating conditions. The book contains
then allows it to remain idle and uncovered devoted to permanent hay crops and grazing fifty working charts and tables.
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
3
CASH INCOME FROM FOREST PRODUCTS IS IN- BLACK LOCUST POST
CREASED OVER PREVIOUS YEARS
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS
OLD IS STILL IN USE
FOREST PRODUCTS SOLD FROM THE FARM RANK IN NINTH
PLACE AMONG A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER DIFFERENT LEADING CASH CROPS. RANKED FOURTH IN GEORGIA.
FOUND BY SOIL CONSERVATION WORKERS ON JACKSON COUNTY FARM
The cash income derived from the sale that received in 1932. In 1934 the timber
of forest products from the farm ranked in ninth place among a large number of other leading cash crops, according to in
products sold comprised roundly 53 per cent of the total value of all forest prod
A perfectly sound black locust post that has been in continuous use for more than seventy-five years was found recently by
formation released recently by Bureau of ucts cut from the farm, the remaining 47 workers in the Soil Conservation Service
Agricultural Economics.
per cent being used for home and farm on the farm of Jarrel Jarret in the eastern
The cash income obtained by the farm maintenance and improvement.
part of Jackson County.
ers by the sale of forest products from their farm amounted in 1934 to a total of more than $62,000,000.00. This amount was exceeded only by the cash derived
The large items of material sold include standing timber in the bulk and cut prod ucts such as fuel wood, logs for lumber
This post was set in the ground before the war between the States. A gate swung to it for a long period of time. The post is well preserved today, and is being used
from the sale of eight other leading cash and veneer, pulpwood, fence posts and as a post to fasten fence wire.
crops, as shown below:
some poles and piling.
The black locust is one of the fastest
growing hardwood trees, is durable in con-
Forest Products ------------------------------------------- _________:_______________________________________ $62,782,000 tact with the soil, consequently it has been
Hay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 85,898,000 and is still being used for fence post. A
Corn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 110,888,000 large number have also been used recently
Potatoes (Including Sweet Potatoes) ---------------------------------------------------------- 150,350,000 by farmers as a means to check soil erosion.
Tobacco ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _240,937 ,000 They will grow on denuded areas, on gully
Truck Crops -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 289,169,000 b:mks, and the trees very effectively pre
Wheat ___---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- 249,045,000 vent the washing away of the soil.
Fruits and Nuts ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 436,191,000
Under favorable conditions the black lo-
Cotton (Lint and Seed) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 722,842,000 eu!lt will produce durable fence post in
The cash income to farmers from forest products sold represent an increase of ap-
Forest products cut and sold for cash and sold from farms as a cash crop in Georgia
from twelve to fifteen years. Trees 30 feet high and five to six inches in diameter
proximately 3 million dollars over that of ranked 1933 and approximately 8 1-2 million over crops.
fourth
as
compared
with
other
are commonly grown years.
in
fifteen to twenty
This tree is not only good for checking
Hosion of the soil but is also a legume. It
HISTORY OF SLASH PINE
draws from the unlimited supply of nitrogen in the air and deposits it in the soil,
(Continued from Page 1) TABLE SHOWING CORDAGE PER ACRE
thereby increasing the fertility of the soil. Jts lasting qualities as fence post are great er than those of any other native Georgia wood.
Loblolly Pine
15 Years
Cords Per Acre
20 Years
Cords Per Acre
Black locust reproduces freely from root
25 Years
suckers, stump sprouts, and seed which are
Cords Per Acre nearly always fertile. The seed should be
Good Land ------------------------------------------ 24
37
Average Land -------------------------------------- 18
27
Poor Land -------------------------------------------- 12
17
Longleaf Pine
Good Land ------------------------------------------ 20
30
Average Land -------------------------------------- 9
17
Poor Land .------------------------------------------- 2
4
Shortleaf Pine
Good Land ----------------------------------------- 15
30
Average Land --------------------------------------
Poor Land --------------------------------------------
Slash Pine
Good Land ------------------------------------------ 37
46
Average Land -------------------------------------- 27
35
Poor Land -------------------------------------------- 12
20
50
planted in the spring, but the seedlings
37
may be planted in the fall. It will grow
24
throughout the entire northern section of
the State and in all soils and conditions
40
of moisture except in swamps. It is found
24.5
as a forest tree, however, in the moun-
8
tains, where it attains a height of 80 to 100
feet and a diameter of 30 inches.
