Newspaper Page Text
Georgia Suffered
$10,000,000 Forest
Fire Losses Last Year
By FRANK HEYWARD,
State Forester
Georgia suffered a loss of about
$10,000,000 from forest fires that
swept the state during the past
fall, winter and early spring. With
dry season and high winds abetting,
the damage was probably greater
than normal; but annually this state
undergoes forest fire losses of be
tween six and ten million dollars.
Such heavy and continuous losses
are making serious inroads on the
state’s wealth and handicapping
progress.
How vital these losses are will be
more fully appreciated in the light
of the fact that about 60 per cent of
the state’s land is forest or potential
forest land; that such forests as
have escaped or survived fires are
yielding primary forest products
valued at about $50,000,000 annual
ly; that Georgia’s forest products as
finished commodities are valued at
over $100,000,000, and that about
40,000 people are employed in for
ests and wood manufacturing indus
tries.
Lands Poorly Stocked
Mainly because of fire, Georgia’s
timberlands are so poorly stocked,
and trees are so frequently damaged
by fire that they are producing
scarcely a third of a cord of wood
per acre annually, whereas if fires
had been prevented, the forests
would be well stocked and the thrift
ier trees would be yielding annually
nearly a cord an acre and more on
favorable sites.
It is, therefore, apparently that by
fire suppression alone, Georgia
could more than double its forest
resources in 25 years. It is well
worth while for Georgia to make
every effort to attain this goal, for it
is now apparent that greatly in
creased demands are to be made
upon Georgia forests.
No state is in better position to
capitalize on forest resources than
Georgia. It has favorable climate
conditions and very rapidly growing
tree species to assure maximum wood
production. In addition, there is
nearness to large consuming centers
of forest products.
But these advantages mean little
so long as forest fires are allowed to
prevail. Nature is doing its part.
During the past fall, pines sowed a
bounteous crop of seed; the fall
season was favorable for quick ger
mination and as a result billions of
seedlings started growth. Then came
the fires and nature’s efforts be
came of no avail. The seedlings
were destroyed. It will all have to
be done over again, and it is all
because nature’s efforts are thwarted
by man-made fires that the forests
of Georgia are in their present poor
condition.
"Lack of Knowledge”
The Biblical statement, “My peo
ple perish for lack of knowledge,”
applies to Georgians in their lack
of knowledge as to the damage fires
do to their forests. They do not
realize that natural reforestation can
not take place where forest fires are
allowed each year, and that, if forests
are to have their yields sustained,
young trees must be allowed an op-1
portunity to grow.
Many forest fires are purposely
started, some by people who have no
interest in the forest, but consider
that fires will improve grazing for
cattle, or destroy crop insects or
drive out snakes. Some turpentine
operators rake around trees and I
burn to protect the chipped faces
and cups on the trees, unmindful of
the seedlings or young trees they
destroy. Many forest fires are start
ed by burning off debris of fields to
be cultivated. Some fires are origi
nated by careless hunters. Apparent
ly some fires are maliciously started.
It is too much to expect that the
public can be educated to a point
where forest fires will never be
started, but if educated to an appre
ciation of the losses caused by fire,
then people will be willing to fight
fires and limit them to a reasonable
minimum.
Not All Indifferent
Os course, not all timberland
owners are indifferent to fires. In
the timber protective organizations
of the state are men owning 3,800,-
000 acres who are willing to spend
money for fire protection and who
are using methods recommended by
the state and federal forest services.
Fire breaks, lookout towers for
fire detection and telephone lines
are constructed, and fire fighting
equipment is purchased by these or
ganizations. At an annual cost of
3 to 4 cents an acre, these organiza
tions are obtaining effective forest
fire protection.
The Civilian Conservation Corps
has been instrumental in assisting
these organizations in constructing I
fire breaks, erecting fire towers, put-1
ting up telephone lines and in sup- 1
pressing forest fires. I
Because of inadequate federal and |
state funds, it is impossible for the ;
state division of forestry to provide
assistance to 1.500,000 acres of for
est lands whose owners have request
ed state aid within in the past six
weeks alone.
Full Funds Asked
It is because of the state’s inabil
ity to expand its fire protection pro
gram that people in Georgia are in
sistently urging that congress make
available the full amount of funds
allowed by the Clarke-McNary act,
hitherto not fully appropriated by
congress.
