^■'%. ^l|tB book fajae presenteb Cullen E. Whitley JI::lLli;i This book is due on the date indicated below and is subject to an overdue i fine as posted at the circulation desk. EXCEPTION: Date due will be earlier if this item is RECALLED. JAM 2 9 1997 MAY 3 1 ^998 APR 1 2006 DEPARTMENT OF GEOSC.tNUti NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY JOSEPH HTDE PRATT, State Geoloftist ECONOMIC PAPER No. 40 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914 FORESTRY LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA J. S. HOLMES. State Forestf RALEIGH E. M. UzzELL & Co., State Pbintebs ado BraoEBa 1913 0!L?.O NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, State Geolot^ist ECONOMIC PAPER No. 40 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914 FORESTRY LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA J. S. HOLMES, State Forestc RALEIGH E. M. UzzELL & Co., State Printers and Binders 1915 GEOLOGICAL BOARD. GovERXOK Locke Craig, cx officio chairman Kaloij^'h Fbaxk R. Hewitt Asheville Hugh MacRae Wilmiiigtou Henby E. Fries Winston-Salem John Sprunt Hill Durham Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist Chapel Hill LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Chapel Hill, July 15, 1915. To His Excellency, Honorable Locke Craig, Governor of North Carolina. Sir : — I have the honor to submit for publication as Economic Paper Xo. 40 of the reports of the Xorth Carolina Geological and Economic Survey a report on the Forest Fires in North Carolina During lOlJf and on the Forestry Laws of North Carolina. Since the passage of the forestry laws by the General Assembly of 1915, there has already been an increased interest shown in regard to the forests of the State and their presei-vation. It is believed that these laws can be made effective and that they will be the means of greatly reducing the loss due to forest fires. Yours very respectfully, Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist. CONTENTS. FoBEST Fires in North Carolina Dvring 1914 : Introduction 7 The Weather 8 Relative Montlily and Seasonal Fire Risks (Table li 9 Annual Statement of Forest Fires in 1914 9 Summary of Reports by Regions. Comparative Statement (Ta- ble 2) 10 Summary of Reports by Counties : Mountain Region (Table 3i 10 Piedmont Region (Table 4) 11 Coastal Plain Region (Table 5) 12 Comparative Statement of Averages by Regions (Table 6) 1.3 Causes of Forest Fires. Comparative Statement (Table 7) 13 Organized Fire Protection 14 Results of Federal Protection in North Carolina l.j Forest Fires in the Southern Appalachian Purchase Areas (Table S) 1.5 Results of Partial Protection 16 Damage in Partially Protected Areas (Table 9) 16 Forestry Laws of North Carolina : Introduction IS The State Geological Board___ IS Law Creating the State Geological and Economic Survey 19 Laws for the Protection of the Forests from Fire 21 The Law of 1777 21 More Recent Attempts to Secure Effective Laws 22 The New Forest Fire Law 24 Administration 26 Cooperation 26 Appointment of Forest Wardens 27 Prosecutions 28 Duties of Forest Wardens 29 Patrol 30 The Power of Arrest 30 Assistance in Fighting Fires 31 Comiiensation of Forest Wardens 31 Additional Protection to City Water Supplies 32 The Law for the Protection of City Watersheds 33 2 b cox TEXTS. Forestry Laws of North Carolina : Laws for the Creation of State Forests 34 Needs for Demonstratiou in Forestry _:. 34 The Law Governing the Acquiromeiit and Administration of State Forests 3r» Gifts of Land for State Forests 30 Purchasing State Forests 37 Some Problems to Be Solved 38 Further Benefits of State Forests 39 Mount Mitfhell Sbite Park 39 The Mount Mitchell Park Purchase Law 40 Fire Protection Needed 42 The Commission ' 42 Appalachian National Forests 42 Law to Allow Federal Acquirement 43 Acquirement by Purchase Only 43 Protection of Game on National Forests 44 Law to Allow Federal I'rotection of Wild Life 44 Arbor Day 46 Arbor Day Law 46 Manner of Observance 48 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914 INTRODUCTION. Public interest in forest fire prevention in Xorth Carolina is increas- ing year by year. This is reflected in the State press, which chronicles and comments upon forest fires and the loss suffered by them to a much greater extent than formerly. It is also seen in the recent action of the State Legislature, which enacted an excellent forest fire law. However, the fact that the appropriation to make this law effective was denied shows that even yet public opinion is not insistent enough or definite enough to secure from the representatives of the people in the General Assembly adequate State assistance in fire protection. The only possible reason for this condition is that our people them- selves are not well enough informed on this subject. They do not yet realize the pressing necessity for a permanent supply of timber for our industries and for the people as a whole. They do not yet understand that where seedlings and young trees of our more valuable species are killed by fire our future forests will be of greatly reduced value; that burnt-over forests yield the minimum returns in timber, while protected forests yield the maximum ; that unburnt forests pay the highest returns to the owners, to the community, and to the State. Forest fires result largely from the indifference and consequent care- lessness of the people. Half the fires in this State are said to be due to the carelessness of the individual. By changing this indifference into strong, active opposition to burning the woods, much of the criminal carelessness now existing in regard to forest fires will be done away with. It is with the idea of keeping the public informed as to the real condi- tions of the forests throughout the State, and so arousing them to the need of definite action, that these annual reports continue to be prepared and issued to the people of the State. Previous publications of the Xorth Carolina Geological and Economic Survey in this series are '•'Forest Fires in Xorth Carolina During 1909," Economic Paper Xo. 19 ; "Forest Fires in Xorth Carolina During 1910," Economic Paper Xo. 22; "Forest Fires in Xorth Carolina During 1911," Economic Paper Xo. 25; "Forest Fires in Xorth Carolina During 1912," Economic Paper Xo. 33; and "Forest Fires in Xorth Carolina During 1913," Economic Paper Xo. 37. Each of these reports contains a large amount of infor- mation about the nature of the damage done by forest fires, the causes 8 FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLIXA. of fires, tlie various methods suggested and plans put iuto force to pre- vent them, and the laws of the various States and of the United States for their control. Copies of most of these Economic Papers can be had free upon application. THE WEATHER. Extremely dr^^ weather has olteu been spoken of as a frequent cause of forest fires. This, however, is a misapprehension. Dry weather can no more cause a fire in the woods than a loaded gun can cause the death of a friend. It is the careless individual in both cases who causes the trouble. If carelessness could be eliminated, the forest fire "caused by dry weather" and the death caused by the gun Avhich was "not loaded" would not occur. But carelessness can only be overcome with thoughtfulness. In order, therefore, to reduce the number of fires, knowledge of the damage done by them must be spread and emphasized so that the general public will learn to think, and so will learn to exercise increased watchfulness and care. The relation of carelessness and diy weather to forest fires in 1914 is seen in a casual perusal of the State press; though even now, when a knowledge of the value of our forests would seem to be almost uni- versal, some newspapers, which claim to be leaders of public opinion, scarcely notice even the worst fires. The great majority of our State papers, however, are quick to point a lesson from each destructive fire. It is seen, by referring to the annual summary of the United States Weather Bureau reports, that the precipitation over North Carolina for the past year was "2.79 inches below normal," a deficiency of about oV-j per cent. January was a dry month, there being only about two-thirds the normal amount of rainfall. From the 4th to the 24th practically no rain fell. A very destructive fire occurred near Ridge Crest which was caused, it was said, by "careless handling of fires in the woods." During February rainfall was about normal, but in March there was only two-thirds of the usual amount. It Avas, however, well distributed, and few fires were reported. The A])ril rainfall Avas normal, most of it occurring, however, before the 21st of tlic moiitli. From that date up to the middle of June precipitation was exceptionally light. May was the driest on record, with the exception of 1911, an avcranv of only 1.38 inches falling, compared Avith a normal rainfall of 4.11 inches. The AA'estern district, usually the AA^ettest, AA-as drier than \hv central or eastern sections, and precipitation Avas unevenly distributed. Forest fires Avere reported by the neAvspapers from the Linville section of the mountains FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 9 and from many of the southeastern coastal plain counties. The June rainfall averaged 3.28 inches, being about 2 inches below the normal. Though rain was general about the middle of the month, forest fires raged around Beaufort up to about the 20th. They were, also, exceed- ingly destructive on Mount Mitchell. July was also dry, and though scattered showers fell in most places, destnictive fires still continued over the greater part of the coastal plain region. The rainfall through August and September was still below normal, but no fires were reported in the daily papers. The last three months of the year w^ere the only ones in which the precipitation was above the average, the December rainfall being easily the heaviest yet recorded. Early in N'ovember fierce fires were raging around the Black Mountains and at other places in the State, but the fall fires were less numerous than usual. Table I.- -RELATIVE MONTHLY AND SEASONAL FIRE RISKS IN 1914 AND AVERAGE FOR FOUR YEARS IN PERCENTAGES. 1914. Average. 1914. Average. March 15 20 17 11 5 5 4 7 10 1 1 4 16.5 23 14 6.5 6 5 5 7 10.5 3 1 2.5 Spring •Summer 52 21 ■ 21 6 April 53.5 May. June-. July 17 August. . September October 22.5 November Winter . December. January 7 February ANNUAL STATEMENT OF FOREST FIRES IN 1914. The following tables were compiled from more than six hundred replies from voluntary correspondents all over North Carolina. Though five counties only are unrepresented, less than half the townships of the State were reported for, and most of these by only one person. ITever- theless, the figures here given, though undoubtedly much less than the actual amount of fire damage, will convey to the reader some idea of the destruction annually occurring in our State, largely as a result of can 10 FOREST FIHES IX XOKTH CAKOLIXA. T.\BLE 2.— FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914. COMPAR.\TIVE STATEMENT; SUMMARY OF REPORTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS BY REGIONSt Mountain. Piedmont. Coastal Plain. State. 1 1914. Average for Six Years. 1914. Average for Six Years. Average 1914. , for Six 1 Years. 1914. Average Total number of townships in region 166 454 370 990 . Number of townships re- porting.. Number of replies received-. Number of forest fires re- ported Total area burnt over, in acres Total standing timber de- stroyed, in M feet, board- measure Value of timber destroyed-. Area of young growth de- stroyed, in acres Value of young growth de- stroyed Value of forest products de- stroyed Value of improvements de- stroyed Total damage reported Number of lives lost Cost to private individuals to fight fires S 67, S 87: $ 22, 176 I 170 212 ,000 141,000 I 60,000 ,000 : 23,000 6,000 ,000 I S 58,000 S 17,000 ,000 ! 47,000 21,000 ,000 $ 68,000 $ 42,000 000 ' $ 73,000 S 26,000 000 S 17,000 000 t 5218,000 $ 13,000 $ 98,000 196 240 230 101,000 11,000 -S 33,000 32,000 $ 59,000 $ 54,000 $ 22,000 $170,000 $ 4,400 $ 6,000 $ $ 4,400 281 238 669 159,000 155,000 295,000 I 23,000 22,000 I 47,000 S 83,000 -S 63,000 8129,000 48,000 42,000 100,000 $111,000 I $ 77,000 $220,000 $ 72,000 I $ 84,000 $185,000 $ 31,000 ! $ 26,000 $ 66,000 $297,000 $253,000 $600,000 .56,000 S 155,000 122,000 S 207,000 S 212,000 $ 66,000 $ 641,000 2 ,000 $ 8,100 $ 15, -FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914. SUMMARY OF REPORTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS BY COUNTIES. Mountain Region. County. if. Ml Number of Replies. Number of Fires. Total Number of Acres Burnt Over. Merchantable Timber Destroyed, M. 1 . II 111 Value of Young Growth Destroyed. Value of Prod- ucts Destroyed. Value of Improvements Destroyed. Cost of Fighting Fires. Alleghany Ashe.... 8 .1 15] 4 7 1 3 ,1 2 4 4 3 9 16 3 13 500 200 4,100 1,100 " $ "■"500" '. 2,000 1,000 1,000 3,762 10,000 500 $ $ 100 100 Avery . 150 4,080. .■inn 500 50 Buncombe Cherokee 13 6 5 3 13 8 15 11 16 9 5 9 12 11 6 2 4 2 15,000 10 10,000 25 130 25 100 Clay 11 9 19 3 5,. 500 4 nnn 272 100 1,200 3,450 ann , .■? nnn 9,500 Graham 1,000 Haywood Henderson Jackson 5 6 6 i 7 3l 4 8 14 11 13 5 8 3 3 7 10 6 6 12 ' 3,700 1 100 9 6,650 18 11,515 6 3,155 3 300 620 : 3,000 200 35 1 6,175 ; 200 25 i 85 i 1 708 200 4,500 600 25 150 3 000 1,050 1,273 Macon 4 nns ' 11 901 182 Madison... Mitchell 523 2,075 320 1,052 780 1,050 I 135 o.i ion ."in m inn inn Swain 13 16 fion iHi 2.in 6 !^m ~ 4i)0 7 (11)1) 1 oon 575 Transylvania Watauga 46 3 7 3,050 200 16,530 1,025 4,120 50 250 373 1,130 2,615 ^ 8,000 13,170 100 100 25 Yancey 9 14 7,530 1 25,800 51,000 7,050 590 Totals 166 85 117 176 76,250 18,174 $28,800 30,806 |$67,287 ^$87,550 $21,854 $ 4,335 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. II -FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914. SUMMARY OF REPORTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS BY COUNTIES. Piedmont Region. S3 O. 0300 3oiS 3 . Si II 111 Eh oO 3 "S 111 II >3 22 Alamance 13 Alexander 8 Anson 8 Burke 12 Cabarrus 12 Caldw-ell 12 Caswell 9 Catawba 8 Chatham U Cleveland 11 Davidson 17 Davie 7 Durham 6 Forsyth 14 Franklin 10 Gaston 6 Granville 9 Guilford 18 Iredell 16 Lee 7 Lincoln 5 McDowell 11 Mecklenburg | 15 Montgomery H Moore 9~ Orange 7 Person 9 Polk 6 Randolph 19 Rockingham 11 Rowan 14 Rutherford 12 j Stanly .._ 8 Stokes 8 Surry _._ 14 Union 9 Vance 9 Wake.. 19 Warren 12 Wilkes.. 21 Y'adkin 8 Totals 454 , 8 8 5 12 3 2 5 12 15 9 7 2 10 15 26 8 19 34 348 : 12 — S S 10 25 150 6 4 21,200 11 1 5 4 15 11,100 7 4 129 11 ,250 2.500 5 25 300 1,500 11,200 5 1,000 25,200 25 10 35 1,000 3,000 250 50 5 6 170 10 5 218 8 1 12 15 ; 2 310 2 13 4 41 695 250 100 400 10 ; 250 50 850 24 10 I 2 85 10 II 860 2 I 10 623 4 ! 2 6 25 1,420 23 8,920 15 11 4,130 103 1 440 491 .750 2,350 1,000 27 12 760 — . 50 2 10 3,501 540 204 7 10 150 990 5 200 20 2,410 100 ! 300 10 f 40 ,000 I 1,100 20 ! 75 100 500 202 410 2,300 200 21 320 50 6 200 510 2,415 100 212 60,190 ; 5,733 i$16,995 2,600 500 205 1,300 100 50 500 625 200 30 50 1,175 2,750 25 1,000 1,035 100 1,000 650 5,300 10 250 2,000 100 130 10 100 50 35 400 500 75 12 FOREST FIRES IN" NORTH CAROLINA. T.*.BLE 5.— FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914. SUMMARY OF REPORTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS BY COUNTIES. Coastal Pl.un Region County. Total Number of Townships in County. Number of Townships Reporting. li Bo. 1^ "o 1. as Is II ^£ . III 1 . a § . ill 111 -si m Beaufort Bertie 6 9 15 6 3 9 4 14 9 11 5 5 13 14 7 9 12 13 6 5 4 17 7 12 10 14 4 9 5 4 6 10 5 11 7 19' 16 4 5 4 12 10 2 3 10 10 6 1 2 1 1 2,000 1,860 200 1,200 2,000 115 10 $8,000 335 40 6,000 2,000 710 100 $ 6,000 820 300 3,000 $6,000 1,100 $ 200 $ 1,000 100 Bladen. -. 50 i " 1 250 1 - ' 1 1 Columbus 24 14 11 12,600 2,000 52,000 5,002 775, 1,600 6,600 500 3,100 3,000 1,085 Cumberland- -- 3,050 9,150 10,500 2 25,550 50 10,100 5,000 510 1,150 Dare Duplin 2 2 2 1 4 ( Edgecombe Gates 200 50 25 5 50 100 500 25 350 3 3 ,5 . Halifax Harnett Hertford ..- '' 10 12 5 1,800 200 550 25 250 1,300 100 25 Hoke..-- 1 1,000 20 Hyde Johnston - 12 3 I 'I 6 26 6 1 20 750 1,000 400 10,000 2,300 50 ■100 100 1,580 150 200 16 200 7,600 700 1,000 300 1,500 500 650 50 100 8 200 Martin Nash 1,700 12,450 24,150 15,300 New Hanover-.. Northampton- - . 5 8 2 1 3 6 10 2 860 14,000 2,325 100 13,250 1 150 4,500 ■ 400 100 6,050 300 24,500 1,600 300 16,050 2,500 1,000 1,500 300 640 400 2,000 300 2,500 1,500 50 ?35 11,500 4,000 300 1,780, Pamlico 10 Pender 300 300 Pitt - 9 2 22 18 2 5 12,200 500 10,700 9,250 250 400 50 10 100 30 90 3,000 6,500 10 500 14,000 3,500 • 500 1,500 100 100 Robeson Sampson Scotland 2,800 5,010 100 8,000 21,010 2,000 200 9,250 700 7,600 1,500 1,010 1.225 Tyrrell 400 50 5 25 500 250 20 200 50 Washington. .- Wayne Wilson- 2,000 100 5 200 20 2,000 1,000 25 Totals.-.. 370 129 161 281 158,657 22,962 $82,954 48,347 $110,940 $71,818 $30,660 $ 9,045 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 13 T.VBLE 6.— FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLINA DURING 1914. COMPARATIVE STATE- MENT OF AVERAGES BV REGIONS FOR 1914 AND FOR SIX YEARS. Piedmont. Coast.vl Plain. I i ' lAverage Average Averaee! |Average 1914. for Six 1914. for SLx 1914. for Six I 1914. j for Six Years. | Years. i Years. I . Years. Percentage of townships reporting... 51 Average area of each fire, in acres. .. 448 Average damage by each fire SI, 209 Average area burnt over per town- i ship reporting, in acres I 896 Average damage per acre burnt $ 2 . 