43
The Division of Forestry of the Depart
31
ment of Forestry and Geological Develop-
15
ment operates a tree nursery at Blairsville,
Georgia. Black locust seedlings are grown
53
in this nursery for the benefit of the farm
42
ers and timber growers of Georgia. The
26
price of the seedlings is $3.00 per thousand.
Any one desiring to purchase seedlings may
lished in various sections of the south for been reported that wood is being purchased send their order, with a small deposit, direct
the manufacturing of kraft paper.
for as low as $4.00 per cord. This price to the State Forester, 435 State Capitol.
In this connection we would like to in- is too low. Timber growers, not only in
sist that the buyers for these mills pay the Georgia, but of the southeast should be Copies of the "Manual on Preservative
timber growers a price from which they paid at least $6.00 per cord. With the Treatment of Wood by Pressure," Depart-
can realize a living. Reports have come to our attention that the timber growers
price
of
paper
and
pulp
selling
for
the
ment of Agriculture Miscellaneous Publica tion No. 224, can be obtained from the
Were being paid a price per cord far below price they are today this would still give Superintendent of Documents, Government
the amount that will give them a fair profit the manufacturers a fair profit for their Printing Office, Washington, D. C., at 15
for their product. In some cases it has production.
cents per copy.
4
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
FIRST DISTRICT
T P. Hursey, Dist. Forester, ROME
be set out during the next planting season. One land owner in Harris county, who
had set out 60,000 seedlings last year and lost heavily, is going to replant and has already placed a large order for pine seed-
EIGHTH DISTRICT
H. D. Story, Jr., Dist. Forester, Albany
lings.
Ed{ucation
In an effort to standardize vocational forestry in this section of the state, the district forester has developed a system of
Mr. J. Meade Tollerson, a Houston county farmer, is taking 40 acres of his farm out of cultivation for the express purpose of planting this area to slash pine.
Inspections of plantings from seedlings purchased from the Albany Nursery in Southwest Georgia reveal the fact that in spite of prolonged drought these plantings
27 lessons on forestry which will cover
show a high percentage of survival and
the things needed to apply to practical
will average around 85 o/o survival.
forestry on the farm. Nine lessons will b~ taught each year for the first three
SIXTH DISTRICT
Inspections have revealed that in some cases of a low percentage of survival this
years, and it is intended that the senior boys will help the vocational teacher with the younger ones, which will tend to im-
W. G. Wallace, Dis.t. Forester, Savannah
result was brought about by methods used by the landowner in planting, due to the fact that he was inexperienced and had
press the senior with what he has learned
not been informed.
during previous years. Each school will Tar City T. P. 0. Acquires Fire Line As an example one plantation of 25,000
be visited three times during the scholastic year.
Equipment
Longleaf was inspected and it was found that in planting the bud of the seedling
In the counties where TPO's now exist,
was placed at least two inches below the
a system of simple forestry educational Mr. H. J. Brewton, Manager of the Tar surface of the soil, thereby causing the
subjects will be installed, if the Board of City TPO with headquarters at Reidsville loss of approximately 97%.
Education agrees to cooperate.
announces the purchase of a Caterpillar To prevent such mistakes the nursery
Diesel tractor and Hester fire line plow. has had printed shipping tags bearing a
The Cherokee TPO is expanding slowly This equipment has been delivered for brief summary of precautions and planting
and it is expected that many of the thou- several weeks, and it is the plan of the TPO instructions to be observed which will pos-
sands of acres signed last year and not to start fire line construction and main sibly result in an increased percentage of
paid, will cooperate this year. The district tenance work at an early date.
survival.
forester spent the week of August 10 in the county conducting a series of community meetings designed to show briefly the value of timberland and the effects of forest fires on a community.
The Martha Berry TPO is dead, but in dying it gave to northwest Georgia a TPO about eight times its size-the whole of Floyd county consisting of 190,000 acres of forest land. The county commissioners are putting up the money at the rate of one cent per acre per year. It is hoped that this is the beginning of an organization covering the entire district.