The existing timber protective or
ganizations of the state apparently
cannot well be adapted to areas:
where farming is the dominant oc-,
cupation and forested areas are!
broken into comparatively small
units. Consequently, over a large
area of the state, the county is re
garded as the logical unit of fire con
trol activity, a unit which can em
ploy a forest warden whose duties
are to educate communities as to
the importance of forest fire protec
tion and to induce groups of timber-
Commissioners In
Monthly Session
Here Tuesday
The Board of Commissioners of
Early county met in regular month
ly session Tuesday. Present: H. C.
Fort, chairman, J. C. Balkcom, L. H.
Baughman, C. E. Martin, and W.
R. Pullen.
The Board voted to employ J. A.
Magill, of Albany, to audit the
county records for the fiscal year
beginning February 28, 1937, at a
price of $2.50.
Mrs. Marie S. Williams was re
tained as assistant in the county wel
fare office for the months of May
and June.
The Board purchased a new 70
oiDburner tractor from the Yancey
Tractor Co., trading in the old gas
burning Caterpillar tractor No. 60
and paying $5,400 difference.
Commissioner W. R. Pullen was
appointed as county representative
to obtain right of way deeds on
highway No. 45 from Arlington
south to the Miller county line.
The current bills were audited and
warrants issued for their payment.
S. D. Jernigan, 71,
Passes After Illness
Os Two Years
After an invalidism of two years,
Mr. Shelton David Jernigan, age 71,
died at his home in the western part
of the city last Friday afternoon at
4 o’clock.
Funeral services were held Satur
day afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at the
Baptist church, with the Revs. E. M.
Overby, S. B. King and M. B. Wood
lief, of Blakely, and —. —. Wilson,
of Columbia, officiating. Interment
was in the city cemetery, with Min
ter, Fellows & Forrester in charge
of arrangements and the following
serving as pallbearers: J. E. Beck
ham, C. C. Grubbs, C. D. Duke, R.
C. Singletary, H. B. Ainsworth and
J. R. Owen.
Mr. Jernigan was a native of Clay
county, where he was born October
27, 1867. He moved here in 1919,
and during his residence here made
many friends. He was a member of
the Methodist church and was faith
ful in attendance upon its services
until ill health prevented.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ettha
Whitaker Jernigan; six children,
Marvin Jernigan of Charleston, S.
C., L. W. Jernigan of Columbia,
Ala., Mrs. Sam Hall of Wewahitch
ka, Fla., D. A. Jernigan, Jefferson
Jernigan and Miss Sara Jernigan of
Blakely; three brothers, George Jer
nigan and Robert Jernigan of Co
lumbus, Johnson Jernigan of Moye,
and one sister, Mrs. Nettie Mcln
tyre of Columbus. These have the
sympathy of friends in their be-1
reavement.
MISS DuBOSE’S PUPILS
PRESENT PROGRAM
On Tuesday evening, members of
the Piano class of Miss Evelyn Du-
Bose entertained their parents and
friends with an ensemble program:
The following selections were
given:
Selections (Williams) : Ist Piano,
Erlene Robinson; 2nd Piano, Evelyn
Dußose.
Guitar (Gaynor): Ist Piano, Sa
rah Fulton; 2nd Piano, Evelyn Du-
Bose.
Dixie Doodle (Holst): Ist Piano, j
Margaret Boyett; 2nd Piano, Peggy
Duke.
Serenade (Toscello): Ist Piano,
Mary Standifer; 2nd Piano, Evelyn
Dußose.
The Rose Garden (Bilbo): Ist
Piano, Emily Ann Singletary; 2nd
Piano, Evelyn Dußose.
Simple Confession (Thome): Ist
Piano, Ouida Mobley; 2nd Piano, |
Thelma Duke.
Diana (Holst): Ist Piano, Jane
Haisten; 2nd Piano, Thelma Duke.
Shooting Stars (Holst): Ist Piano, I
Arthur Sherman; 2nd Piano, Virgin
ia Holman.
Sketch of Chopin’s Life: Mary
Standifer.
The interest of the program was
very much enhanced by some well
chosen remarks on “What Music ;
Means to You,” given by the Rev. E. ■
M. Overby.
Later in the evening a novel con-1
test, which consisted of giving cor-1
rect titles to selected songs, was
enjoyed by the parents.
