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 