The Polk county commissioners in their last session voted to create a county wide fire suppression system, provided the county attorney ruled that it was legal to pay out funds for that purpose.
The members of the Tar City TPO aTe fortunate in having a primary system of truck trails, firebreaks, lookout towers and telephone lines constructed by the CCC which serves as a good foundation system on which to secure efficient fire protection at a reasonable cost.
The Tar City TPO is operating on a basis of two cents per acre assessment plns a flat charge to TPO members of thn~e dollars per mile of constructed firebreak by TPO equipment. It is proposed to finance the purchase of equipment in this manner.
New Lookout Towers Attract Wide Interest
Applications for seedlings from the Albany Nursery are pouring in and files reveal the fact that although an expansion was made and approximately 5,000,000 seedlings are available, the supply is fast becoming exhausted and only a small supply of Slash pine is yet available. There is however, a greater supply of Longieaf and Loblolly yet available. The present rate of demand will indicate that all available seedlings will be applied for by the latter part of September.
The Department has changed its policy for the year and will not prorate seedlings as in the past but will fill applications in order supplying one hundred percent, bar ring bad luck or an unforeseen loss of seedlings.
FOURTH DISTRICT
R. R. Evans, Dist. Forester, Columbus
The outlook for planting pine seedlings in District 4 during the planting season ahead is most encouraging.
More than 60 per cent of the seedlings planted last season were killed either by last winter's freeze or this summer's drought, and it would seem that the land owners might hesitate to plant again, but such is not the case. Large orders have alrea4y been placed with private and state nurseries for planting stock, and it is expected that over 300,000 pine seedlings will
Several new 100 foQt steel lookout towers have been constructed or are in a state of construction in the Savannah District. Among these is a completed tower erected by camp P-82, Reidsville, on l.ands of the Tar City TPO in Tatnall County; and, another completed tower erected by the Soperton side camp on lands of the Oconee TPO in Montgomery County.
A third tower is being erected by camp
P-81, Bloomingdale, at Ellabell in Bryan County, the land being listed in the Ogeechee TPO. A fourth tower h~s been approved for construction on the Coastal TPO area in Mcintosh County. This tower is approved at Eulonia, and is to be erected by camp P-92 from Brunsw1ck.
T. P. 0. NEWS
ELLIJAY T P 0-Foi-tyfour fires have already been reported, "burning-over" a total of 2,035 acres, which is a fraction less than 4% of the acreage in the T. P. 0. Two lookout tower~ are in operation, with one man alternating between the two, with a patrollman on duty when necessary. The fire fighting personnel of the T. P. 0. con sists of one patrollman, three smoke chas ers, and one towerman.
The amount of young growth that will not re-seed, from damage caused by fire
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
5
in early spring and summer, will not run forestry; personnel foremanship, leather-
over lh of 1 %. We believe this to be a craft, woodwork, interviewing, safety meth-
good record.
ods, geography.
Our Secretary reports that the finances By W. K. Peagler, Project Superinte_ndent
are in good shape. A 35% refund has
P-82
been made and we still have cash in the
bank.
H. E. PINSON, SecretaryTreas.
VOGEL STATE PARK is one of the old Enrollees at Camp P-87 are engaged in est parks in Georgia. It is located in Un-
one type of work that is peculiar to their ion County, one hundred miles north of
Plans are under way for the develop- location, in that our work, alone among Atlanta in the Blue Ridge Mountains of
ment of a 4 county Timber Protective Or- the Private Forest Service Camps in Geor- North Georgia. The park is being visited
ganization in northeast Georgia, embracing gia, is in the mountain section. Due to by many who are leaving the heat of the
the counties Habersham, Stephens, Banks the precipitous nature of the county, cities for the cooling breezes of higher ele
and Franklin. The total area of these 4 drainage construction for truck trails has vations.
counties is 612, 480 acres of which, 379,805 acres or . 62 percent, is in timber land. Favorable action has already been taken by the Grand Jury and County Commissioner of Habersham and by the end of the year it is hoped that the other 3 counties will act favorably towards the establishment of this unique organization for protection and the growing of timber.