At the conclusion of the game, j
Mrs. Grady Holman and Mrs. Charles '
Boyett were declared winners with |
the* highest number of correct an- i
swers. The prizes were a small
statue of Chopin and a picture of '
Beethoven.
land owners to co-operate in pre
venting and suppressing fires.
The last session of the state legis- |
lature passed an enabling act for a I
constitutional amendment which, if 1
approved by voters in the next gen
eral election, will permit a county,
if it desires to do so, to expend its
funds on a fire control program, the I
costs of which will be shared by the ;
state division of forestry, with fed
eral aid.
EARLY COUNTY NEWS, BLAKELY, GEORGIA
Expenses of U. S.
Government to Be
Less Next Year
Uncle Sam, taking a peep into his
checkbook, has decided he will be
able to run regular governmet de
partments more economically next
year.
All the househould bills aren’t in
yet, but he calculated, on the basis
of what he has spent this year, he
will get along with about 5 1-2 per
cent less for customary annual ex
penses.
The relief problem, however, may
send his total living costs far into
the red, compared with this year.
No relief funds for 1938 have yet
been voted, nor have any pump
priming appropriations.
The House has voted to give Un
tile Sam $5,389,895,683 for regular
expenditures for the year beginning
July I—about $300,000,000 less than
the same items cost him in the cur
rent 12 months. Relief costs for
both years are excluded.
Five portions of this total have
been approved by the Senate and
President Roosevelt. The other
bills either have not yet gone
through the Senate or have not been
accepted finally by both chambers.
Minor changes may be made in these
incomplete bills.
Four of the appropriation bills
are smaller than for 1938, while
the others are larger. 'Congress
made the deepest cut in departmen
tal expenditures by approving sl,-
403,683,526 for the treasury and
postoffice departments—sl72,73l,-
482 less than for this year.
MEETING 6F DEMOCRATIC
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
TUESDAY, MAY 10
The members of the Democratic
Executive Committee of Early coun
ty are hereby called to meet at the
court house in Blakely on Tuesday,
May 10, for the purpose of adopting
rules and regulations for the Demo
cratic primary to be held on Septem
ber 14th.
H. C. HADDOCK, Chairman.
HILTON CHAPtFrF. F. A.
WINS SPEAKING AND
QUARTETTE CONTEST
The annual Public Speaking and
Quartette Contest that was held at
Hilton on April 29 was won by the
Hilton Future Farmers of America.
Gordon Bynum, who spoke on
“Soil Conservation,” which is a
national problem, won first place.
His competitors were Willis, of
Union, and Bonon, of Shellman.
The Hilton Quartette was com
posed of Gordon Bynum, first tenor;
William Bynum, second tenor; Mont
zelle Houston, alto; and Oliver Mc-
Lendon, bass. They were accom
panied by Miss Eugenia Hall, pianist.
The above mentioned will repre
sent the first bracket of this district
in Americus next week.
Sunday Is
MOTHER’S DAY
A Flower Gift Will Make
the Day a Happier One
for Mother.
CUT FLOWERS and
POTTED PLANTS
Flowers Wired Anywhere
Visit or Phone Our Shop
Greenbrier Floral Co.
Mrs. J. B. Murdock
RELIANCE LIFE INSURANCE CO.
INSURES AGAINST
NATURAL DEATH, ACCIDENTS, SICKNESS, OLD AGE
See ROY E. ALEXANDER, Agent
Notice to Farmers!
We are overstocked on one-horse
Cultivators. Cultivators, with trip
feet
$25.00 each.
Middleton Hardware Co.
BLAKELY, GEORGIA
State Masonic Bodies
Elect Officers for
Ensuing Year
At the 116th annual convocation
of the Grand Chapter of Georgia
Royal Arch Masons, held in Macon
last week, Paul H. Ponder, of Madi
son, was elevated to the office of
1 Grand High Priest. Other line offi
cers elected were: Dr. J. G. Standi
fer, Blakely, Grand King; Dr. Thos.
W. Sewell, Newnan, Grand Scribe;
Josiah T. Clarke, Augusta, Grand
Treasurer; Wm. J. Penn, Jr., Macon,
Grand Secretary; J. Warner Neal,
Columbus, Grand Captain of Host;
John W. Riley, Milledgeville, Grand
Principal Sojourner; E. Paul New
hard, Perry, Grand Royal Arch Cap
tain; J. Tillman Morgan, Dunwoody,
Grand Master 3rd Veil; Bartis E.