70 Average damage per township re- porting _ -52,417 I S3, 41 52 , 43 j 898 305 447 j $1,412 $ 491 $ 729 I $1, *1,649 $ 1 .50 S 1.62 S 1.65 S 1.87 34 45 656 462 $1,082 $ 939 *1,292 657 $ 1.79 $ 2.03 S 1,C S 411 S 861 -52,297 , $1,565 , $1,335 $ 1,657 *No township figures for 1909. -CAUSES OF FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 1914 BY REGIONS, COMPARED WITH SIX YEARS, IN PERCENTAGES. Moun- Pied- Coastal tain. mont. Plain. Average for Six Years. Farmers burning brush, grass, rubbish, etc Hunters Cigars, cigarettes, matches, etc Carelessness Railroad locomotives, sparks from Logging locomotives, dummy engines, etc Sawmills, etc Traction engines Accidental, caught from burning building, etc. To improve the range. Set by chestnut gatherers, root diggers, etc Without object, "to see it burn" Malice or incendiary Unknown causes Lightning Loafers, trespassers, etc Campers Tar kilns 7.5 4 7 11 7.5 8.5 11 11.5 4.5 5 4 3 13 15 14 18 35 14 20 18.5 2 18 8.5 7 4.5 2 3 4 The foregoing tables show a total reported damage from forest fires in 1914 of $600,000, half of which occurred in the coastal plain counties. This is slightly less than the average loss for the past six years, though very near the average in most particulars. The most encouraging feature is the reduction of 25 per cent in the reported area burnt over, and this in spite of the fact that there were more than the average number of fires. This Avould indicate that more general efforts are being made to extinguish fires after they have started ; 3 1-i KOKKST KIKES IX NOKTII CAROLIXA. and tliis is corroborated by the various newspaper accounts of the fires. This interpretation, however, is not borne out by figures of cost to pri- vate individuals, who are reported to have spent less money than during the previous year in fighting fires and considerably less than the average amount. The incompleteness of the reports is responsible for this appar- ent contradiction. For example, a devastating fire occurred in the north- ern parts of Camden and Gates counties at the end of July, which was not mentioned in the voluntary reports, yet large i^rivate expense was incurred in efforts to control it. The Xew Bern Journal says: ".Several hundred men have been rushed to the scene by the Richmond Cedar Works. John L. Roper Company, and Camp Manufacturing Company, principal owners of the timber in the forest tract, to light the spread of the lire. All operations in near-by camps were susi>ended by the Cedar Works Company yesterday and 150 men rushed to the lire on special trains." It seems safe to assume, from all indications, that the people are rapidly becoming more actively opposed to forest fires, and that their changed attitude is already having some effect. Yet there is much to be done by Worth Carolinians, both as private landowners and as citizens of a sovereign State. In the former role there is a large field of useful- ness in the practice of cooperative fire protection, Avhile in the latter capacity one of the first duties is to spread a knoAvlcdge of and respect for the State forestry laws. ORGANIZED FIRE PROTECTION. That organized fire protection, whether private, as was recently prac- ticed on the Biltmore estate, or cooperative, as is now being worked out in Virginia, Kentucky, and other States, or governmental, L e.. State and Federal, can be successfully practiced in ]!^orth Carolina is being demonstrated afresh on and near the National Forests in the western part of the State. ISlot only have the local forest officers extinguished many fires on the lands under their cluiriie, but they have fought fires on surrounding lands Avitli tlie primary object of preventing their spread to the jSTational Forests. Two extracts taken fi-oni the State press show the importance of hav- ing experienced men in the neighborhood who can organize and lead fire- fighting forces, who know exactly Avhat to do, and have the authority to go ahead and do it. Speaking of a Buncombe County fire, occurring in Jaiuiai-y, one newspaper says: "The fire started near midnight Friday night and had gained great headway before the alarm was si)read and the corps was organized to tight it. All the aviiil;il)l(' men in tlic Md.JMccnt tcrritoi-y were organized niidei- the direction of FOEEST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 15 United States Fore.ster Young and scattered over the district threatened by the leaping flames. Fighting with grim determination and never giving up hope for a single moment, this force finally confined the spreading flames in a certain area, although at times in the early morning it seemed that every resi- dence in a radius of several miles would be destroyed." Of a Xovember fire in the same region, another newspaper says : "Forest fires which have been raging in various sections of the mountains around Black Mountain during the greater part of the week are reported to have done considerable damage, the greater number of the outbreaks being re- ported from the Craggy Mountains. For a while fear was entertained that the flames would get on the immense watershed holdings of the city of Ashe- ville. but reports from the intake are to the effect that but little damage has been suffered by the municipality. Mr. Bishop of Marion, representing the Government, is in charge of a force of 100 men in the Bee Tree section, and back-firing has been resorted to in checking flames." RESULTS OF FEDERAL PROTECTIOX IX XORTH CAROLIXA. A Striking tribute to the value of organized fire protection is brought out by some figures in Table 6. It is seen that the average area burnt over by each fire in the mountain region during the past year was exactly half the average for the past six years, while in the other regions of the State there has been only a comparatively small reduction. The only way to account for this is that the assistance and example of the Federal forest officers have had a decided eft'ect in reducing the amount of burnt land areas. This explanation is supported by the figures compiled by the forest officers themselves : Table 8.— FORE.ST FIRES IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN PURCHASE AREAS IN NORTH CAROLINA, 1914. 1 1 Area of Forest. Number 1 1 i i s - OP Fir 1 ES. Location. National Forest L.^nds. Name of Forest. Fires Ori Inside Forest. pnating— 1 Outside Forest. Area Burned Over. Value of Tim 1km- Destroyed. .| 1 On National Forest Lands. On Private Lands. 1^ II ° o Mount Mitchell Pisgah . 66,213 86,700 36,973 . 34,808 4 6 11 I 21 5 1 15 372 .$ 36 $ 169 Nantahala Savannah (N) 1 10 1 ]' 22 2 7 15 1 1 1 Totals ; 224,694 16 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. The above table was prepared from the Federal Forest Examiners' annual reports. It shows the number of fires of different classes occur- ring within the Federal Purchase Areas in 1914 and the amount of Xational forest land burnt over. It will be seen that only six fires occurred on the Xational Forest lauds in Xorth Carolina. The rest probably threatened the GoA^ernment lands, but were extinguished before they crossed onto them. These six fires burnt over only 372 acres, or an average area for each fire of 62 acres. RESULTS OF PARTIAL PROTECTIOX. Through the cooperation of the Federal Forest officials in western Xorth Carolina accurate information in regard to forest fires in twenty townships or parts of townships surrounding the JSTational Forests was supplied and it is incorporated with all the foregoing tables except the last. Because of the comparative completeness of this information, and in view of the fact that efficient fire protection was practiced over parts of the townships in question, these auxiliary reports have also been com- piled by themselves to show the result of partial fire protection. The Government lands lying within these townships are thoroughly j)atrolled, and only six fires occurred on them, as shown in Table 8. Pri- vate land within the !N"ational Forests or outside the forests but within the purchase area5, namely, within the limits set by the Government for making further additions to the National Forests, are not patrolled, but forest officers usually assist in extinguishing fires, especially if Fed- eral lands, or lands which have been offered to the Government, are threatened. There were thirty-nine such fires reported in 1914. The remaining thirty-five fires included in Table 9 probably occurred beyond the Government rangers' field of duty, and so were extinguished in the ordinary way, namely, b}^ private citizens, by rain, or by burning them- selves out. The following table, therefore, shows the results of partial protection in the comparison of these figures Avith the average ones for the mountain region found in Table 6. Table 9.-GENERAL FIRE DAMAGE IN THE MOUNTAINS DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS COMPARED WITH THAT IN PARTIALLY PROTECTED TOWNSHIPS. In Townships and Parts of Townships Partially Protected, 1914. In the Moun- tain Counties as a Whole. Average for the Past Six Years. Average area of each fire, acres - 148 898 Average damage by each fire $ 514.00 S 1,112.00 Average damage per acre burnt - 3.46 1.50 Average cost of fighting fires, per fire 11.00 35.00 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. 17 From the above table it can be seen that the average fire, where only partial protection ^vas given, was one-sixth the size of the average fire of the region, or a saving in the eighty fires reported by the forest officers of 60,000 acres not burnt over. At an average damage of $1.50 per acre, this means an actual saving of $90,000. The saving in cost of fighting fires is just as startling. While it is often said that fire fighting is now done voluntarily in iSTorth Carolina, the average cost to fight fires in the mountains is $35 per fire, borne by landowners and private individuals. In this partially protected area under discussion the cost to private owners and the Government com- bined has been reduced to $11 per fire. This seems to be indisputable evidence that organized fire protection will and does pay. FORESTRY LAMS OF NORTH CAROLINA.^ INTRODUCTION. The General Assembly of 1915 enacted more legislation for the con- servation of our natural resources than any previous one in the history of the State. The eastern fisheries, part of which had been protected, but the greater part exploited almost without restriction, were all put under a State-wide Fisheries Commission. This law ought to insure the growth of our fishing industry which for a long while has been steadily declining. The Highway Commission bill, though not, strictly speak- ing, a conservation measure, is one of the most complete and effective laws for the encouragement and construction of good roads now in force in the South ; and good roads are so closely connected with consen'ation that it is difficult to separate them. The new laws connected with forest consen'ation, though not as com- plete and effective as the tw^o already mentioned, because unsupported by any appropriation, cover, however, a wider field, and definitely com- mit the State to two policies, new in I^orth Carolina, though well tried and permanent in many other States of the Union. These policies are : (a) State protection of the private as well as public forest lands of the State from fire, in the same way that cities and towns provide for the protection of the property of their citizens; (h) the purchase and ad- ministration of forest land by the State for the purposes of demonstra- tion and experiment, for the recreation, health, and pleasure of its citi- zens, and for the protection of its streams. In order that a clear understanding may be had of the administration of the new forest fire law and the "State forest" law, the enforcement of which is intrusted to the State Geological Board, the law creating this board is here introduced. THE STATE GEOLOGICAL BOARD. The General Assembly of 1905 reorganized the State Geological Sur- vey, enlarging its scope and changing its name to the State Geological and Economic Survey. At the same time the Survey. Avas given addi- tional powers and duties to those it already possessed dealing Avith the investigation and development of the natural resources of the State. *Spe Press Bulletin No. 147, N. C. Gcol. aud Eoon. Survey, "Forestry Laws of North Carolina." FOREST FIRES lA' NORTH CAROLINA. 19 LAW CREATING THE NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY.* Section 4429. State Geologist appointed hy Governor. The Governor shall appoint a suitable person as State Geologist to conduct, under the supervision of a board of managers to be known as the Geological Board, a geological and economic survej- of the State. Sec. 4430. Geological Board, how appointed; meetings. The Geological Board shall consist of the Governor (as chairman), four citizens of the State, two for a period of two years and two for a period of four j-ears from March 1, 1905, the same to be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and their successors to be in like manner appointed each for a period of four years. In case of the death or resignation of either of said citizens, his successor shall be appointed by the Governor. The Geo- logical Board shall meet twice each year, once in January and once in June, in the city of Raleigh, on the call of the Governor, except that the board may change the time and place of meeting as circumstances may require. Sec. 44.31. Experts and assistants. The State Geologist shall appoint, sub- ject to the approval of the Geological Board, such experts and assistants as may be found necessary to enable him to carry out successfully and speedily the work of the Survey. Sec 4432. Objects of Surveg. The Survey shall have for its objects : 1. An examination of the mineral, forest, fishery, and other material re- sources of the State. 2. An examination of the geological formations of the State with reference to their economic products. 3. An examination of the road-building materials and the best methods of utilizing the same. 4. An examination and classification of the soils, the forests, and other phys- ical features of the State, with special reference to their bearing upon the occupation of the people. 5. An examination of the streams and water-powers of the State, with special reference to the development for manufacturing enterprises and the preservation of the sources of these streams through the protection of the forests. 6. The consideration of such other scientific and economic problems as in the judgment of the Geological Board shall be deemed of value to the people of the State. 7. The preparation of such reports, illustrations, and maps as may be deemed necessary in placing the results of these investigations before the public. 8. And the State Geologist, with the approval of the Geological Board, is hereby authorized to arrange for and accept such aid and cooperation from the several United States Government bureaus and other sources as may assist in completing the topographic surveys of the State and in carrying out other provisions of this chapter. 9. An examination of the water supplies of the State, with special reference to the sinking of deep or artesian wells. Sec. 4433. Reports. The Geological Board shall cause to be prepared and submitted to each Legislature a report showing the progress and expenditures 'Chapter 94, Revisal of 1005. 20 fokp:st fires ix nokth cauoi.i.xa. of the Survey ; it shall also cause to be prepared for publication such other reports, with necessary illustrations and maps, as will ade(iuately set forth the geology and material resources of the State, all such reports, illustrations, and maps to be printed and distributed as the Geological Board may direct in editions of ."J.OOO copies cadi at the expense of the State as other public documents. Sec. 4434. Appropriation. The sum of $10,000 annu.iUy. or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated for the purpose of carryiiii: out tlie provisions of this chapter. Soon after the passage of this hiw and the general reorganization of the Survey by the new State Geologist, Joseph Hyde Pratt, three im- portant divisions, /. e., the Highway, the Fisheries, and the Forestry divisions, were made ; other interests of the Survey, such as the geologi- cal and mining work, were not delegated to any particular division. The Highway Division has organized and pushed the good roads move- ment in this State by holding meetings, furnishing speakers in support of local road bond issues, and founding and assisting the North Carolina Good Roads Association. It has administered and carried out the pro- visions of the highway assistance law (chapter 915, Public Laws 1909) which enables the Geological Board "to advise with the .township and county authorities in the building and improvement of the public roads, by sending to the tOAViiship or county a competent road engineer, who ■will assist them in locating their improved roads, advise them," etc. The Fisheries Division has supervised the administration of the old fish, commission law (chapter 977, Public Laws 1907), which protected the northern part of Pamlico Sound and the inner waters of Albemarle Sound. It has consistently urged the extension of this law to the whole coast, which, owing to its unceasing efforts, has just been accomplished. The Forestry Division, which was regularly organized in 1908, has examined and reported on the forests of the State, studied the forest fire question, and continuously urged forest fire legislation, and has effect- ively aided in the organization and support of the Xorth Carolina For- estry Association. It has taken part in meetings, has issued publications and statements to the press, and carried on general propaganda work. It has at several different times received the cooperation of th(> United States Department of Agriculture in investigative forestry woi-k. It seems, therefore, only natural and appropriate that the administra- tion of the forestry law, which has for eight or ten years been unceas- ingly advocated by the Survey and the need for which has been set forth in most of its forestry publications, should be committed to it. Tlie Forester of the Survev is the onlv technical forester eninlovcd bv tlie FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. 