It is believed that many thousands of acres now devoted to some phase of agriculture will be planted to trees which will bring the total forest area of the 4 counties up to 75 percent of the gross area.
to be of a very capacious and durable na ture. To accomplish durability, and in sure continued service, we have to employ rubble masonry, of native stone gathered in the vicinity. This is work that calls for quite a bit of skill, and a lot of hard work, but our men seem to take much pride in that part of the construction, and a number of them have become very proficient in laying stone. We are fortunate in hav ing, among the Local Experienced Men, some who have long years of such work behind them, so that they are able to give competent instruction to the younger men.
On top of the Blue Ridge, at Neal Gap, two two-room cabins have been built, also a stone veneer tea room, all with modern conveniences. Trails, winding above moun tain gorges and leading to other parts of the park have been built. The present tea room is being enlarged, when completed it will provide hotel accommodations for those who may visit the park.
A two-room rock trail-side cabin has been constructed on top of Blood Mountain Material for this cabin was furnished by the Georgia Chapter of the American Legion, in honor of their Georgia dead This cabin is open to anyone wishing to
The formation of this organization is In fitting these structures to the require remain overnight on top of Blood Moun
necessarily slow because of the contacts to ments of the trail, it is proving necessary tain.
be made with various county officials and to build structures of varying natures. One half miles north of Neal Gap beau
necessary presentments made by the Grand These include ordinary Headwalls, Piers, tiful picnic grounds, in which tables, open
Juries of the counties interested. Grand Abutments, and even Arched Culverts, in air fireplaces, and a comfort station have
Jury meetings will be completed by Novem- some cases. The boys are quite proud of been built. These picnic grounds are
ber and interested landowners and officials some of their efforts, and with good reason, available to the public free of charge.
.of the 4 counties feel that it is just a for they are a credit to the company, and A large dam, creating a thirty acre
matter of time until necessary preliminary most serviceable to the Truck Trail System. lake, has been built just north of Neal
steps be taken so as to set up the organi-
Gap. A boat and bath house was con
zation on a financial basis. Necessary funds will be provided on a
basis of two cents an acre for the forested area, and funds secured by refund under the Clark McNary Law will be placed in the treasury to increase the working budget.
FOREST
C. C. C. CAMP NEWS
The Forestry Department of Camp P-81, Bloomingdale, Ga., and men of the com pany have been working for the past few weeks in the Bryan County section of the Ogeechee Timber Protective Association.
A 100 foot Lookout Tower is now being erected at Ellabelle, Georgia by the men of the camp. The foundation has been completed and work on the steel construe tion will begin soon.
A crew has been working for some time on the telephone lines of this section. More than five miles of the new line which will link the Bryan County TPO members and the Lookout tower have been completed.
structed out over the lake, with four log cabins just west of the shore line. These cabins are not available to the public as yet but will be within the near future. Two additional cabins are under construction. These should be completed at an early date. Use of the lake is at your own risk.
Further development plans for the park call for a recreational building, and sev eral additional cabins, a play field, more picnic grounds with more out-door fire places and tables.
Approval and appreciation of this park has been expressed by the thousands of people, representing all states in the Un ion, who have visited it.
CCC Camp P-82 at Reidsville, Georgia, has an interesting educational program, and all members of the supervisory personnel, as well as the officers teach one or more subjects.
It is noteworthy that in the range of subjects there is 100 per cent attendance at these classes, and much more interest is being shown than was at first expected.
It is interesting to note the range of subjects taught, which are as follows: Read. ing, writing, arithmetic, blacksmithing, cooking, current events, English, mechanics, spelling, surveying, telephone, algebra and
In addition to the work on the telephone lines, the steel tower, and fire break and trail work, the bridge crew is working in Effingham County on one of the largest bridges yet built by Camp P-81. The bridge is being built across the Ogeechee Creek near Eden. It is sixty-five feet long.
Educational Activities at Camp P-81 have recently been increased with the addition of several Vocational courses spon sored by the Forestry department officials.
Each member of the Forestry personnel sponsor and teach a class with enrollments ranging from fifteen to twenty-five.
FORESTRY A SCIENCE
Forestry, in the strict sense, is a science. It relates to the properties of wood; the best uses to which it can be put; the best conditions under which it can be grown. Management is an economic science applied to forestry and an increasingly important and appreciated phase of the question. Forest fire prevention, and insect and disease control and eradication are vitally important factors in the bigger issue. Then there is the "forest problem," the solution of which rests with an informed citizenry on the importance of the forests in their economic life.-Charles Lathrop Pack.
