FoKEST Fires and their Prevention. 43 



would reach a million dollars. jSTot only this, but a loss of five human 

 lives was caused directly by these same fires, which were in large part 

 due to carelessness, and might and should have been prevented. 



In 1909 the damage from forest fires amounted to several hundred 

 thousand dollars, and every year it is much the same, and w^ill continue 

 to be the same until N'orth Carolinians wake up and take some active 

 steps to stop this destruction. 



There is pressing need for more effective laws to protect the forests 

 from fires resulting both from the railroads and from individuals. Such 

 laws when enacted must have the support of the people, or they can not 

 be efficiently enforced. What is needed in this as in other lines of busi- 

 ness is education. The timber crop is second only in importance to the 

 cotton crop in North Carolina, and occupies ten times the acreage of 

 that staple, yet there is not one school or college in the State in which 

 even elementary forestry is taught. Is it any wonder that the people 

 show such indifference to forest destruction? A more general interest 

 in forest protection must be aroused and more definite knowledge of 

 practical forestry methods imparted to both the young and the older> 

 citizens of the State, and this can best be done, by teaching the princi- 

 ple of forestry in our schools and colleges. 