Goodman, Atlanta, Grand Master 2nd
Veil; E. W. Rhodes, Moultrie, Grand
Master Ist Veil; Rev. Zack Hayes,
Atlanta, Grand Chaplain; Rev. W. A.
Simmons, Hapeville, Emeritus Grand
Chaplain; C. J. Owens, Newnan,
Grand Sentinel.
Officers elected at the 94th an
nual meeting of the Grand Council
of Georgia Royal and Select Mas
ters include: W. J. Aldridge, Car
rollton, Grand Master; J. D. Owens,
Macon, Deputy Grand Master; John
F. Hatfield, Moultrie, Grand Princi
pal Conductor; Wm. J. Penn, Jr.,
Macon, Grand Treasurer-Recorder;
J. Orson Smith, Bainbridge, Grand
Captain of Guard; John B. Russell,
Fitzgerald, Grand Conductor of
Council; Loyd C. Pritchard, Canton,
Grand Marshal; B. K. Hardison,
Tifton, Grand Steward; C. J. Owens,
Newnan, Grand Sentinel.
From the above roll of officers
in these two Masonic bodies, it is
evident that southwest Georgia ranks
high in Masonry in the state.
GIRL SCOUTS REPRESENT
“A MERRIE DAY IN
MERRIE ENGLAND”
The Blakely Girl Scouts will go
over to Arlington Thursday (today),
May sth, to participate in the Child
Health Day Celebration which is
being sponsored by the Camp Fire
Girls and the Lions Club of Arling
ton. The Girl Scouts from Cuthbert
and the Camp Fire Girls of Leary
have also been invited to take part
in this program.
The Blakely Girl Scouts are repre
senting “A May Day in Merrie
England.” On May Day Eve boys
and girls go to the wood and return
carrying staffs decorated with flow
ers and garlands and sing merry
songs, blow reed whistles and dance
around the May pole that some of
the couples carry into the village
green. The May Queen who is
crowned on May Day in the village
green is preceded by Robin Hood
and His Merry Men, milkmaids, hob
by horses, Morris dancers, villagers,
musicians, girls with hoops, etc.
After the queen is crowned the rev
el on the green takes place.
Everyone is urged to attend this
May Day celebration and have a
lot of fun. A good time is promised
to all. Barbecue supper will be
sold by the Camp Fire Girls at six
o’clock. An old-fashion spelling bee
will be held and also a sing will fol
low the festival.
We will meet on the court house
square Thursday afternoon at two
o’clock.
EUNICE LEWIS,
High School Girl Scout Leader.
SPECIALS
——————
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
May 6th and 7th
2 pkgs. Poast Toasties and 1 pkg.
Huskies 15c
No. 2y 2 cans Pork & Beans 10c
No. 2 cans Sugar Peas 10c
21-oz. cans Heinz’s Spaghetti 11c
5 lbs. Bulk Grits 15c
5 lbs. Rice 19c
No. 2 Lamp Chimneys, 2 for 15c
16'oz. jars Midget Pickles —_• 25c
10 lbs. Sugar in paper 50c
Peabody’s Coffee, vacuum packed 23c
Dried Peaches or Apples, 2 lbs. 25c
Dried Prunes, 2 lbs. 15c
Best White Meat, lb. 14c
Guaranteed Flour, 24 lbs. 69c
Fresh Home Grown Vegetables
BRYANT TURNER
PHONE 231
Spot Cash to All One Low Price to All
ANNOUNCING!
A. I. PARNELL wishes to announce
he is going to operate the Machine Shop
formerly operated by the late Mr. Ira A.
King. Mr. Parnell will do all kinds of
Saw Work, Filing, Hammering, etc.
Your patronage will be greatly appre
ciated.
WE
HANDLE
F. H. A.
LOANS
We can also handle any repair job
from SIOO.OO up—
Interest 5 per eent.
Consult us regarding terms on New
Construction, Remodeling
or Repairing.
FARMERS HARDWARE CO.
BLAKELY, GEORGIA
Cabinet Work, Furniture Repairing and
Refinishing
STANDARD REPAIR SHOP
Next Door to Lanier Furniture Co. Phone 117