6
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
NAVAL STORES-ONE OF SOUTH'S LEADING IN- and Geological Development. Mr. Mitchell
DUSTRIES
will be lent by the Department to the Georgia School of Technology where he will
EIGHT SOUTHERN STATES PRODUCE MORE THAN HALF OF THE teach Ceramic Engineering during the ab-
WORLD'S SUPPLY.
sence of Dr. A. V. Henry, head of the De-
partment of Tech. Dr. Henry has retired
The question is often asked, "What do With a pine forest land area of more for a year in order to improve his health.
you mean by Naval Stores?" In answer than one hundred fifty million acres and Mr. Mitchell's new connection with Georgia
to this question we might say that Naval increasing interest in reforestation and fire Tech is expected to bring the Geological
Stores mean turpentine and rosin. They protection, the south can continue to sup- Survey in even closer touch with Georgia
come from a certain species of pine. The ply the bulk of the world's naval stores re Tech and with the new Engineering Ex-
Slash Pine that grows so extensively in the south is the leading species.
Naval Stores is probably the oldest of the American industries and its early history is replete with the romance of the
qu'irement. Not only will the south con tinue to produce the bulk of the world's naval stores requirement, but Georgia also will continue to produce the largest amount of both gum rosin and turpentine. South
periment Station, whose director is Professor Harry Vaughan, acting head of the Ceramics Department during Dr. Henry's absence.
settlements established along the Atlantic east Georgia is known today as the leading The topographic maps of the Warm
Seaboard by tb.e English pioneers. As early Slash Pine section of the entire southeast. Springs, Ga. Quadrangle and the Thomas-
as 1584 there is a record of a report made Many million seedlings of this species are ton, Ga. Quadrangle are now available in
to Sir Walter Raleigh telling of the large planted each year in this territory.
the form of advance sheets, subject to cor-
forests of pine to be found along the North
rection. They may be consulted at the
Carolina shore and calling attention to the PROMINENT NAVAL STORE office of the State Geologist.
fact that these trees would yield abundantly of pitch tar, rosin and turpentine. In 1606, a year before Jamestown was settled, the French had extracted turpentine from the trees in Nova Scotia. A record has been found that shows that a cargo of "Glass, pitch, tar, soap, etc., was transported from Virginia to England, probably the first exportation of naval stores from this country.
PRODUCER DEAD
H. W. Hall, Prominent Bullock County Citizen Well Known in Industry
The many friends of Mr. J. w. Hall, of
the well known naval stores producing firm of J. W. & C. I. Hall, Swainsboro, Ga., will regret to learn of his death which occurred Wednesday, July 15th, in a Dublin hospital.
The article on Water, Georgia's Unknown Natural Resource, in the July ForestryGeological Review, has attracted considerable attention throughout the state. Several newspapers have written editorials pointing out the need for gaging the flow of Georgia's streams. A campaign is now under way to raise funds to start this work
It has been well known for more than a half century that the south has been the
He had been carried there for treatment about ten days prior to his death.
in advance of an appropriation Georgia legislature.
by
the
largest producer of naval stores. What Mr. Hall was 75 years of age and was
isn't so well known is that naval stores one of Emanuel County's most valued and U. S. MINERALS YEARBOOK FOR
is a 40 million dollar crop, and that its honored citizens. He was active in business
1936 ISSUED BY BUREAU
w. products are used in every home, and by until his recent illness, having been the
almost every person in the land. Approxi- senio.r member of the firm of J. & C. I.
OF MINES
mately 50,000 persons are employed an- Hall, composed of father and son, for the The MINERALS YEARBOOK, issued
nually by this industry, receiving more than past thirty years.
annually by the U. S. Bureau of Mines,
15 million dollars in wages per year. Dur- The deceased is survived by his widow, will have its 1936 edition come off the press
ing the 1935-36 season more than two and two daughters and eight sons.
early in September, according to an an-
a quarter million barrels of rosin and over Interment was held in the family ceme- nouncement received from Washington.
a half million barrels of turpentine were tery about four miles from Swainsboro on The importance of ordering this volume im-
produced, four fifths of which was ob- Thursday afternoon.
mediately is stressed in the announcement,
tained from more than 100,000,000 slash and longleaf pine trees and the remainder
From A Geologist's Notebook
as every previous edition has been exhausted before the supply came off the
by cooking old pine stumps.