21 State. He is in close touch with all the forestry work, and especially Avith the forest fire conditions over the State, as no other man can he. It has always been the custom for the Governor to appoint the mem- bers of the Geological Board without any special reference to their politi- cal affiliation, but because of their ability and their knowledge of condi- tions with which they have to deal. The State Geologist is likewise api^ointed with the one idea of his fitness for the position, and the em- ployees of the Survey are employed in like manner. The State Geologi- cal and Economic Survey is therefore known as a nonpolitical organiza- tion, and for this reason is especially suited for carrying on work of a technical character, which, as all experts agree, must for its fullest effi- ciency be absolutely divorced from politics. LAWS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE FORESTS FROM FIRE. Xorth Carolina is said to have had the first law against setting fire to woods of any State in the Union. Certain it is that in 1777 "at a Gen- eral Assembly, begun and held at IS^ew Bern, on the Eighth Day of April in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy- seven, and in the Eirst Year of the Independence of the said State : Be- ing the first session of this Assembly," Richard Caswell, Esq., being Governor, a law was passed to prevent burning the woods. This law, here quoted in full from The State Records of jSTorth Caro- lina, vol. 24, has remained in force up to the present year with the ex- ception of those changes made necessary by the freeing of the slaves and by the passing of the whipping-post. This latter institution might even yet be found an effective method of dealing Avith "vagrant persons." THE LAW OF 1777. AN ACT TO PREVENT BURNING THE WOODS. I. Whereas the frequent burning of the Woods is found to be destructive to Cattle and Hogs, extremely prejudicial to the Soil, and oftentimes of fatal Consequences to Planters and Farmers, by destroying their Fences and other Improvements : For Prevention of wliich Evils, II. Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same. That it shall not be lawful for any Person whatsoever to set Fire to any Woods except it be his own Property, and in that Case it shall not be lawful for him to set Fire to his own Woods, without first giving Notice to all Persons owning Lands adja- cent to such Wood Lands intended to be fired at least Two Days before the time of setting such Woods on Fire, and also taking effectual Care to extin- guish such Fire before it shall reach any vacant or patented Lands, contiguous to or adjacent such Lands so fired. 4 ^2 FOREST FIRKS IX XOKTH CAROLIXA. III. A)id he it further Enacted, hy the Authoritu afnrcstiid. Th;it every Per- son offeudiug against this Act shall forfeit aud pay the sum of Ton Pounds, to be recovered by Action of Debt, Bill. Plaint or Information, to the Use of the Person who shall sue or prosecute for the same ; and shall also he further liable to the Party injured ])y such unlawful llrin;,' of the Woods, for all dam- ages that may accrue therefrom. IV. And he it further Enacted, hi/ the Authority aforesaid, That if any Slave, Free Negro or Mulatto, or vagrant Person, unable to pay the fine afore- said, shall be convicted of setting fire to any Woods, contrary to the true Meaning of this Act, such Person, on Conviction thereof, shall have and re- ceive on his bare back Thirty Nine Lashes, well laid on. at the Public Whii>- ping-Post. Hon. Francis B. Winston, in his recent iuidress before the Xorth Caro- lina Piue Association, in speaking of the work of the ISTorth Carolina Forestry Association, eni])hasized the fact that this law was not enacted for the purpose of protecting the forests, but of preventing injury to live stock ranging in the vast areas of then unowned and unoccupied land. He says: "Not a word is said about the destruction of timber by fires. A century and a half ago our ancestors were enacting laws against the destruction of hogs in the woods by fires. Today the North Carolina Forestry Association is seeking enactments to protect the woods from the hogs by a general stock law. Our association recognizes that a year's supply of timber on the farm is as necessary as the year's supi>ly of corn and meat. We are seeking to convince the people who own lands that in the place of every tree removed for any cause a new tree should be planted. We hayo in view the establish- ment of experimental forestry farms about the State. The North Carolina Geological and Kcdjiomic Survey is fostering this work." In 1885 a law forbidding wagoners and other campers to leave their camp-fires without totally extinguishing them was ])assed. There has been, however, no very general enforcement of either of those laws, though there have been no others covering what we now consider these very serious offenses. The.se two laws (sections 3346 and 3347, Revisal of 1905) have noAv largely been incorporated in the now forest fire Liav, in slightly amended form. MORE RKCEXT ATTEMPTS TO SECURE EFFECTIVE LAWS. In 1909 an effort was made to obtain increased protection for our mountain forests by the passage of a law (chapter 89, Public Laws 1909) which allows "any owner or owners of Avooded land situated in North Carolina above contour line 2,000 feet" to apply to the Governor for the establishment of such land as a "State forest." Tlie owners pledge them- FOREST FIRES I^^ IS^OETH CAROLIXA. 23 selves to cut the timber conservatively, and to pay annually one-half cent for each acre of such proposed State forest into the county school fund. In return for this the rangers employed by the landowner are to be appointed State forest wardens, with power to arrest without warrant violators of the State laws relating to the care of forests. The owners of the land which is thus proclaimed a State forest must, of course, pay the salary and expenses of their own wardens. This law, which requires a man, in addition to bearing all the costs of fire protection, to pay out half a cent an acre for all the land protected, none of which is used for fire protection, is so manifestly one-sided that no advantage has yet been taken of it, and probably none ever will be. In contrast with this, forest fire protective associations are now being organized in several of the Appalachian States whose maximum annual assessment is only half a cent an acre. For this amount the lands are being successfully protected against fire. There have been many other attempts, both before and since, to secure more adequate State assistance in the prevention and extinguishment of forest fires. As early as 1887, Hon. Francis D. Winston reminds us, he himself introduced a bill for this purpose into the State Senate, but it did not get out of the committee. At each regular session of the Legis- lature for the past eight years the State Geological and Economic Sur- vey has proposed and urged the passage of definite legislation to reduce the enormous annual loss by forest fires, but with no definite result. The public demand throughout the State has not been strong enough to over- come the natural reluctance of such a conseiwative body as the General Assembly to enact restrictive laws. But year by year, as the annual loss from fires has become better known and appreciated, the demand for protection has become more in- sistent, until the Legislature of 1915 responded by the enactment of an excellent law, though without appropriation. A law to meet certain particular cases, where logging was being done on land adjoining city watersheds, was passed two years ago.* Though fairly effective in the cases to which it applies, this law, it is thought, has not yet been invoked. It can probably be effectively enforced, however, •in connection with the new forest fire law. In the following pages the forestry laws of the State are given, each accompanied by comments explaining the objects and operations of the law. 24 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE NEW FOREST FIRE LAW.* AX ACT TO PROTECT THE FOKESTS OF THE STATE FROM FIRE. The General Asscmhly of North Carolina do enact: Section 1. That the State Geological Board may take such action as it may deem necessary to provide for the prevention and control of forest tires in any and all parts of this State, #nd it is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States for the pro- tection of the forested watersheds of streams in this State. Sec. 2. That the forester of the State Geological and Economic Survey, who shall be called State Forester, and shall be ex officio State Forest Warden, may appoint, with the approval of the Geological Board, one township forest warden and one or more district forest wardens in each township of the State in which the amount of forest land and the risks from forest tires shall, in his judgment, make it advisable and necessary. Sec 3. The State Forester, as State Forest Warden, shall have supervision of township and district forest wardens, shall instruct them in their duties, issue such regulations and instructions to the township and district forest wardens as he may deem necessary for the purposes of this act, and cause violations of the laws regarding forest fires to be prosecuted. Sec. 4. Forest wardens shall have charge of measures for controlling forest fires; shall make arrests for violation of forest laws; shall post along high- ways and in other conspicuous places, copies of the forest fire laws and warn- ings against fires, which shall be supplied by the State Forester; shall patrol during dry and dangerous seasons under the direction of the State Forester, and shall perform such other acts and duties as shall be considered necessary by the State Forester for the protection of the forests from fire. The town- ship forest warden of the township in which a fire occurs shall within ten days make such a report thereof to the State Forester as may be prescribed by him. The township forest warden of the township in which a fire occurs .shall within ten days make such a report thereof to the State Forester as may be prescribed by him. Each district forest warden shall promptly report to township wardens any fire in his district. Sec. 5. Any i^erson who shall maliciously or willfully destroy, deface, re- move, or disfigure any sign, poster, or warning notice, posted by order' of the State Forester, under the provisions of this act or any other act which may be passed for the purpose of protecting the forests in this State from fire, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $.^0. or imprisoned not exceeding thirty daj'S. Sec G. Forest wardens shall prevent and extinguish forest fires in their respective townships and enforce all statutes of this State now in force or that hereafter may be enacted for the protection of forests and woodlands from fire, and they shall have control and direction of all persons and apparatus while engaged in extinguishing forest fires. Any forest warden may arrest, without a warrant, any person or persons taken by him in the act of violating any of the said laws for the protection of forests and woodlands, and bring ♦Chapter 243, Public Laws 1015. Sec Tress BuU. 147. N. C. Gool. and Econ. Survev. FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLI^-A. 25 such person or persons forthwith before a justice of the peace or other officer having jurisdiction, who shall proceed without delay to hear, try, and deter- mine the matter. During a season of drought the State Forester may estab- lish a fire patrol in any township, and in case of fire in or threatening any forest or woodland the township or district forest warden shall attend forth- with and use all necessary means to confine and extinguish such fire. The said forest warden may summon any male resident of the township between the ages of 18 and 45 years to assist in extinguishing fires, and may require the use of horses and other property needed for such purpose ; any person so summoned, and who is physically able, who refuses or neglects to assist or to allow the use of horses, wagons, or other material required, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $5 nor more than $50. No action for trespass shall lie against any forest warden or person summoned by him for crossing or \\orking upon lands of another in connection with his duties as forest warden. Sec. 7. Forest wardens shall receive compensation from the Geological Board at a rate of not to exceed 20 cents per hour for the time actually en- gaged in the performance of their duties ; and reasonable expenses for equip- ment, transportation, or food supplies incurred in fighting or extinguishing any fire, according to an itemized statement to be rendered the State Forester every month, and approved by him. Forest wardens shall render to the State Forester a statement of the services rendered by the men employed by them or their district wardens, as provided in this act, within one month of the date of service, which said bill shall show in detail the amount and character of the service performed, the exact duration thereof, the name of each person employed, and any other information required by the State Forester. All accounts of the forest wardens must be duly sworn to before a justice of the peace, notary public, or other oflSicer qualified to witness such papers within the county in which the expenses were incurred. If said bill be duly approved by the State Forester, it shall be paid by direction of the Geological Board out of the funds hereinafter provided for. Sec. 8. If any person shall intentionally set fire to any grass land, brush land, or woodland, except it be his own property, or in that case without first giving notice to all persons owning or in charge of lauds adjoining the land intended to be fired, and also taking care to watch such fire while burning and taking effectual care to extinguish such fire before it shall reach any lands near to or adjoining the lands so fired, he shall for every such offense be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than .$10 nor more than $50, or imprisoned not exceeding thirty days. This shall not prevent action for dam- ages sustained by the owner of any property from such fires. Sec. 9. Any wagoner, hunter, camper, or other person who shall kindle a camp-fire or shall authorize another to kindle such fire, unless all combustible material for the space of 10 feet surrounding the place where said fire is kindled has been removed, or shall leave a cami>flre without fully extinguish- ing it, or who shall accidentally or negligently by the use of any torch, gun, match, or other instrumentality, or in any manner whatever start any fire upon any grass land, brush land, or woodland without fully extinguishing the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50, or imprisoned not exceeding thirty days. Zb FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. Sec. 10. All persons, firms, or corporations who shall burn any tar kiln or pit of charcoal or set fire to or burn any brush, grass, or other material, whereby any proix?rty may be endangered or destroyed shall keep and main- tjain a careful and competent watchman in charge of said kiln, pit, brush, or other material while burning. Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50, or imprisoned not exceeding thirty days. Fire escaping from such kiln, pit, brush, or other material while burning shall be prhna facie evi- dence of neglect of these provisions. Sec 11. For the purposes of this act woodland is taken to include all forest areas, both timber and cut-over land, and all second-growth stands on areas that have at one time been cultivated. Sec. 12. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. Sec 13. This act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 9th day of March, A. D. 1915. Administration. By placing the administration of the forest fire law with an already existing office of the State Government the tedious and often difficult task of bringing together a new organization has been obviated. In view of the fact that no appropriation accompanies the new law^, this pro- vision is shown to be a wise and statesman-like action. The State Geo- logical and Economic Survey, which unfortunately yet has only a small appropriation for its support, is enabled to spend as much as can be spared of its appropriation for the carrying out of the provisions of the IsLW. In the actual w-ork of fire prevention and extinguishment very little can be done without an appropriation, but along other lines the Survey has already taken active steps, chiefly toward informing the pub- lic as to what the law is and in what ways it should be observed. Cooperation. • The latter half of section 1 contemplates a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture under the Weeks la"\v, ■whereby the State can receive very material assistance in the prevention of fires. Section 2 of the Weeks law* reads as follows : Sec. 2. That the sum of $200,000 is hereby appropriated and made available until expended, out of any moneys in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate with any State or group of States, when requested to do so, in the protection from fire of the forested watersheds of navigable streams ; and the Secretary of Agri- culture is herelty authorized, and on such conditions as he deems wise, to stipulate and agree with any State or group of States to cooperate iu the *3G Stat., 961. See Press Bui. 147, Appendix. FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. 