j4ll too few people realize the importance of
our forests in North Carolina. Forestry in our
State is "big business.” North Carolina among
the first seven states in lumber production, and
that its volume of lumber produced during re
cent years has placed it fifth among all the states,
being surpassed only by the Pacific Coast and one
other southern state.
Mr. C. M. Douglas, Chairman of the Transyl
vania County Keep North Carolina Green Com
mittee, has issued a statement calling on all citi
zens of Transylvania County to exercise every pre
caution to prevent forest and brush fires during
the next few weeks.
March, April and May are the most dangerous
months of the year for forest fires. High winds,
which usually occur during this period, makes
every brush fire a potential inferno capable of
destroying thousands of dollars worth of growing
timber as well as homes and property.
Business and civic leaders of the county realize
that timberland owners are not the only persons
who suffer when forest resources are destroyed by
fire. Every loss burns a little larger hole in the
pocket of every citizen because just that much
of our county’s wealth is gone and cannot benefit
anyone.
Forest fires endanger our watersheds. Without
trees, leaves and undergrowth to hold back the
rainfall, we as well as other industries, would be
deprived of our controlled supply of water, w'hich
is essential to continuous operation.
Wood-using and wood-processing industries
have large investments in our county. They, in
addition to timberland owners, pay taxes to sup
port our schools, build roads, support our gov
ernment, and provide jobs for a lot of people. Their
ability to continue this contribution to our eco
nomic welfare is dependent upon a continuous
supply of forest resources. Let’s not permit forest
fires to curtail it—diet’s keep North Carolina
green!