The William B. Pitts Collection of gems press. This book can be purchased from
Eight southern states produce approximately 65 percent of the world's supply of naval stores. Georgia ranks first among these states in the production of both gum and gum turpentine. The production of the eight southern states for the 193536 season is given below:
and polished stones on display in the State Museum has recently been enlarged by additional gifts from Mr. Pitts. Beautiful specimens of petrified wood, slabs of agate and jasper and onyx, and a number of cut stones comprise the new addition. The cut stone display now contains sixty-five differ-
the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. The price is $2.00 and cash or money order is required. No postage stamps will be accepted.
According to John W. Finch, Director of The U. S. Bureau of Mines, "This volume provides in convenient form a comprehen-
TURPENTINE AND ROS IN OUTPUT ent rocks and minerals. There is one case of sive and accurate record of economic de-
BY STATES
beautiful jasper slabs, one of petrified velopments and trends in the mining in-
woods, one of miscellaneous stones, and dustry of. the United States for the infor-
Gum Rosin Gum Turpentine one of scenic transparent slabs. Several of mation and use of producers and consumers
Barrels
Barrels
the stones are from Georgia: amethyst, of mineral commodities and of the general
(500 Pounds) (50 Gallons) corundum, agate, and chalcedony. One of public. The factual data regarding the
Georgia __ 909,407 Florida __________ 466,929 Alabama ________ 160,450
S. Carolina 53,716 Mississippi ___ 32,271
Louisiana ------ 15,311 Texas ---------- 5,657 N. Carolina ______ 3,259
275,450 141,416
45,637 16,697 10,045
4,733 2,066
956
the stones is a beautiful jasper secured operation of the mineral industry of the
from the foundation rock of the new United States in 1935 are presented and
Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco. interpreted in this edition of the MIN-
Other stones have been secured from many ERALS YEARBOOK."
other states and countries.
The 1936 edition will comprise 1089
pages, 69 chapters, and 154 illustrations.
Lane Mitchell, Assistant State Geologist, , Many Georgia mineral producers and con-
I has been granted a leave of absence for sumers will find valuable information in
one year by the Department of Forestry this book.
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
7
The marble industry was definitely estab-
GEORGIA AS A MINERAL PRODUCING
lished with the organization of the Georgia Marble Company in 1884, and the produc-
STATE
tion from the State in 1888 was valued at $155,000. It is said that a commission from
the State legislature visited the quarries
near Tate in 1883 with a view: to deter
GEOFFREY W. CRICKMAY
mining if sufficient marble could be obtained there for building the State capitol.
Lacking the counsel of a State Geologist,
Georgia's mineral deposits were un-, wave of prospecting in the northern part the commission reported sufficient marble
known and undeveloped up to 1829 when of the State. The discovery of important only for interior trim, and consequently
the discovery of gold in McDuffie, White, manganese ores in Bartow county led to the the new building was constructed of In-
and Lumpkin counties initiated a period first production of manganese in the United diana limestone. It is therefore somewhat
of intensive prospecting all over the State. States from this district in 1866. Georgia ironical that in 1894 Bulletin 1, of the
Gold is a magic word for a magic metal. first developed as a metal-producing state, newly organized Geological Survey gave an
It holds the same irresistible appeal to the although a few non-metallic products were account of the marble deposits of the State
prospector that nectar does to the bee, and mined in small quantities as early as 1845. in which detailed descriptions showed that
like the bee who dips into every flower By the time the present Georgia Geologi- there was enough marble in Pickens Coun
these early prospectors as hopefully dug cal Survey was authorized in 1889, mineral ty to build many state capitols.
into every hillside. No State Geological Survey was yet organized to show the systematic arrangement of the deposits or to point out the ore-bearing belts to which the prospector could advantageously restrict his efforts. A country in this initial prospectors stage, this stage of youth, is a country of pioneers whose creed is expressed in that age-old adage, "gold is where you find it." Ten years after the discovery of gold, Georgia had become one of the leading producers of this metal in the United States. The federal government established, in 1838, a branch mint at Dahlonega, in the richest part of the new gold fields, which during the twenty three years of its operation minted a total coinage of more than six million dollars.