27 organization and maintenance of a system of fire protection on any private or State forest lauds within such State or States and situated upon the water- shed of a navigable river: Provided, that no such stipulation or agreement shall be made with any State which has not provided by law for a system of forest fire protection : Provided further, that in no case shall the amount expended in any State exceed in any fiscal year the amount appropriated hy that State for the same purpose during the same fiscal year. As no appropriation is made by the State for fire protection, tliis la^v can be invoked at present only to a very limited extent. Under the mlings of the United States Forest Service the legal regular apportion- ment of State moneys paid out for fire preventive measures can be counted in the same way as a direct appropriation. The State Geologist has recently arranged for an expenditure of $2,000 per year for the next ten years for this purpose. As a result of this arrangement, an annual apportionment of Federal funds up to the same amount has been secured ; to be used, according to the ruling of the United States Department of Agriculture, for patrol and lookout work on forests covering the head- waters of streams in the western j)art of the State. In addition to this, there are now being advanced tentative plans for a scheme of cooperation wdth county and township governments, or with groups of private landowners, whereby they may be able to obtain the benefits of the new law without any large State expenditure. Appointment of Forest Wardens. The township and district forest wardens, whose appointment by the State Forester is permitted under section 2, should be men of known fit- ness for the work which they are to undertake. They should be residents of the county and township in which they are to work, should be familiar with all parts of their district, should be men used to the woods, experi- enced in fighting fires, on good terms with their neighbors, strong, healthy, absolutely honest, and able to make out intelligently such few reports as will be required of them. Where such men are willing to de- vote a part of their time to the seiwice of the State, receiving only such compensation as is provided in the law, the number of fires will un- doubtedly be greatly reduced, as has been the experience under similar conditions in many other States. It is not proposed to appoint Avardens in every township or county in the State, because in many their seTvices are not required, the small areas of woodland and the attitude of the public against forest fires making the seiwices of a forest warden unnecessary. During the past six years in which figures on forest fires have been collected the greatest 28 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROI.IXA. part of the destruction lias occurred in the mountain and coastal plain counties. These counties would, therefore, require the larger number of forest wardens. Many of the piedmont counties, however, have suf- fered considerably from fire^, and Avhere this has been the case, and the people are willing and anxious to cooperate in trying to prevent fires, the appointment of wardens would probably be made. As a general proposition, it may bd' stated that in townships containing, less than 60 per cent of forest land forest wardens would not be needed, while in those having more than this proportion wooded a considerable number of them might be expected to need Avardens. Even Avhen an appropriation is made by the State for the carrying out of this part of the law no indiscriminate appointment of wardens will be made. Each township will be considered upon its own merits, and only after careful consideration of local conditions and public senti- ment, as well as of the fitness of the man proposed, will an appointment be made. Prosecutions. The object of this law is not the persecution of private citizens, but the prevention of forest fires. The majority of fires are caused by care- lessness, and in most localities these can be gradually lessened by bringing before the people various kinds of reminders to be careful. When carelessness becomes gross or criminal a ]irosecution is often the only reminder that will have any effect. But some fires are started intentionally, in plain violation of law. In such cases it is the evident duty not only .of the law officers, but of every law-abiding citizen, to do everything possible to bring the offender to justice. Though the enforcement of the forestry laws is the special duty of the forest Avardens for whose appointment provision is made in the new laAv, prosecutions can also be taken up in the ordinary way. In fact, over the greater part of the State law enforcement will have to come through the regular county and township officers. Where evidence is obtainable, any citizen or officer of the law can swear out a warrant before a justice of the peace which will be immediately executed by the law officer. The offender will then be tried in the magistrate's court, following the usual procedure. Should a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or township constable discover some one in the act of violating the law, he should arrest him without warrant, take him im- mediately before a justice of the peace, Avhere the necessary papers Avould be made o]it and the trial proceed with tlie arresting officer as Avitness. FOREST FIRES IN Tstorth CAROLINA. 29 Forest wardens liave the same power as constables and sheriffs to arrest without warrant those taken in the act of violating the forestry laws. In all other cases they must swear out warrants before a magis- trate, just as a private citizen would be required to do. They cannot serve a warrant, but it must be turned over to the constable and served in the regular way. It will, however, be the special duty of the forest warden to work up evidence against all persons suspected of violating the forestry laws. His knowledge of the region and of the people of the region will give the warden a great advantage in this respect. He should be able to find out the cause of a fire without delay, and it is his duty to do so. He must then secure sufficient evidence, swear out a warrant, and, if neces- sary, appear himself as a witness in the case. Forest wardens are ap- pointed to protect the forests of the State from fire, and this they must do to the utmost of their ability, carrying out the laws enacted for that purpose. Forest Wardens. The regulations and instructions contemplated in section 3 will cover such duties as are not specifically mentioned in the law. Included in them would be the manner of procedure in case of fire ; instructions as to the best methods of fighting fires in various cases ; the organization of a fire-fighting force ; the necessary preparations for a fire season ; the time when patrol must be undertaken; methods of investigation into the causes of fires; the collection of evidence for prosecutions; and many other things in regard to the daily duties of the wardens. The duties of fire w^ardens mentioned in section 4 are those which are universally recognized as the usual duties of such officers. Other duties and acts may be necessary in certain cases, or as conditions which are not now foreseen arise from year to year. These other duties Avill be such as any employer of help might require of those under him, and will of course be in strict accordance Avith this and all other laws of the State. The reports required from forest wardens are necessary not only that the State Forester may be in close touch with the wardens and with fire conditions in the various districts, but also as a check on the monthly accounts sent in by the wardens, which have to be paid after approval by the State Forester. The reports will be as simple and brief as is consistent with the information desired. Blank forms will be printed, so that only a small amount of wi-iting will be necessary. These reports will form the basis of the annual report of the State Forest Warden 30 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. as to the number of fires, the area burnt over, the damage done, and the cost to the State in preventing and extinguishing fires. In districts where wardens are appointed these reports will supersede the voluntary reports now sent in in regard to forest fires. Patrol. Patrol is an important duty of the forest Avarden. Patrol means pre- vention, for usually the officer Avho patrols prevents as many fires as he extinguishes. By traversing the forests under his charge during ex- cessively dry weather, the patrolman is often not only able to detect and extinguish fires before they get beyond control, but the likelihood of his presence at any place will in all probability deter many who might otherwise either carelessly, negligently, or intentionally start fires. Patrol is such an important part of modern forest fire prevention that the Federal Government stipulates that the money expended by it in cooperative fire protection with the various States must be spent to a large extent in the employment of patrolmen and lookouts. Patrol is now practiced wherever effective fire protection is attempted. The new State law requires the forest wardens to patrol during dry and dangerous seasons, and, in addition, gives the State Forester full power to establish and direct such patrol whenever in his judgment this is advisable or necessary. By referring to Table 1 it will be seen the "dry and dangerous seasons" are most likely to occur in spring and fall, and it is in these two seasons that most of the patrol work would be carried on. However, local conditions or exceptional seasons might make it necessary to establish patrols at any time of the year. By virtue of a„ cooperative agreement recently (June 9, 1915) entered into between the State Geological Board and the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, a number of patrols will be established in the moun- tainous parts of the State during the fall fire season of 1915, and each fire season thereafter, as long as the arrangement continues. These men Avill be State Forest Wardens. They will work under the direction of the State Forester, but will be paid by the United States Government. Honest, energetic, intelligent men are required for this work; men who are familiar with the region which they will have to patrol, who have done woods work and have had experience in fighting fire. The Power of Arrest. ISTo law can be effective unless it is enforced. The great weakness of the old law against burning the woods was that there was no special system of enforcement. The present law provides that system, and it must be made as effective as possible. FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 31 It is well kuoAvn that many of our worst fires are of incendiary origin. They are started by irresponsible and often vicious men, who are deter- mined to injure their neighbors, or even one particular neighbor, or else are indifferent to the loss sustained by property owners and the com- munity at large. Experience has shown that it is usually very diffi- cult to apprehend such offenders, because they operate in wild, uninhab- ited country, and often at night. It would be folly to employ men to prevent forest fires, require them to find out who started the -fires, and then, when they come up with the offender, compel them to return many miles for the purpose of securing a warrant for the arrest of such of- fender. It is difficult enough to find the man who burns the woods, but it would be next to impossible to make arrests if such a procedure w^ere required. It has, therefore, always been found necessary to give forest wardens the power of deputy sheriffs, namely, the power to arrest with- out a warrant those caught in the act of violating the law. This power is not likely to be abused, for it is the policy of the forest warden service to maintain the closest relations of fairness and good-will with all the law- abiding citizens of the district. A forest warden who presumed to mis- use his power in this direction would at once be complained of so bitterly that his removal would be accomplished without delay. The whole object of the present law is to prevent and extinguish forest fires, and all other motives must and will be strictly excluded from the operations of the law. Assistance in Fighting Fires. The power to summons necessary assistance for fighting fires is given to forest wardens and a small penalty provided for refusal to serve. This means that unless some reasonable excuse can be given for declining to assist in extinguishing fires the persons summoned will be liable to a fine. If a reasonable excuse should be given, and the forest warden should decline to accept such excuse — a contingency hardly likely to occur — the justice of the peace before whom any action would come would undoubtedly decide that such excuse was valid and that the warden was not justified in declining to accept it. This adequately safeguards the power of summons. C onipensation of Forest ^Yardcns. One of the most frequently advanced arguments against State forest protection has been that by employing men to extinguish fires they were being induced to set out fires in order that they might be reimbursed for extinguishing them. Perhaps the simplest answer to such an argu- ment is that only the worst men in a community would attempt such a 32 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. practice, aiid that the forestry law contemplates the employment of the best men in the community. It would be a poor policy indeed for any forest warden to attempt such a practice, because there are always a large number of people ready to report any failure in duty of a State employee. It is certain that any forest officer Avho attempted such a thing would get dismissed without delay. On the other hand, should some irresponsible party attempt to practice firing the woods in order to secure employment under the forest warden, the warden would be quick to suspect and discover any such criminal practice. Where such laws are enforced there has been little or no trouble from this source, though the same argument has been advanced against the operation of a like pro- vision of law in nearly every State where it has been tried. It has occasionally been urged that it is useless to pay men for fighting fires, because in many communities any number of men could be found in an emergency to fight fires without compensation. It would not only be unfair to the citizens of the community to expect them to carry on this most exhausting work without pay, but it would be exceedingly in- effective and Avould defeat the object of the law. The function of fire protection is to prevent fires rather than to extinguish them. That is, fires should not be allowed to start ; and if they do get started, they must be put out before they become large fires. The first rule for the fire fighter is to get to the fire as soon as possible. A small fire is more easily extinguished and does infinitely less damage than a large fire. N'oav, only the large fire offers sufficient inducement for the average man to leave his regular work and go out and spend half a day or a whole day fighting to stop its advance. A small fire is apt to be neglected in the usually vain hope that it will burn itself out or some one else will extin- guish it. The State cannot afford to risk such haphazard methods. ADDITIONAL PROTECTION TO CITY WATER SUPPLIES. The State Geological and Economic Survey has consistently advocated the effective protection from fire of the forested watersheds of cities and towns. It has stood and still stands ready at any time to examine such areas with the object of recommending methods for protecting them from forest fires and consequent contamination. A number of such examinations have already been made and reports submitted. Two such reports have been published, those for Marion and . Asheville."'" Following the suggestions contained in these reports, and especially in a letter written by the State Forester and pul)lislicd in the Asheville "Sec Bi.'nnial Kcports of tlif State Geologist. 1>.mi!I-1i FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. 