814 A NATIONAL PLAN" FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



cally unsound to meet the cost of protecting cut-over lands. That 

 receipts from severance taxes or other special taxes form an uncertain 

 source of funds is exemplified by the case of one of the Southern 

 States, in which a fall in the proceeds of a special tax from about 

 $50,000 in 1928 to $20,000 in 1932 necessitated a reduction of 3K 

 million acres in the forest area protected and forced the dismissal of 

 several of the key men in the State organization. 



Next to the amount of money available for the support of the work, 

 the most important factor in determining the degree of success is per- 

 sonnel. Everyone will concede that there are differences of ability in 

 the personnel of the many State organizations, both in the higher and 

 in the subordinate positions. It could not be otherwise. It is 

 reflected, naturally, in the accomplishments. Good men even in a 

 poor type of organization will accomplish a great deal. 



Yet they cannot accomplish the impossible. They can only very 

 gradually reduce the number of fires and area burned. Bad years 

 will completely upset their record. They cannot change lifetime 

 woods-burning habits or woods-burning indifference amongst the great 

 mass of the population of a State without years of persistent and 

 patient effort. The fire record of the South suffers because of the 

 fact that protection is a comparatively recent undertaking in that 

 region. It will improve; it has already improved greatly, as a 

 result of organized effort, in much of the region. Protection cannot 

 be so good, other things being equal, in ja State that has only under- 

 taken the job within the last 5 years as in one that has been at it for 

 20 years. It takes time to build up public interest, methods, the 

 physical plant, and personnel. 



Developments in State forest fire protection have come along 

 gradually. They will doubtless proceed gradually in the future, 

 with acceleration particularly in the Southern and Central States. 

 There will be no overnight changes. The principles underlying suc- 

 cess in this activity, however, are now well known in all States, the 

 technique applied to the job is improving, the suppression equipment 

 is vastly better than formerly and is constantly being added to and 

 improved (use of the airplane and the radio are recent developments), 

 and public sentiment is increasingly favorable. 



The State organizations have directed their effort and thought upon 

 the forest fire problem to good effect. Given the funds, the legisla- 

 tion, and the time, they have demonstrated their capacity to cope with 

 it. Their understanding of local conditions, habits of the people, and 

 sentiment has been a big factor in their progress. It seems evident 

 that centering forest fire protection of State and privately owned 

 lands in the State organization is the key to its successful prosecution. 

 There is no good reason for other than steady progress in this field. 

 The work will, of course, be more capably administered in some 

 States than in others. Situations will doubtless arise that will call 

 for a change in personnel. Additional legislation is necessary here 

 and there ; more emphasis could well be placed on prevention measures; 

 but, in the by and large, sufficient funds and time are the two main 

 essentials. 



Forest fire protection is now handled as a joint cooperative enter- 

 prise of the States and the Federal Government. Aside from the 

 Federal funds supplied, the newly organized State forestry depart- 

 ments, at least, are tremendously benefited by having thus made 