But even at this early date it was evident that the mineral deposits of Georgia
production, although relatively small, had become a stable part of the Stat.es economy, and tlie youthful stage of prospecting had given place to the mature stage of development. The vast changes in the mineral map of the State which have occurred under the administration of the present Geological Survey are best visualized by a comparison of mineral production in 1888 with that in 1934. In 1888 the total mineral production of the State was valued at approximately a million and a half dollars of which slightly more than 45 per cent consisted of metallic minerals, mainly iron, gold and manganese. In 1934 the total mineral production was valued at $6,837,709, of which only 2.5 per cent consisted of metallic minerals. At the present time kaolin, granite, marble, fullers earth, and cement are the most important mineral
Kaolin and other clays were produced in 1888 in very small quantities. The first kaolin mine in Twiggs County was not opened until 1897 and the first in Wilkinson County not until 1908. Edgar Broth ers, producers of clay in New Jersey and Florida, became interested in the kaolin of Georgia through reading a report on these clays by the Georgia Geological Survey. After careful investigation of the deposits described in this report the company, which was to become the largest producer of kao lin in Georgia, established in 1910 its first mine and washing plant in Wilkinson County. Bauxite was first discovered in the United States near Rome in 1887 but not until 1909 were the more important deposits of the Coastal Plain revealed through the work of Otto Veatch, Assistant State Geologist. A small production of cement
were but slightly known. The need for a products of the State; what was their from natural cement rock was reported in complete survey was expressed by Gover- status at the time the Geological Survey 1888 from northwestern Georgia. Not un-
nor Schley in his message to the general was organized?
til 15 years later was the first Portland
assembly in 1836. "These concealed treas- Granite was not systematically quarried cement plant established in the State. Ful
ures, which should be tributary to her knowledge and wealth, are worthy of your enlightened consideration, and the provision necessary to a full and scientific examination of them ought not to be longer de-
in Georgia until 1869, and by 1888 the industry was well established with a production valued at $467,000 derived almost entirely from Stone Mountain and Lithonia. The excellent granites of Elbert County
ler's earth had not been mined in the United States at this time (1888), and not until 1907 was the mineral mined in Georgia. The phenomenal rise of the fullers
layed. 1: suggest, therefore, the propriety were not quarried until ten years later. earth industry in the State is directly re-
of employing a competent geologist to
make a thorough survey of the State, with
a view to the ascertainment of its mineral
and agricultural resources and the proper
location of works of internal improve-
ment." As a result of the governor's ap-
peal a Geological Survey of Georgia was
inaugurated in 1837, but due to the inter-
rupted support of the State legislature a
permanent organization was not estab-
lished until 1889. In the meantime new
mineral deposits were discovered and de-
veloped. The brown iron ores of north-
western Georgia were mined as early as
1840, and in the crucial period of 1861-
1865 they came to have immense strategic
importance. The discovery of the rich copper deposits of the Ducktown basin, Ten
a GRAVEL
METALLIC ORES ..s-'
nessee, in the late forties initiated another Fig. I.-Mineral Production of Georgia by minerals, 19241934 in millions of dollars.
8
FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW
lated to increased use of vegetable and AVERAGE MINERAL PRODUCTION OF of granite, marble, kaolin, limestone, and
mineral oils.
GEORGIA 19241934
fullers earth, which are not quickly de
One of the main functions of the newly established department of Geology was to collect trustworthy data, and to this end a series of bulletins were published giving complete and authoritative information on the occurrence, relations, and character of the various mineral deposits of the State. These bulletins have been responsible for the change from hap-hazard and unsystematic prospecting to an intelligently planned development of the State's natural resources. An analysis of production in the period 1924-1934 gives a clear picture of the present status of the mineral industry in the State. Two note-worthy trends are apparent; one towards increased production of the non-metallic minerals; the other, towards increased production f~om the Coastal Plain. Figure 1 shows that the "backbone" of Georgia's mineral production is made up of the non-metallic
Metallic Mineralsl --------------------$ 285,000 Minor Non-metallic Minerals2 1,033,000 Lime and Limestone ________________ 506,000 Granite ------------------------------------- 1,849,000 Marble -------------------------------------- 2,559,000 Bauxite, Cement, and Fullers
Earth __________ --------------------------- 2,862,000 Clay -------------------------------------------- 1,559,000
Total Average Production ....$10,646,000
1-Gold, silver, manganese and iron. 2-Asbestos, barytes, coal, mica, slate, talc
and soapstone, sand and gravel.