33 Gazettc-Xews, as well as iu editorial comments by that paper, Senator "Weaver of Bun-combe drew up and introduced into the General Assembly of 1913 a bill which is now one of our important forestry laws. THE LAW FOR THE PROTECTIOX OF CITY WATERSHEDS. The following law, while only applying to municipal watersheds, has an important and increasing usefulness in this State, because of the recent rapid development of the forested watershed idea : AX ACT TO PROTECT WATERSHEDS OWNED BY CITIES AND TOWNS FROM DAMAGE BY FIRE.7 The GenemJ Asscmhh/ of Xorth CaroJina do enact: Sectiox 1. That any person, firm, or corporation owning lands or the stand- ing timber on lands within 400 feet of any watershed held or owned by any city or town, for the purpose of furnishing a city or town water supply, upon cutting or removing the timber, or permitting same to be cut or removed, from lands so within said 400 feet of said watershed, or any part thereof, shall, within three months after cutting, or earlier upon written notice by said city or town, remove or cause to be burned, under proper supervision, all tree-tops, boughs, laps, and other portions of timber not desired to be taken for commer- cial or other purposes within 400 feet of the boundary line of such part of said watershed as is held or owned by such town or city, so as to leave such space of 400 feet immediately adjoining the boundary lines of such watershed so held or owned free and clear of all such tree-tops, laps, boughs, and other inflammable material caused by or left from cutting such standing timber, so as to prevent the spread of fire from such cut-over area and the consequent damage to such watershed. Sec 2. That any such person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Sec 3. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 6th day of March. A. D. 191.3. Pure water means health. A protected watershed insures unpolluted water. An abundant supply of pure water is the best advertisement a city can have. To secure and maintain such a supply is the best invest- ment a city can make. Many cities and towns in Xorth Carolina own their own "catchment areas" or watersheds ; others secure their water from small streams whose drainage area is o-\vned by private individuals. In both cases the State insists that certain general precautions be taken by the city authorities to prevent pollution of their waters, and monthly inspection patrol is insisted upon for this purpose. The most obvious and most effective measure to prevent pollution of streams, namely, the protection of the woodlands on their watersheds tChapter 56, PubUc Laws 191.3. 34 FOREST FIRES I^ NORTH CAROLINA. from fire, has until A'ery recently received no attention from the State, and only in certain noteworthy instances, particularly those of Asheville and Marion, from the municipal authorities themselves. A bare, hard soil surface, such as is left by burning the woods, allows the rainfall to collect and run directly to the streams, carrying with it small particles of soil, decaying vegetable or animal matter or other material, often laden with typhoid and other disease germs. If, however, the woods are protected from fire, there will be a good coat of leaves on the ground, held together by grass, weeds, and bushes. This makes an absorbent cover to the soil which acts as a sponge, soaking up the rain as it falls and at the same time keeping the soil soft and pei'meable so that the rainfall will nearly all of it be soaked into the ground. In this way all impurities are filtered out, and the springs are supplied regularly Avith clear, pure water. The movement for more complete control by cities and towns of their water supplies has grown very rapidly in North Carolina. At the 1915 session of the Legislature a number of our mountain towns secured the necessary permission to purchase or enlarge their watersheds, Waynes- ville, Asheville, Hendersonville, Tryon, and Old Fort being among them. These municipal forests must be protected from fire as well as from other dangerous and deleterious influences. Municipal authorities should see that this law is enforced wherever it is applicable. In ad- dition, they should assist the responsible officers in every possible way in the strict enforcement of the general forest fire law. Watersheds on which part or all of the land is in private ownership may have to be further protected by the enactment of a laAv to prohibit parties burning over even their own land. Possibly, how^ever, the State Board of Health has already sufficient power to control this. LAWS FOR THE CREATION OF STATE FORESTS. NEED FOR DEMONSTRATION IN FORESTRY. Two-thirds of the land area of Xorth Carolina is in Avoods and only one-third is cultivated. The Avoodland, however, yields a much smaller revenue to its owners than does the cleared land. Why? Is it not, at least in part, because we bestow so little thought and labor on the two- thirds which is in forest ? No one will work in the woods unless he gets immediate returns in the form of sawlogs, ties, cordwood, etc. Yet much forethought and labor without direct result is expended on the cultivated land. Is it not worth Avhile to knoAv how such forethought and work can be made to increase the value and yields of two-thirds the total area of the State? IIow has our State Government set aboul improving FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 35 agriculture in Xortli Carolina ? Xot only by publisliing bulletins, in- structive but all too little read ; not only by providing for talks at farm- ers' institutes; it is not even satisfied with providing splendid colleges and high schools where young men can be taught both the theory and practice of agriculture. But our active and progressive Department of Agriculture has purchased seven test farms in different regions of the State, where crop varieties are gro-rni, and where it is shown which varieties and what methods are most suitable for certain soils and cli- mates. In addition to these and in a way combining the college and the test farm, farm-life schools are being established in nearly every county in the State. But the arguments which above all else bring home to the adult farmers the possibility, even the necessity, of practicing better methods are brought out on the demonstration plats maintained by the Department of Agriculture, and the demonstration crops supervised by State and county demonstration agents. Does not this suggest the value of State experiment and demonstration forests in carrying out a forest policy for the State? The Department of Agriculture has set a precedent which the Forestry Department should not only be allowed, but required to follow. THE LAW GOVERXING THE ACQUIBEMEXT AND ADMIXISTRATIOX OF STATE FORESTS. The following law, passed at the recent session of the Legislature, is the first step in the inauguration of such a policy. While it does not provide funds for the purchase of forest lands, it does recognize the prin- ciple of State experiment and demonstration forests, and places the authority to purchase such forests, when money for that purpose may be available, with a responsible and competent department of the State Gov- ernment. It also provides that State forests may be organized and ad- ministered without any further legal enactments, where gifts of land can be secured for this purpose. AX ACT TO ALLOW THE ACQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF STATE FORESTS.* The General Asscmhly of Xorth Carolina do enact: Section 1. That the Governor of the State is authorized, upon recommenda- tion of the Geological Board, to accept gifts of land to the State, the same to be held, protected, and administered by said board as State forests, and to be used so as to demonstrate the practical utility of timber culture and water conservation, and as refuges for game. Such gifts must be absolute except in such cases as where the mineral interest on the laud has previously been sold. The State Geological Board shall have the power to purchase lands in the name of the State, suitable chiefly for the production of timber, as State ^Chapter 253, Public Laws 1915. 36 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. forests, for exixrimental, demonstration, educational, parlv. and protection purposes, using for such purposes any special ai)pr()pi-iations or funds availa- ble. The Attorney-General of the State is directed to see that all deeds to the State of land mentioned in this section are properly executed before the gift is accepted or payment of the purchase money is made. Said State forests shall be subject to county taxes assessed on the same basis as are private lands, to be paid out of moneys in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Sec. 2. That all moneys received from the sale of wood, timber, minerals, or other products from the State forests shall be paid into the State Treasury and to the credit of the Geological Board ; and such moneys shall be expended in carrying out the puri)oses of this act and of forestry in general, under the direction of the Geological Board. Sec. 2V>. That nothing in this act shall operate or be construed as authority for the payment of any money out of the State Treasury for the purchase of lands or for other purposes unless by appropriation for said purpose by the General Assembly. Sec. 3. That all laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. Sec. 4. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 9th day of March. A. D. 1915. Though this is a new departure for N'orth Carolina, it is by no means a new idea, as State experiment and demonstration forests have been consistently advocated by the Xorth Carolina Geological and Economic Survey for a number of years (see Economic Paper 'No. 22, p. 42 ; Press Bulletins Nos. 130, 142, 145). A number of States to the north and west of us are now operating such forests. The Forestry Committee of the Fifth National Conservation Congress reported two years ago a total of sixty-three State forest experiment stations in eleven States, more than three-quarters of them being in the two States of Pennsylvania and Ohio. In some cases regular State forests, or parts of them, are used as experiment forests, while in other cases separate and smaller areas are procured. Ohio, for example, has fourteen experiment forests and no State forests, while Michigan has fifty-two State forests and only one experiment forest. However, all organized and administered State forests cannot help but be demonstration forests to a greater or less ex- tent, because they show to the citizens how the State manages its own forest lands. Whether these are managed in the right or wrong way depends on the knowledge and money available, and the knowledge de- pends, at least in part, on experiments which should be made on those or similar forest areas. Gifts of Land for State Forests. There are, no doubt, many public-spirited citizens of Nortli Carolina who, if they realized the need for demonstration and ex[)criment forests, FOREST P-IRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 37 would gladly give to the State enough forest land to adeqiiately serve such a purpose, JSTot only is low-priced land suitable for this purpose, but valuable land is most unsuitable. Agricultural land is not wanted, though a small percentage of such might be included in the place. What is needed is to show how forest which is to remain in woods should be managed. There is land in nearly every county which will pay better to keep in woods than to clear. This is certainly worth less to the owner than the average land in the neighborhood. At the same time it would suit forest demonstration purposes better, because it is absolute forest land, i. e., land which should remain permanently in woods. Demonstration forests, however, should be accessible. As their chief use is to show by actual practice what can be done in forestry, they should be where as large a number of people as possible can see them; for instance, near a main line of railway or on an improved and well traveled highway. Again, they must contain fairly average samples of at least one im- portant type of forest of the region, and if possible all the important types should be represented. Tor instance, a demonstration forest in the eastern piedmont region should have some hardwood and pine forest, some old-field pine, and some pure hardwood forest, with a fair repre- sentation of most of the important timber trees of the region. Purchasing State Forests. ThB above law provides for two other methods of securing State forests besides by gift. The State Geological Board is allowed to pur- chase State forests either with money specially appropriated by the Gen- eral Assembly for the purpose or with other funds which may be avail- able. Section S^/o is designed to make clearer the purpose of this pro- vision. It says that money cannot be withdrawn from the State Treasury for the purchase of land without special appropriation by the Legisla- ture. However, when such appropriation is made the Geological Board cannot only purchase land, but it can administer it as a State forest; protect it from fire and trespass; do necessary cutting and thinning; plant trees or sow seed ; dispose of surplus timber or other products, and make experiments in improved forest management. Specific instructions as to the management and care of such land are i;ot necessary in bills appropriating money to buy State forests, because general permission to properly administer them is given by this present law. The State Geological Board is also allowed to purchase State forests "for experimental, demonstration, educational, park, and protection pur- poses," using any funds available. There is not likely to be very much 38 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. of the regular appropriation for the work of the Board available, but the Board is able to accept subscriptions or donations of money from private individuals or organizations for the purpose of buying State forests. In fact, this is clearly contemplated by law. A State forest of a few hun- dred or even thousand acres Avould be a worthy monument to any in- dividual or event. Why should not one or more of North Carolina's patriotic and public-spirited organizations take the lead in a movement to accumulate funds for such a purpose ? "Will not Mount Mitchell State Park be a nobler and more enduring monument to Dr. Elisha Mitchell than any one which could be erected to him in metal or stone ? There is room in this State for a number of such monuments, and the per- manent benefit from their establishment would be incalculable. SOME PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVKD. Some idea of the variety of questions which can be solved most satis- factorily by the State or National Governments can be gathered from the following quotation from Press Bulletin 142, "Demonstration For- ests for North Carolina," North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey : There are five iirincipal forest regions in North Carolina, (1) The Spruce, (2) Mountain Hardwoods. (.3) Piedmont Region, (4) Coastal Phiiu, (5) The Banks. Some of these can well be divided again hito smaller subdivisions. (1) The Spruce forests on the slopes of our highest mountains are of the greatest importance in regulating stream flow and for park purposes. Lum- bering operations as at present practiced result in their total destruction. It will pay the State to demonstrate that lumbering can be done in these forests without such devastating waste. A State forest in this type could at the same time be used as a State park, and for the protection of the important moun- tain streams. (2) The aiountain forests, which now contain the greater part of our old- growth hardwood supply, are being cut in such a way that the more valuable kinds of timber trees are rapidly disappearing. Landowners should be shown how to cut so that the proportion of the poplar, chestnut, linn, and other valuable species will be increased in the second growtli, rather than dimin- ished. (3) The original growth pine has been so largely removed fi-oni what were the mixed hardwood and pine forests of the Piedmont region that the second growth now consists almost entirely of the much slower growing oak. How best to increase the proportion of young pine timber in these woods is a prob- lem which can be decided by experiment, and can then be conclusively shown by demonstration. (4) The rehabilitation of our once large turpentine industry depends on second-growth long-leaf pine. This tree has been practically exterminated over large areas, and little effort is being made to bring it back, even in the districts best suited to its growth. Experiments on the ground would show that much so-called waste land could profitably produce long-leaf pine. FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 39 (5) "The Banks" and similar areas along our coast were originally covered with forests. Now they are mostly bare sandy wastes. The best methods of reforesting them and making them permanently productive, and at the same time stopping the ceaseless drifting of the sand, can only be shown by doing actual work in reforestation on the ground. These and many other just as important problems in forest management and forest protection have to be solved to the satisfaction of the people of North Carolina, and this can 'best he done hy the State on State-oivtied forest land. FURTHER BE>v"EFITS OF STATE FORESTS. While the most important use of State forests is their educational value through demonstration and experimentation, they have several other uses, any of which in itself is generally considered sufficient excuse for their crea- tion, and. added to the primary object, double their value to the State. (a) Protection Forests. A forest covering a city watershed or lying on the headwaters of a stream or on a steep mountain slope serves as a protection against muddy or polluted water or against floods and extreme low water. Such forests should be publicly owned and controlled by the Nation, State, or municipality as protection forests. Asheville, Marion, and other of our towns own such forests, and the Federal Government is purchasing the Appalachian National Forests with this object primarily in view. All the spruce and balsam forests in North Carolina should be publicly owned, if only for this one reason. (b) Park Forests. There are areas in all States which are noted for their scenery, extensive views, grand waterfalls, beautiful trees, rugged cliffs or gorges. The forest forms such an integral part of the attractiveness of such places that their value would be destroyed by its removal. Such natural mon- uments seem to belong by right to the whole people, and they should be pre- served intact. Even though now in private ownership, they should be acquired and preserved by the State for the pleasure, health, afid recreation of its citi- zens and for generations yet to come, all of whom have an actual interest in their perpetuation. MOrXT MITCHELL STATE PARK. It was primarily for tlie two above reasons, as set forth in its preamble, that the General Assembly passed the bill to purchase the top of Mount Mitchell as a State park. This project has been strongly advocated by the Xorth Carolina Forestry Association and has been consistently urged by the State Geological and Economic Survey. (See Press Bulletins Xos. 100, 119, 135, and 138.) The measure was ably championed by Governor Craig and was indorsed by the Asheville Board of Trade and many other similar bodies. The bill was introduced into the General Assembly by Senator Zebulon "Weaver of Buncombe, who, two years earlier, had proposed a similar measure. It received the strong support of a number of influential men in both houses of the Legislature, and was passed in the House by a majority of 67 to 32. 