FOREST FIRE PROTECTION IN GEORGIA 



459 



ber supplies for their citizens for all time. The Federal 

 Government also has recognized its responsibility in the 

 matter. Eleven years ago Congress passed a law author- 

 izing the Forest Service to cooperate with any State 

 which had established a forest fire protection system 

 and would expend for the purpose at least as much as the 

 Federal Government would expend. The best indica- 

 tion of the effectiveness of this cooperation has been its 

 growth. The first year less than a dozen States could 

 qualify under the law ; today the number has increased 

 to 27. The State appropriations made yearly for forest 

 fire protection have increased in the meantime from $250,- 

 000 to $1,750,000. The Federal government spent the first 

 year less than $40,000 ; today it is spending $400,000 and 

 asking for $1,000,000. This Federal fund is allotted to 

 the States on the basis of the greatest good to the great- 

 est number. States which have the most difficulty in 

 helping themselves are given relatively the most assist- 

 ance ; they are stimulated to further effort. This is gen- 

 erally the case with beginners, and in many instances 

 their appropriations have been duplicated with Federal 

 funds. The combined State and Federal fund is used 

 for the maintenance of a protective system operating un- 

 der State laws and on private and State lands on the 

 forested watersheds of navigable streams. 



Many of these systems are developed to a high de- 

 gree of effectiveness which results in the accurate loca- 

 tion of fires and their prompt control. The backbone 

 of the system is the local warden or patrolman who 

 travels the wooded districts preaching and warning 

 against promiscuous burning. Their activities are co- 

 ordinated and directed by a chief warden who is usually 

 the State Forester. As you can readily see, the organiza- 

 tion of such work is along simple lines ; it is not com- 

 plicated. Still, it requires initiative, and therefore much 

 depends for effectiveness upon the individual members. 

 The big job of a protective system is to educate the pub- 

 lic, to create a sentiment against forest fires. This 

 would be particularly the case in Georgia as it has been, 

 and still is to a considerable degree, in other southern 

 States. To teach the people that promiscuous burning 

 of the woods is a menace to the welfare of this State 

 is the big problem. 



Forest fire protection is a business proposition. It 

 requires the expenditure of money to be undertaken suc- 

 cessfully. It requires the participation of the public as 

 represented by the State and Federal governments, be- 

 cause it is a public problem. Will not Georgia make it 

 possible at this time for the Federal Government to join 

 hands with her in helping to solve the forest fire prob- 

 lem in this State? 



SUMMER IN CALIFORNIA 



By Fannie K. Lyie 



When the summer days are lengthening 

 And the hills are turning brown. 



When the harvest wealth is strengthening 

 And the air seems golden down, 



Come where our sunkissed mother 

 To the blue lifts up her hills ; 



O, the beauty of no other 



Land so satisfies and thrills. 



O, the freshness of the morning! 



The radiant, happy noon ! 

 The flowers the fields adorning ! 



The wild bee's dreamy tune ! 



The blood-red holed madrona 



Flaunts gaily by the streams. 



And upon the rounded hilltops 



The live-oak glints and gleams. 



Hark ! A medley of bird voices. 

 Then all is hushed and mute ; 



Now a meadow lark rejoices. 

 Its throat a mellow flute. 



And when evening's shadowy fingers 

 Scatter dusk the vales adown. 



The golden sunlight lingers 

 Upon the hilltops brown. 



O, hear the quail's quick calling, 



"Come home, come home to rest," 



When the shades of night are falling 

 Over her hillside nest. 



Lo ! Through a canyon narrow, 

 Bright glows the twilight star, 



And the notes of a song sparrow 

 Sound softly from afar. 



A forester should stand the life in the woods like a tree, 

 and should stand the knocks in the mill like a log, 

 lest he go to waste like the culls. LaSal Salvo. 



A HOUSE CUT TO SAVE A TREE 



T N order to save the trees surrounding the Scanlan 

 home on Main Street, between Calhoun and Pierce 

 Avenues, it was necessary to divide a house being moved 

 from the old B. F. Bonner home at Main and Calhoun, 

 says the Houston Post. 



The case went into court before Judge Charles E. 

 Ashe, when the Scanlan estate sought an injunction to 

 prevent damage to the trees because of moving the 

 house. The only means of accomplishing this was to 

 divide the building. 



