1-i KOKKST KIKES IX NOKTII CAROLIXA. 



and tliis is corroborated by the various newspaper accounts of the fires. 

 This interpretation, however, is not borne out by figures of cost to pri- 

 vate individuals, who are reported to have spent less money than during 

 the previous year in fighting fires and considerably less than the average 

 amount. The incompleteness of the reports is responsible for this appar- 

 ent contradiction. For example, a devastating fire occurred in the north- 

 ern parts of Camden and Gates counties at the end of July, which was 

 not mentioned in the voluntary reports, yet large i^rivate expense was 

 incurred in efforts to control it. The Xew Bern Journal says: 



".Several hundred men have been rushed to the scene by the Richmond 

 Cedar Works. John L. Roper Company, and Camp Manufacturing Company, 

 principal owners of the timber in the forest tract, to light the spread of the 

 lire. All operations in near-by camps were susi>ended by the Cedar Works 

 Company yesterday and 150 men rushed to the lire on special trains." 



It seems safe to assume, from all indications, that the people are 

 rapidly becoming more actively opposed to forest fires, and that their 

 changed attitude is already having some effect. Yet there is much to be 

 done by Worth Carolinians, both as private landowners and as citizens 

 of a sovereign State. In the former role there is a large field of useful- 

 ness in the practice of cooperative fire protection, Avhile in the latter 

 capacity one of the first duties is to spread a knoAvlcdge of and respect 

 for the State forestry laws. 



ORGANIZED FIRE PROTECTION. 



That organized fire protection, whether private, as was recently prac- 

 ticed on the Biltmore estate, or cooperative, as is now being worked out 

 in Virginia, Kentucky, and other States, or governmental, L e.. State 

 and Federal, can be successfully practiced in ]!^orth Carolina is being 

 demonstrated afresh on and near the National Forests in the western 

 part of the State. ISlot only have the local forest officers extinguished 

 many fires on the lands under their cluiriie, but they have fought fires on 

 surrounding lands Avitli tlie primary object of preventing their spread to 

 the jSTational Forests. 



Two extracts taken fi-oni the State press show the importance of hav- 

 ing experienced men in the neighborhood who can organize and lead fire- 

 fighting forces, who know exactly Avhat to do, and have the authority to 

 go ahead and do it. Speaking of a Buncombe County fire, occurring in 

 Jaiuiai-y, one newspaper says: 



"The fire started near midnight Friday night and had gained great headway 

 before the alarm was si)read and the corps was organized to tight it. All the 

 aviiil;il)l(' men in tlic Md.JMccnt tcrritoi-y were organized niidei- the direction of 