40 FOREST FIKES IX NORTH CAROLIXA. THE MOINT MITCIIKLL PARK rURCIIASE LAW. The following is a co])y of llie law authorizing the purchase of the summit of Mount Mitchell : AN ACT TO APPOINT A COMMISSION TO ACQUIRE A PORTION OF MOUNT MITCHELL. INCLUDING THE SUMMIT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC PARK FOR THE USE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.* Whereas the summit of Mount Mitchell in Yancey County is the greatest altitude east of the Rocky Mountains ; and whereas the headwaters of many of the important streams of the State are at or near the said summit, and the forest is being cleared, which tends to damage and injure the streams flowing through the said State from the mountains to the Atlantic Ocean ; and whereas it is deemed desirable that this beautiful and elevated spot shall be acquired .and permanently dedicated as a State i)ark for the use of the people of the entire State seeking health and recreation ; and whereas, unless the said land is acquired by the State at this time, the cost of acquiring it at a later date will be greatly increased and the water-courses may be damaged and the beauty of the scenery destroyed by removing the growth therefrom, and irrep- arable damage accrue: Now. tlu-refori'. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact : Section 1. That a commission is hereby created, to consist of five practical business men who shall be appointed by the Governor, and which shall carry out the provisions of this act and shall be known as the "Mitchell Peak Park Commission." Sec. 2. That said commission shall lie and is hereby created a body politic and corporate under the name and style of the "Mitchell Peak I'ark Connnis- sion." Sec. 3. That the said commission shall have the power to fix the time and place of its meeting. Said commissioners shall hold office until the property hereinafter described shall have been purchased and a deed made to the State of North Carolina and until they shall have made a report of the same to the General Assembly and shall have been discharged. In the event of the death or resignation of any member of said commission, his successor shall be ap- pointed by the Governor. The said commissioners shall receive no compensa- tion but their traveling expenses, including hotel bills, while actively engaged in the work of said commission, and these exi)enses shall be paid out of the funds hereinafter provided for: Provided, that tiie said commission shall under no circumstances expend or contract to expend a greater amount than that named in this act for the purchase of said land. Sec. 4. The said commission shall convene as soon as practical)le and elect a chairman. The said chairman .shall from time to time draw a warrant or warrants upon the treasurer of the State, which, after being approved and countersigned by the Governor and two other members of tin- conunission be- 'Chapter 70. I'lihlic Lii FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 41 sides the chairman, shall be paid by the said treasurer to the owner of said lands purchased for the said purpose out of any funds not otherwise appro- priated. Sec. 5. The total amount to be expended under this act shall not exceed $20,000, and the said sum of $20,000 is hereby designated as a maximum amount to be expended in the acquisition of the said properties, and the said commission is especially charged with the duty of acquiring as much of the lands as is possible for the purpose intended, not exceeding the maximum amount hereinbefore designated. Sec. 6. Out of the funds so appropriated the said Mitchell Peak Park Com- mission shall have power, as soon as practicable, to acquire either by purchase or condemnation so much of Mount Mitchell, including the peak thereof, as they shall deem necessary as a suitable site for the purpose intended, and in the event of the purchase of said land or lands privately from the owner or owners thereof, the said commission shall take a deed to the State of North Carolina therefor. Sec. 7. Whenever from any cause the said commission cannot agree with the owner or owners of the land which they shall select for the purpose of the park as aforesaid, as to the price to be paid for the same or for any part thereof, said land or lands may be taken at a valuation to. be made by three competent and disinterested freeholders of the county of Yancey, one of whom, after due notice to the landowner of such proceedings, shall be chosen by the said commission, one selected by the landowner, and these two shall select a third ; and in case the landowner refuses to select, then said commission shall select two and these two shall select a third, and said freeholders after being duly sworn by a justice of the peace of the county of Yancey, shall at once go on said land and proceed to condemn said land or lands and ascertain the sum which shall be paid the owner or owners of said properties and report the same to the said commission, under their hands and seals, which report, on being confirmed by the said commission and spread upon their minutes, shall have the effect of a judgment against the said Mitchell Peak Park Commission, and upon paying said sum to the landowner, or in the event of an appeal, upon paying said sum to the chairman of said commission to await the result of such appeal, shall pass title to the State of North Carolina of the land so taken : Provided, that if any person whose land is taken for the said purpose or the said commission be dissatisfied with the valuation thus made, then and in that case either party may appeal to the next term of the Superior Court of Yancey County within ten days from the filing of such report: Provided further, that such appeal shall not hinder the commission from taking posses- sion of said property. Sec. 8. The Governor shall have power, upon complaint or upon his own motion, to remove any of said commissioners for negligence of duty or for any conduct unbecoming said commissioner and inconsistent with his duties under this act. The position of commissioner under this act shall not be con- strued to be an office within the meaning of section 7. Article XIY of the Con- stitution of North Carolina. The said Mitchell Peak Park Commission shall make report to the Governor, setting forth all purchases, condemnations, and expenditures of every kind under this act. Sec. 9. This act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 3d day of March, A. D. 1915. 42 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. Fire Protection Needed. It Avill be seen that this bill provides only for the purchase of the land. Its weakness seems to be that no provision is made for the pro- tection of the land from fire both during and subsequent to its acquisition. Since logging operations commenced two years ago, the forest areas which it is planned to buy have been constantly threatened with de- struction, and several times fire has come upon the southern slope of the mountain. Fires at any time are liable to destroy hundreds of acres of these spruce forests, and, once destroyed, the beauties of the park would be gone. There is immediate need for some adequate system of fire pro- tection for the Mount Mitchell State Park. Fortunately, special ar- rangements are now under consideration, and it is hoped that before fall effective protection can be given at least the part of this mountain which is to be purchased by the State. It would be most appropriate that the very first State protection furnished by North Carolina should be given to historic Mount Mitchell. 71ie Commission. The Mitchell Peak Park Commission provided for by tliis law was appointed by the Governor on March 31. It consists of the following gentlemen, all of them from regions vitally concerned in the purchase of the park, and all but one from Yancey, the county in which ]\Iount Mitchell is situated : Mr. T. E. Blackstock, Asheville, N". C. Mr. G. P. Deyton, Green Mountain, ]^. C. Mr. E. F. Watson, Burnsville, N. C. Mr. M. C. Honeycutt, Burnsville, W. C. Mr. Wilson Hensley, Bald Creek, N. C. This commission mot in Burnsville Saturday, April ]Oth, and organ- ized by electing Mr. T. E. Blackstock chairman and Mr. M. C. Honey- cutt secretary. A second meeting was planned to take place in May on the top of Mount Mitchell, with the object of securing local informa- tion in regard to the different properties which are being considered for purchase under the l;i\v. APPALACHIAN NATIONAL FORESTS. The Federal Goveninu'iit cannot [)ur('liase or acquii'e control of laud in any State without the permission of that State. It was therefore necessary, when the people were asking that National forests or parks be established in western North Carolina, that the State grant the Gov- ernment the right to make such purchases. The following law was FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 43 by the General Assembly of 1901, at the beginning of the agita- tion for the Appalachian Park and just ten years before the Federal law taking advantage of this permission was finally enacted. (See Press Bulletin 147, Forestry Laws of Xorth Carolina, Appendix.) LAW TO ALLOW FEDERAL ACQUIREMENT. 5430. Forest reserve, icestern Carolina. *The United States is autliorized to acquire by purcliase, or by condemnation with adequate compensation, ex- cept as hereinafter provided, such lands in western North Carolina as in the opinion of the Federal Government may be needed for the establishment of a National Forest Reserve in that region. This consent is given upon condition that the State of North Carolina shall retain a concurrent jurisdiction with the United States in and over such lands so far that civil process in all cases, and such criminal process as may issue under the authority of the State of North Carolina against any person charged with the commission of any crime without or within said jurisdiction, may be executed thereon in like manner as if this consent had not been given. Power is hereby conferred upon the Congress of the United States to pass such laws as it may deem necessary to the acquisition as hereinbefore provided, for incorporation in such National forest reserve such forest-covered lands lying in western North Carolina as in the opinion of the Federal Government may be needed for this purpose, but as much as 200 acres of any tract of laud occupied as a home by bona fide residents in this State on the 18th day of January. 1901. shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. Power is hereby conferred upou Congress to pass such laws and to make or provide for the making of such rules and regu- lations, of both civil and criminal nature, and to provide punishment therefor, as in its judgment may be necessary for the management, control, and protec- tion of such lands as may be from time to time acquired by the United States under the provisions of this section. Acquirement hy Purchase Only. In a few localities in western ]N'orth Carolina considerable opposition to the Xational Fgrest Reserve policy was at one time developed, based largely on a misunderstanding of the conditions on which the land was to be procured. The above State law allows the United States to acquire land "by purchase, or by condemnation with adequate compensation." From this permission the idea gained ground that the Government would condemn land and take it whether the owner wished to sell it or not. This is permitted under the State law, provided "adequate com- pensation" is made. But the Federal law under which Appalachian forest lands are acquired stipulated "that the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby authorized to purchase," and no other method of securing these lands is mentioned in the whole law. There has been no thought 'Chapter 118. section 5430. Revlsal 190.!i. 44 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. of employing condeinnation proceedings such as are allowed by the State law and as are actually to be put in practice by the Mitchell Peak Park Commission^ if it is found necessary to do so. It is true, that in order to secure a clear title to land which is owned by a number of different claimants who have not only expressed a will- ingness to sell, but have agreed upon a price, the Government has in certain cases brought condemnation proceedings in court. These are nothing but friendly suits to determine the real ownership of the lands and the proper share of the price each claimant is entitled to. It is a proceeding all business men are familiar with, and can be objected to by no one. It will be noticed that in all dealings with the Federal Government the rights and privileges of the State are jealously guarded. ]^ot only does the State Legislature clearly define the powers which it delegates to the United States, but Congress clearly stipulates in the laAv allowing the purchase of land that no land shall be bought in any State which has not previously given its consent thereto. | PROTECTION OF GAME ON NATIONAL FORESTS. It is with the same scrupulous care to maintain the most cordial rela- tions with the State of North Carolina and avoid any possible cause of friction that permission was asked by the Federal Government to make and enforce regulations for the protection of animal life on the Ap- palachian [N'ational Forests. It might seem that such power was con- ferred upon Congress by the law allowing the United States to buy lands (page 43), but this was not considered specific enough. In accord- ance, therefore, with its policy, the Government of the United States asked permission to make such rules and regulations as were thought needful ''in respect to game animals, game and nongame birds and fish" on Federal lands in the western part of North Carolina. LAW TO ALLOW FKDLKAL PROTECTION OF Will) LIFK. The permission requested by the Federal Government was isranted by the General Assembly of 1915 in the following law: tSee page 41. FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLINA. 45 AX ACT TO GIVE THE CONSENT OF THE STATE OF NORTH CARO- LINA TO THE MAKING BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, OR UNDER ITS AUTHORITY, OF ALL SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS IN THE OPINION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERN- MENT MAY BE NEEDFUL IN RESPECT TO GAME ANIMALS, GAME AND NONGAME BIRDS. AND FISH ON LANDS. AND IN OR ON THE WATERS THEREON. ACQUIRED OR TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE FED- ERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE WESTERN PART OF NORTH CARO- LINA FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE NAVIGABILITY OF NAVI- GABLE RIVERS.* Whereas the Governineut of the United States, with tlie consent of the Gen- eral Assembly of the State of North Carolina, has acquired and will acquire areas of forested land in the western part of said State for the purpose of conserving the navigability of navigable streams, and said lands and waters thereon are and will be stocked, naturally and artificially, with game animals, game and nongame birds, and fish ; and whereas, in order adequately to enjoy and protect the occupancy and use of said areas, it is important that the United States be fully authorized to make all needful rules and regulations in respect to such animals, birds, and fish : Therefore. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact: Section 1. That the consent of the General Assembly of North Carolina be and hereby is given to the making by the Congress of the United States, or under its authority, of all such rules and regulations as the Federal Govern- ment shall determine to be needful in respect to game animals, game and non- game birds, and fish, on such lands in the western part of North Carolina as shall have been or may hereafter be purchased by the United States under the terms of the act of Congress of March 1, 1911, entitled "An. act to enable any State to cooperate with any other State or States, or with the United States, for the protection of the watersheds of navigable streams, and to ap- point a commission for the acquisition of lands for the puriwses of conserving the navigability of navigable rivers" (36 Ignited States Statutes at Large, page 961), and acts of Congress supplementary thereto and amendatory thereof, and in or on the waters thereon. Ratified this the 9th day of March, A. D. 1915. The people of Xorth Carolina are coming to realize very acutely that our wild life needs protection quite as much as any other of our natural resources. The destruction of the food fishes of our streams bv unre- strained and often unlawful fishing and by polluting the waters with sawdust or mill waste has reached alarming proportions. And when we come to think of it, what right has a man to deprive a neighborhood of one of the most delicious and healthful of foods in order that he may have 5 cents more per thousand feet of lumber on his sawing or a frac- tion of a cent more profit on his investment in some large manufacturing plant? The manufacturers of lumber, of leather, of paper, all do their ►Chapter 205, PubUc Laws 1915. 46 FOREST FIRES IX NORTH CAROLINA. part towards the development of the community and the State, but we are beginning to realize that in prosecuting their business they have no right to trespass upon the rights of their neighbors. Game birds in ]^orth Carolina have generally been looked upon in the light of the special property of the sportsman, and heretofore game laws have been passed chiefly for his benefit. We are now, however, coming to realize that the farmer, the owner of the land, has much more interest in the game which lives upon his land than has the man whose sole interest is killing it. To mention one instance of this, our common partridge or quail is worth to the farmer for destroying noxious insects a great deal more than it is to the sportsman or the hotel keeper. In the future our game laAvs must consider, first, the value of the living birds and animals to the landowner and the general public before it con- siders their value from the old standpoint of being something to kill. ARBOR DAY. The regular observance of Arbor Day in Xorth Carolina has been strongly advocated by the State Geological and Economic Survey for a number of years. The first press bulletin on this subject ever issued by the Survey had the above title, and not only advocated tlie general ob- servance of this day throughout the State, but suggested the adaptation of a program to the special conditions existing in ]N'orth Carolina. As well as emphasizing the planting of trees, it was recommended that the attention of the children be called to the value of the forests of the State to the life of the average citizen. In the w^ords of the author of the press bulletin above referred to, which was issued April 7, 1908, "It is to be desired that this day shall be more generally observed and that our young people shall be brought to a realization of the value of our forests and the beauty and need of trees for shade and decorative pur- poses. . . . How soon many of our school yards could be made places of beauty if on each Arbor Day the school would plant a certain number of trees or shrubs and then care for them during the year. "While the same reasons for the observance of Arbor Day in the scantily forested western States cannot all hold in a well wooded State like North Carolina, yet the celebration here of such a day has its signifi- cance. Arbor Day in North Carolina could be set aside for the school cliildi'cii to learn of the great natural gift which ^\•v have in the forests, and the relation of the forest to the well-being and wealth of our people." ARBOR DAY LAW. An Arbor Day law such as is found on the statute books of practically half the States of the Union was introduced into the General Assembly FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLIXA. 47 of 1913. It, however, failed of passage, owing to tlie rush of bills at the end of the session. A similar bill was introduced into the Legislature of 1915, and, backed by the good people of Charlotte (who had previously held a most successful Arbor Day celebration in that city), by the North Carolina Forestry Association, the State Geological and Economic Sur- vey, and others interested in Forestry, it became a law without any serious opposition. AN ACT TO APPOINT AN ARBOR DAY FOR NORTH CAROLINA.* The General Assemhiy of Xorth Carolina do enact: Section 1. That the Friday following the first day of November in each year shall be known as Arbor Day, to be appropriately observed by the public schools of the State. Sec. 2. That the Governor is herewith authorized to make proclamation setting forth the provisions of this act and recommending that Arbor Day be appropriately observed by the school children of the State, in order that they may be brought up to appreciate the true value of trees and forests to their State. Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of the State Superintendent of Public In- struction to take the matter of the observance of Arbor Day by the public schools of the State under his general supervision, to issue each year a pro- gram for its observance, to cover such part of. the day as he may prescribe, and to transmit suitable instructions to the county school authorities under his chai-ge for an appropriate observance of Arbor Day. Sec. 4. That this act shall be in force from and after its ratification. Ratified this the 25th day of February, A. D. 1915. At first thought, it would seem that Arbor Day should be celebrated in the spring. The planting of trees and shrubs and the general call of the out-of-doors appeals to children much more strongly in the spring than in the fall. Many kinds of trees do better planted just before the sap starts in the spring than if planted in the autumn. It is for these and other reasons that most States keep Arbor Day in the spring, endeavoring to select a date upon which planting would be most likely to be success- ful. In many of the Southern States, however, the public schools are not in session in the spring; so that it is impossible to have the day generally observed by the schools at that time of the year. It is for this reason that several States observe Arbor Day in the fall. Two or three have two Arbor Days a year, one in the spring and one in the autumn. Kentucky, which originally appointed a spring day, has found it neces- sary to change to ^STovember. For this same reason it was thought advisable, after consultation with the K'orth Carolina school authorities, to fix a day when practically all schools in the State are in session. It is hoped that this will insure ►Chapter .51, PubUc Laws 19i; 48 FOREST FIKKS IX XOKTH CAKOLIXA. the observance of Arbor Day throughout Xorth Carolina. The selection of Friday as Arbor Day was made by the public school authorities in order that the exercises would break into the regular school curriculum little as possible. Manner of Observance. as It is the custom in most States where Arbor Day is observed for the Governor to issue a proclamation calling the attention of the people to the advantages of observing the day with tree planting, decorating school grounds and home grounds, and studying the relation of trees and forests to the life of the people. Governor Craig has expressed his approval of this practice by indorsing this same provision in the N'orth Carolina law. The law expressly authorizes the Governor to make the proclama- tion, but it does not require it. Whether, therefore, the proclamation is made or not, the validity of the observance will be the same, but the active participation of the Chief Executive in this way would add in- terest and enthusiasm to the occasion. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who assisted in the preparation of the bill and has, since its passage, expressed his entire agreement with its provisions, will, as provided by the law, issue a pro- gram and instruct the school authorities to observe the day in the proper manner. Already several suggestions for Arbor Day celebrations have been published by the various State departments, and these may be referred to for assistance. Two years ago the Department of Education, assisted by the State Geological and Economic Survey, prepared an Arbor Day program and made other suggestions for the observance of the day. (See Civic Days: Good Eoads, Arbor Day, pages 35-46, Bul- letin XXII, N. C. Department of Education, 1913.) Last year the same department issued a program entitled "Community Service Week in N"orth Carolina" ; a few suggestions for improving school grounds by planting trees, which can be done on Arbor Day, will be found on pages 16 and 85 of that publication. Other references to Arbor Day observ- ance in North Carolina can be found in Economic Paper ISTo. 22, "Forest Fires and Their Prevention," and Press Bulletin No. 49, "Arbor Day in the North Carolina Schools." Some of the North Carolina towns have also published Arbor Day programs, notably Durham in 1896 and Char- lotte in 1913. Many of the States issue annually handsomely illustrated Arbor Day bulletins or hand-books. In these are reprinted poems and other selections which can be recited by the school children. PUBLICATIONS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY. BULLETINS. 1. Iron Ores of North Carolina, by Henry B. C. Xitze. 189.3. 8°, 239 pp., 20 pi., and map. Out of print. 2. Building and Ornamental Stones in Xortli Carolina, by T. L. Watson and F. B. Lauey in collaboration witb George P. Merrill. 1906. 8°. 283 pp., 32 pi., 2 figs. Postage 2-} cents. Cloth-hound copy SO cents extra. 3. Gold Deposits in North Carolina,' by Henry B. C. Nitze and George B. Hanna, 1896. 8°, 196 pp., 14 pi., and map. Out of print. 4. Road Material and Road Construction in North Carolina, by J. A. Holmes and William Cain. 1893. 8°, 88 pp. Out of print. 5. The Forests. Forest Lands and Forest Products of Eastern North Caro- lina, by W. W. Ashe. 1894. 8°. 128 pp.. 5 pi. Postage 5 cents. 6. The Timber Trees of North Carolina, by Gifford Pinchot and W. W. Ashe, 1897. 8°, 227 pp., 22 pi. Out of print. 7. Forest Fires : Their Destructive Work. Causes and Prevention, by W. W. Ashe. 1895. 8°, 66 pp.. 1 pi. Postage J cents. 8. Water-powers in North Carolina, by George F. Swain. Joseph A. Holmes, and E. W. Myers, 1899. 8°. 362 pp., 16 pi. Postage 16 cents. 9. Monazlte and Monazite Deposits in North Carolina, by Henry B. C. Nitze, 1895. 8°, 47 pp., 5 pi. Out of print. 10. Gold Mining in North Carolina and other Appalachian States, by Henry B. C. Nitze and A. J. Wilkins. 1897. 8°. 164 pp.. 10 pi. Out of print. 11. Corundum and the Basic Magnesian Rocks of Western North Carolina, by .1. Volney Lewis. 1895. 8°. 107 pp.. 6 pi. Out of print. 12 Historv of the Gems Found in North Carolina, by George Frederick Kunz. 1907. ' 8°, 60 pp.. 15 pi. Postage S cents. Cloth-hound copy 30 cents extra. 13. Clav Deposits and Clay Industries in North Carolina, by Heinrich Ries. 1897. 8°,' 157 pp.. 12 pi. Postage 10 cents. 14. The Cultivation o$ the Diamond-back Terrapin, by R. E. Coker. 1906. 8°, 67 pp.. 23 pi.. 2 figs. Out of print. 15. Experiments in Oyster Culture in Pamlico Sound. North Carolina, by Robert E. Coker. 1907. 8°, 74 pp.. 17 pi.. 11 figs. Postage 6 cents. 16. Shade Trees for North Carolina, by W. W. Ashe. 1908. 8°. 74 pp., 10 pi.. 16 figs. Postage 6 cents. 17. Terracing of Farm Lands, by W. W. Ashe. 1908. 8°, 38 pp.. 6 pi.. 2 figs. Postage ) cents. 18. Bibliosraphv of North Carolina Geologj-. Mineralogy, and Geography, with a list of Maps, by Francis Baker Laney and Katherine Hill Wood, 1909. 8°. 428 pp. Postage 25 cents. Cloth-hound copy 30 cents extra. 19. The Tin Deposits of the Carolinas. by Joseph Hyde Pratt and Douglas B. Sterrett, 1905. 8°. 64 pp.. 8 figs. Postage 4 cents. 20. Water-powers of North Carolina : An Appendix to Bulletin 8. 1910. 8°, 383 pp. Postage 25 cents. 21. The Gold Hill Mining District of North Carolina, by Francis Baker Lauey, 1910. 8°. 137 pp.. 23 pi.. 5 figs. Postage 15 cents. 22. A Report on the Cid Mining District. Davidson County. N. C. by J. E. Pogue. Jr.. 1911. 8°. 144 pp.. 22 pi.. 5 figs. Postage 15 cents. 50 PrBLICATIOXS OF THE SURVKY. 23. Forest Conditions iu Western North Carolina, hy J. S. Holmes. 1911. S°, 116 pp., S pi. Postage 13 cents. 24. Loblolly or North Carolina Pine, by W. W. Ashe, 1915. 8°, 176 pp., 27 pi., 5 figs. Postage 15 cents. 25. Monazite. Zircon, and Other Minerals Used in the Production of Chem- ical Compositions Employed in the Manufacture of Lighting Apparatus, liy Joseph Hyde Pratt. In press. ECONOMIC PAPERS. 1. The Maple-sugar Industry in Western North Carolina, by W. W. Ashe, 1897. 8°. .34 pp. Postage 2 cents. 2. Recent Road Legislation in North Carolina, by J. A. Holmes. Out of print. 3. Talc and Pyrophyllite Deposits in North Carolina, bv Joseph Hvde Pratt, 1900. 8°, 29 pp., 2 maps. Postage 2 cents. 4. The Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1900. by Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1901. 8°, .36 pp., and map. Postage 2 cents. Takes ud in some detail Occurrences of Gold, Silver, Lead and Zinc, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Corundum, Granite, Mica, Talc, Pyrophyllite, Graphite, Kaolin, Gem Minerals, Monazite, Tungsten, Building Stones, and Coal in North Carolina. 5. Road Laws of North Carolina, by J. A. Holmes. Out of print. 6. The Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1901, bv Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1902. 8°, 102 pp. Postage .'/ cents. Gives a List of Minerals found in North Carolina; describes the Treatment of Sul- phuret Gold Ores, giving Localities; takes up the Occurrence of Copper in the Vir- gilina, Gold Hill, and Ore Knob districts; gives Occurrence and Uses of Corundum; a List of Garnets, describing Localities; the Occurrence, Associated Minerals, Uses and Localities of Mica; the Occurrence of North Carolina Feldspar, with Analyses; an extended description of North Carolina Gems and Gem Minerals; Occurrences of Monazite, Barytes, Ocher; describes and gives Occurrences of Graphite and Coal; describes and gives Occurrences of Building Stones, including Limestone; describes and gives Uses for the various forms of Clay; and under the head of "Other Eco- nomic Minerals" describes and gives Occurrences of Chromite, Asbestos and Zircon. 7. Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1902, bv Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1903. 8°, 27 pp. Out of print. 8. The Mining Industry In North Carolina During 1903, l)y Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1904. 8°, 74 pp. Postage // cents. Gives descriptions of Mines worked for Gold in 1903; descriptions of Properties worked for Copper during 1903, together with assay of ore from Twin-Edwards Mine; Analyses of Limonite ore from Wilson Mine; the Occurrence of Tin; in some detail the Occurrences of Abrasives; Occurrences of Monazite and Zircon; Occur- rences and Varieties of Graphite, giving Methods of Cleaning; Occurrences of Marble and other forms of Limestone; Analyses of Kaolin from Barber Creek, Jack- son County, North Carolina. 9. The Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1904, by Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1905. 8°, 95 pp. Postage J cents. Gives Mines Producing Gold and Silver during 1903 and 1904 and Sources of the Gold Produced during 1904; describes the mineral Chromite, giving Analyses of Selected Samples of Chromite from Mines in Yancey County; describes Commercial Varieties of Mica, giving the manner in which it occurs in North Carolina, Percent- age of Mica in the Dikes, Methods of Mining, Associated Minerals, Localities, Uses; describes the mineral Barytes, giving Method of Cleaning and Preparing Barytes for Market; describes the use of Monazite as used in connection with the Preparation of the Bunsen Burner, and goes into the use of Zircon in connection with the Nernst Lamp, giving a List of the Principal Yttrium Minerals; describes the minerals con- taining Corundum Gems, Hiddenite and Other Gem Minerals, and gives New Occur- rences of these Gems; describes the mineral Graphite and gives new Uses for same. 10. Oyster Culture in North Carolina, by Robert E. Coker, 1905. 8°, 39 pp. Out of print. 11. The Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1905, bv Joseph Hvde Pratt, 1906. 8°, 95 pp. Postage // cents. Describes the mineral Cobalt and the principal minerals that contain Cobalt; Corundum Localities; Monazite and Zircon in considerable detail, giving Analyses of PUBLIC ATIOXS OF THE SURVEY. 51 Thorianite; describes Tantalum Minerals and gives description of the Tantalum Lamp- gives brief description of Peat Deposits; the manufacture of Sand-lime Brick; Operations of Concentrating Plant in Black Sand Investigations; gives Laws Relating to Mines, Coal Mines, Mining, Mineral Interest in Land, Phosphate Rock, Marl Beds. 12. Investigations Relative to tlie Shad Fisheries of North Carolina, by John N. Cobb. 1906. 8°, 74 pp., 8 maps. Postage 6 cents. 13. Report of Committee on Fisheries in North Carolina. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1906. 8°, 78 pp. Out of print. 