the Governor's support, but 
it failed. However, there was 
a law enacted requiring the 
State Board of Education to 
provide instruction in fire 
prevention in South 
Carolina's public elementary 
schools. In spite of an 
address to the legislature by 
Forest Service Chief William 
E. Greeley in 1924, no law 
was enacted. 
The year 1925 was no better, 
but the effort finally 
succeeded in 1927. The bill 
was passed without 
appropriations to avoid a 
threatened veto by the 
Governor. A forestry 
commission was appointed 
and functioned with its 
chairman, Horace L. 
Tilghman, providing 
necessary funds from his 
personal account. The 
legislature was embarrassed 
into a $4,000 appropriation 
in 1928, and Lewis E. Staley 
became State Forester June 
18, 1928. 
Education was of first priority, 
and by taking over an 
abandoned nursery at Camp 
Jackson, South Carolina 
began providing seedlings 
for reforestation right away. 
Staley was successful in 
getting the cooperation and 
24 
support of several large 
landowners in developing 
his fire-control plans, 
including investments by 
them in equipment, fire lines, 
and other prevention and 
suppression activities 
(Widner 1968). 
Arkansas 
Arkansas was the last of the 
Southern States to establish 
the office of State Forester. 
Throughout the 1920's, there 
had been increasing concern 
about protection from fire 
and reforestation of cutover 
lands. In 1924 an honorary 
forestry commission had 
been formed, and its 
secretary, Dr. Alexander C. 
Miller, lectured on forest 
conservation in the schools 
and at many public 
organization meetings. In 
October 1928, a group was 
able to get forestry on the 
agenda of the annual South 
Arkansas Chamber of 
Commerce meeting, along 
with the usual agricultural 
and industrial items. As an 
outgrowth of that meeting, 
the Arkansas Forest 
Protection Association was 
formed with strong industry 
leadership and the goals of 
establishing a State forestry 