Many mmmg regions have passed through this mature stage of development into a third stage of senescence, a stage characterized by abandoned mines and ghost towns. The question naturally arises -What chance is there of Georgia enter-
pleted. It is perhaps significant that the three leading mining states of the Union, Pennsylvania, Texas and California, are mainly producers of non-metallic product'!!. The mineral map of Georgia will undoubt- edly change in the future as it has in the past, but the State has attained a stage of maturity which insures a stability to the mineral industry. Future changes will be dependent not so much on the discovery of new mineral deposits as on the development of new uses for minerals and on cheaper methods of mining and milhug. Abrupt change in foreign trade as a result of war may well deprive the United States of essential minerals which can not now be economically obtained from a domestic source. Georgia contains deposits of some of these essential minerals which will undoubtedly be developed in time of emergency.
minerals, for the metallic minerals now comprise less than 3 per cent of the total. In 1924, 43 per cent of the total produc tion was obtained from the Crystalline rocks, 31 per cent from the Paleozoic rocks, and 26 per cent from the Coastal Plain. In 1934, 34 per cent was obtained from the Crystalline rocks, only 11 per cent from the Paleozoic rocks, but more tlian half, 54 per cent, from the Coastal
ing this third stage? At one time Georgia was a leading producer of corundum, but the rise of artificial abrasives led to a gradual abandonment of the old camps, and at the present time little remains of the ex tensive corundum mills of fifty years ago. The brown iron ores of northwestern Georgia accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the total State mineral production fifty years ago but the rise of the iron industry
The Division o{ Geology follows closely all new developments in the industry so that Georgia may obtain full benefits from new uses or processes which are applicable to mineral deposits in the State. Although the Division is not now equipped to carry out its own experimental work, it has promoted such work in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines and the U. S. Geolo gical Survey. In a subsequent article in
Plain. The present dominance of the Coastal Plain region is due mainly to increased production of Georgia clays during a time when production of other minerals, par-
in Alabama has resulted in a general abandonment of Georgia mines. Some of the old iron-mining towns, such as Sugar Hill, Bartow County, now consist of bare unin-
these pages the future of the mineral industry of the State will be discussed in some detail.
ticularly building materials, dropped off habited buildings with hardly a trace of
considerably. Clay production has in streets which were once a bustle of life.
Educational Activities at Camp P-81,
creased from 12 per cent of total production in 1924 to 23 per cent in 1934, while marble and granite production has fallen off from 40 per cent of total production in 1924 to only 32 per cent in 1934, this being an actual decrease of more than 50
The mineral industry of the whole State has no chance of ever becoming senescent. The non-metallic products are generally low-priced products which are not subject to the rapid fluctuations of metal mining. The non-metallic deposits are generally of
have recently been increased with the addition of several Vocational courses sponsored by the Forestry department officials.
Each member of the Forestry personnel sponsor and teach a class with enrollments
per cent in value.
immense size, for example, deposits of ranging from fifteen to twenty-five.
Georgia is not outstanding in value of total mineral production; in 1933 it ranked 36th amongst the states, accounting for only 1,4 of 1 per cent of the total U. S. production. The State, however, is a l~ad ing producer of certain minerals: in 1933 it led all states in value of fullers earth and clay, it was second in production of barite, manganiferous ores, and micaceous minerals; and third in production of bauxite. In 1934, Georgia produced 67 per cent of the domestic production of white
clays (kaolin) used for paper and china
clay and 54 per cent of all such clays
consumed in the United States. Ten years
ago over 50 per cent of the United States
consumption of these clays came from Eng-
land.
1124 19211 1928 1927
1928 1828 i850 1851
1852
1954
.
9
The following table gives the annual average production during the eleven year period 1924-1934:
Fig. 2.-Mineral Productio.n of Georgia by geologic areas, 1924-1934, in millions of dollars. Dotted line is sliding average of annual total production in five-year period preceding date shown.