14. The Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1906, by Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1907. 8°, 144 pp., 20 pi., and 5 figs. Postage 10 cents. Under the head of "Recent Changes in Gold Mining in North Carolina," gives methods of mining, describing Log Washers, Square Sets, Cyanide Plants, etc., and detailed descriptions of Gold Deposits and Mines are given; Copper Deposits of Swain County are described; Mica Deposits of Western North Carolina are described, giving Distribution and General Character, General Geology, Occurrence, Associated Minerals, Mining and Treatment of Mica, Origin, together with a description of many of the mines; Monazite is taken up in considerable detail as to Location and Occurrence, Geology, including classes of Rocks, Age, Associations, Weathering, method of Mining and Cleaning, description of Monazite in Original Matrix. 15. The Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1907, by Joseph Hyde Pratt. 1908. 8°, 176 pp., 13 pi., and 4 figs. Postage 13 cents. Takes up in detail the Copper of the Gold Hill Copper District; a description of the Uses of Monazite and its Associated Minerals; descriptions of Ruby, Emerald, Beryl, Hiddenite, and Amethyst Localities; a detailed description with Analyses of the Principal Mineral Springs of North Carolina; a description of the Peat Formations in North Carolina, together with a detailed account of the Uses of Peat and the Results of an Experiment Conducted by the United States Geological Survey on Peat from Elizabeth City, North Carolina. 16. Report of Convention called by Governor R. B. Glenn to Investigate the Fishing Industries in North Carolina, compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist, 1908. 8°, 45 pp. Out of print. 17. Proceedings of Drainage Convention held at New Bern. North Carolina, September 9, 1908. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1908. 8°, 94 pp. Out of print. 18. Proceedings of Second Annual Drainage Convention held at New Bern, North Carolina. November 11 and 12, 1909. compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, and containing North Carolina Drainage Law, 1909. 8°, 50 pp. Out of print. 19. Forest Fires in North Carolina During 1909, by J. S. Holmes. Forester, 1910. 8°, 52 pp., 9 pi. Out of print. 20. Wood-using Industries of North Carolina, by Roger E. Simmons, under the direction of J. S. Holmes and H. S. Sackett, 1910. 8°, 74 pp., 6 pi. Post- age 7 cents. 21. Proceedings of the Third Annual Drainage Convention, held under Auspices of the North Carolina Drainage Association ; and the North Carolina Draina.ge Law (codified). Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1911. 8°, 67 pp., 3 pi. Out of print. 22. Forest Fires in North Carolina During 1910. by J. S. Holmes. Forester, 1911. 8°, 48 pp. Out of print. 23. Mining Industrv In North Carolina During 1908, '09. and '10, by Joseph Hyde Pratt and Miss" H. M. Berry. 1911. 8°, 134 pp., 1 pi.. 27 figs. Postage 10 cents. Gives report on Virgilina Copper District of North Carolina and Virginia, by F. B. Laney; Detailed report on Mica Deposits of North Carolina, by Douglas B. Sterrett; Detailed report on Monazite, by Douglas B. Sterrett; Reports on various Gem Min- erals, by Douglas B. Sterrett; Information and Analyses concerning certain Mineral Springs; Extract from Chance Report of the Dan River and Deep River Coal Fields; Some notes on the Peat Industry, by Prof. Charles A. Davis; Extract from report of Arthur Keith on the Nantahala Marble; Description of the manufacture of Sand- lime Brick. 24. Fishing Industry of North Carolina, by Joseph Hyde Pratt. 1911. 8°, 44 pp. Out of print. 5iJ PUBLICATIONS OF THE SURVEY. 25. Proceedings of Second Annual Convention of tlie Nortli Carolina For- estry Association, lield at Kalcitrh. Nortli Carolina. February 21. 1!>12. Forest Fires in North Carolina Inning' 1911. Suggested Forestry Legislation. Com- piled by J. S. Holmes. P'orester. 1012. S°, 71 pp. Postage v cents. 26. Proceedings of Fourth Annual Drainage Convention, held at Elizabeth City. North Carolina, November 15 and 16, 1911, compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist, 1912. 8°, 45 pp. Postage 3 cents. 27. Highway Work in North Carolina* containing a Statistical Report of Road Work during 1911. by Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist, and Miss H. M. Berry, Secretary, 1912. S°, 145 pp.. 11 tigs. Postage 10 cents. 28. Culverts and Small Bridges for Country Roads in North Carolina, by C. R. Thomas and T. F. Hickerson, 1912. 8°, 56 pp., 14 figs., 20 pi. Postage 10 cents. 29. Report of the Fisheries Convention held at New Bern, N. C. December 13. 1911. compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist, together with a Compendium of the Stenographic Notes of the Meetings Held on the two trips taken by the Legislative Fish Committee Appointed by the General As- sembly of 1909, and the Legislation Recommended by this Committee, 1912. 8°, 302 pp. Postage 15 cents. 30. Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the North Carolina Good Roads A.ssociation held at Charlotte. N. C August 1 and 2, 1912, in Cooperation with the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist, and Miss H. M. Berry, Secretary, 1912. 8°, 109 pp. Postage 10 cents. 31. Proceedings of Fiftli Animal Drainage Convention held at Raleigh. N. C, November 26 and 27. 1912. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist. 8°, 56 pp., 6 pi. Postage 5 cents. 32. Public Roads Are Public Necessities, by Joseph Hyde I'ratt. State Geolo- gist, 1913. 8°, 62 pp. Postage 5 cents. 33. Forest Fires in North Carolina During 1912 and National and Associa- tion Cooperative Fire Control, by J. S. Holmes. Forester. 1913. 8°, 63 pp. Postage 5 cents. 34. Mining Industry in North Carolina During 1911-12. by Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist, 1914. 8°. 314 pp., 23 pi., 12 figs. Postage 15 cents. Gives detailed report oit Gold Mining in various counties, with special report on Metallurfrical Processes used at the Tola Mine, by Claud Hafer; description of a Cyanide Mill, by Percy Barbour; the new Milling Process for treating North Carolina Siliceous Gold Ores at the Montgonipry Mine, including m dosoriptinn of the T'warrie Mining Company's Plant; notes on the Carter Mine, Montgomery County, by Claud Hafer; also a description of the Howie Mine and its mill; a detailed report on the Coggins (Appalachian) Gold Mine, by Joseph Hyde Pratt; a I..ist of Gems and Gem Minerals occurring in United States; special descriptions of Localities where the Amethyst, Beryl, Emerald, and Quartz Gems occur, as taken from United States Geological Survey Report, by Douglas B. Sterrctt; a report on the Dan River Coal Field, by R. W. Stone, as reprinted from Bulletin 471-B of the United States Geologi- cal Survey; a special report on Graphite, by Edson S. Bastin, and reprinted from Mineral Resources of United States for 1912; a special report on Asbestos, describing both the Amphibole and Chrysotile varieties; a report on the Mount Airy Granite Quarry; special report on Sand and Gravel, giving Uses, Definitions of "Various Sands, etc.; the portion of a Bulletin on Feldspar and Kaolin of the United States Bureau of Mines which relates to North Carolina, and which takes up in detail Occurrences, Methods of Mining, and Descriptions of Localities of Feldspar and Kaolin Mines in North Carolina, prepared Ijy Mr. A. S. Watts. In this Kfonomic Paper are also given the names and addresses of Producers of the various minerals during the years cov- ered by the report. 35. Good Roads Days, November 5th and 6th. 1913, compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist, and Miss H. M. Berry, Secretary. 8°. 102 pp., 11 pi. Postage 10 cents. 36. Proceedings of the North Carolina (Jood Roads Association, held at Morebcad City. N. C.. July .".l and August 1. 191:;. In Cor.i.eration with the Nortli Carolina (ieological and Economic Survey. Statistical Report of High- PUBLICATIONS OF THE SURVEY. 53 way Work in North Carolina During 1912. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Px-att. State Geologist, and Miss H. M. Berry, Secretary. 8". 127 pp., 7 figs. Postage 10 cents. 37. Forest Fires in North Carolina During 1913 and a Summary of State Forest Fire Prevention in the United States, by J. S. Holmes, Forester, 1914. S°, 82 pp. Postage S cents. 38. Forms covering the Organization of Drainage Districts under the North Carolina Drainage Law. Chapter 442, Public Laws of 1909, and Amendments. And Forms for Minutes of Boards of Drainage Commissioners covering the Organization of the Board up to and Including the Issuing of the Drainage Bonds. Compiled by George R. Boyd, Drainage Engineer. 133 pp. Postage 10 cents. 39. Proceedings of the Good Roads Institute held at the University of North Carolina, March 17-19. 1914. Held under the auspices of the Departments of Civil and Highway Engineering of the University of North Carolina and The North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey. 8°, 117 pp., 15 figs.. 4 pi. Postage 10 cents. 40. Forest Fires in North Carolina During 1914. and Forestry Laws of North Carolina, by J. S. Holmes, State Forester. 1915. S°. 55 pp. Postage 5 cents. 41. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Drainage Convention held at Wilson. N. C, November 18 and 19, 1914. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt. In press. 42. Proceedings of the Road Institute held at the University of North Caro- lina February 23-27. 1915. Compiled by Joseph Hyde Pratt. In press. VOLUMES. Vol. I. Corundum and the Basic Magnesian Rocks in Western North Caro- lina, by Joseph Hyde Pratt and J. Volney Lewis. 1905. 8°, 464 pp., 44 pi.. 35 figs. Postage 32 cents. Cloth-bound copy 30 cents extra. Vol. II. Fishes of North Carolina, by H. M. Smith. 1907. 8°. 453 pp.. 21 pi., 188 figs. Postage 30 cents. Vol. III. The Coastal Plain Deposits of North Carolina, by William Bullock Clark, Benjamin L. Miller. L. W. Stephenson. B. L. Johnson, and Horatio N. Parker, 1912. 8°, 509 pp., 62 pi., 21 figs. Postage 35 cents. Pt. I. — The Physiography and Geology of the Coastal Plain of North Caro- lina, by T\^m. Bullock Clark, Benjamin L. Miller, and L. W. Stephenson. Pt. II. — The Water Resources of the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, by L. W. Stephenson and B. L. Johnson. Vol. IV. Birds of North Carolina. , In press. BIEX>IAL REPORTS. First Biennial Report. 1891-1892, J. A. Holmes. State Geologist. 1S93. S = . Ill pp., 12 pi., 2 figs. Postage 6 cents. Administrative report, giving Object and Organization of the Survey; Investiga- tions of Iron Ores, Building Stone, Geological "^"ork in Coastal Plain Region, in- cluding supplies of drinking-waters in eastern counties, Report on Forests and Forest Products, Coal and Marble, Investigations of Diamond Drill. Biennial Report 1893-1894, J. A. Holmes, State Geologist, 1894. 8^ 15 pp. Postage 1 cent. Administrative report. Biennial Report. 1895-1896, J. A. Holmes, State Geologist, 1896. 8°. 17 pp. Postage 1 cent. Administrative report. Biennial Report, 1897-1898, J. A. Holmes, State Geologist. 1898. 8°, 28 pp. Postage 2 cents. Administrative report. 54 PIBLICATIOXS OF THE SURVEY. Biennial Rei.ort, l.sm»-l!MM>. j. A. Holmes. State Geologist, I'JOO. S°, 20 pp. Postage 2 cents. Administrative report. Biennial Report. lOOl-lOOi'. .7. A. Holmes. State Geolofiist, 1002. S°, 15 pp. Postage 1 cent. Administrative report. Biennial Report, lf»03-in()4. .7. A. Holmes. State Geologist. 1905. S°, 32 pp. Postage 2 cents. Administrative report. Biennial Report 1905-1900. Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist. 1907. S°. 60 pp. Postage 3 cents. Administrative report; report on certain swamp lands belonging to the State, by W. W. Ashe; it also gives certain magnetic observations at North Carolina stations. Biennial Report, 1907-1908, Joseph Hyde Pratt. State Geologist. 1908. 8°, 60 pp., 2 pi. Postage 5 cents. Administrative report. Contains Special Report on an examination of the Sand Banks along the North Carolina Coast, by Jay F. Bond, Forest Assistant. United States Forest Service; certain magnetic observations at North Carolina stations; Results of an Investigation Relating to Clam Cultivation, by Howard E. Enders of Purdue University. Biennial Report, 1909-1910, Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist, 1911. 8°, 152 pp. Postage 10 cents. Administrative report and contains Agreements for Cooperation in Statistical Work, and Topographical and Traverse Mapping Work with the United States Geological Survey; Forest Work with the United States Department of Agriculture (Forest Service); List of Topographic maps of North Carolina and counties partly or wholly topographically mapped; description of special Highways in North Caro- lina; suggested Road Legislation; list of Drainage Districts and Results of Third Annual Drainage Convention; Forestry reports relating to Connolly Tract, Buncombe County and Transylvania County State Farms; certain Watersheds; Reforestation of Cut-over and Abandoned Farm Lands on the Woodlands of the Salem Academy and College; Recommendations for the Artificial Regeneration of Longleaf Pine at Pinehurst; Act regulating the use of and for the Protection of Meridian Monuments and Standards of Measure at the several county-seats in North Carolina; list of Magnftie Declinations at the county-scats. January 1. 1910; h'ttci- nf Fisli C'unimis- sioner of the United States Bureau of Fisheries relating to the conditions of the North Carolina fish industries; report of the Survey for the North Carolina Fish Commission referring to dutch or pound-net fishing in Albemarle and Croatan sounds and Chowan River, by Gilbert T. Rude, of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey; Historical Sketch of the several North Carolina Geological Surveys, with list of publications of each. Biennial Report. 1911-1912, Joseph Hyde Pratt. State (leologist. 1913. 8°, 118 7>p. Postage 7 cents. Administrative report, and contains reports on method of construction and esti- mate of cost of road improvement in Stantonsburg Township, Wilson County; report on road conditions in Lee County; report on preliminary location of section of Spar- tanburg-Hendersonville Highway between Tryon and Tuxedo; report of road work done by U. S. Office of Public Roads during biennial period; experiments with glutrin on the sand-clay road; report on Central Highway, giving Act establishing and report of trip over this Highway; suggested road legislation; report on the Asheville City watershed; report on the Struan property at Arden, Buncombe County; report on the woodlands on the farm of Dr. J. W. Kilgore, Iredell County; report on examination of the woodlands on the Berry place. Orange County; report on the forest prnijcrty of IMiss Julia A. 'I'honic .Ashclxm.. K:iii(lulph Cnuiily; report on the examination of the forest lands of the Butters Lumber Company, Columbus County; proposed forestry legislation; swamp lands and drainage, giving drainage districts; suggested drainage legislation; proposed Fisheries Commission bill. Biennial Report, 1913-1914. Joseph Hyde Pratt, State Geologist, 1915. 8°, 165 pp. Postage 10 cents. Administrative report, niid centnins reports on tlio work of (ho State convicts on Ilickerv Xiii C.iii i:,,;mI. II, luj.rvMii Coiniiy. and on the link of tho Central Highway in Madison Cmntx \\lii(h i- inini; cn-inni ed with State convicts; report on road work accomplished iiy till si:it,' Smvey :in(l liy ilie U. S. Office of ruhlic Roads during biennial period: suggested i.kmI h-isl.il ion ; a forestry policy for .N'orfli Carolina: report on in- vestigation. Tiiniiei -iippl.v of North Carolina; reports <>n the examination of certain forest lands in il.ililnx ( nnnly: report on the ash in North Carolina: report on the spruce forests of Mount .Mitcliell : i-i-jiort on forest fire conditions in the sontheastern States, by J. S. Holmes. Keport on the worU of the I". S. Forest Service in .\orth Caro- PUBLICATION'S OF THE SURVEY. 55 lina in connoctioii with tlie purcliase of forest reserves and tlieir protection ; timber tests, including- strengtli of timber, preservation of timber, timber suitable to produce pulp, distillation of certain woods and drying certain woods; suggested forestry legisla- tion ; report on tlie swamp lands and tlieir drainage in North Carolina ; suggested drain- age legislation : report on magnetic observations made during biennial period ; report on the economic value of the fisheries of North Carolina : report on the survey made In Albemarle, Croatan. and Pamlico sounds by the Coast and Geodetic Survey ; suggested fisheries legislation. Samples of luiy mineral found in tlie State may be sent to the otiice of the Geological and Economic Survey for identification, and the same will be classi- fied free of charge. It must be understood, however, that no assays or quan- titative DETERMINATIONS WILL BE MADE. Samples sliould be in a lump form if possible, and marked plainly on outside of package with name of sender, post- office address, etc. ; a letter should accompany sample and stamp should be enclosed for reply. These publications are mailed to libraries and to individuals who may desire information on any of the special subjects named, free of charge, except that in each case applicants for the reports should forward the amount of postage needed, as indicated above, for mailing the bulletins desired, to the State Geologist, Chapel Hill, X. C. ■m. ■teft-l