The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-05-11
CONGREGATION WAS THE
RESULT OF A CONSPIRACY
OCALA NATIONAL FOREST UNDOUBTEDLY
SET BY AN ORGANIZED BAND OF INCENDIARIEs

Following is the official report on
the great fire that ragged for eight
days in the forest reserve across the
river. The Star has printed reports
of this fire from day to day, but of a
necessity said reports had many in
accuracies. There has been no op-
portunity for any member of the
Stars staff to visit the afflicted terri
tory, nor could we have told much
about it if he had. Not even an avis.
tor flying over the reserve could have
estimated closely the extent of the
fire, as the smoke would have OBJ
much for his obtaining a close view.
Probably the officers in charge of the
long, fierce struggle had an idea of
the scope and direction of the differ
ent blasts of flame, but they had no
time to send out messages.
This fire. has been a great misfor-
tune. 1t has depleted the already
failing supply of timber, caused heavy
loss to government and state, and to
our county most of all. The people
who started it should be run down
and sent to the penitentiary, and un-
less we are much mistaken they will
be. Following is the
Official Account
The gigantic forest fires which
ragged during the most of last week on
the Ocala division of the Florida Ma
tional Forest, 20 miles east of Ocala,
have been stopped. When the fires,
started on Sunday. May 1st, and on
Monday, May End, gained great head
way, it was the general opinion of
settlers that only a rain could put
them out and that if it did not rain
within few days the entire scrub,
some 250,000 acres in extent would be
burned out.
Forest service officers quickly as
sembled fire fighting crews and di-
rected the work with the result that
less than one-half the scrub was
Du1HCu n CdIG1uI NdCCD
the area burned at 100000 acres,
$4,000 of which are national forest
land Some 1000 or 5000 acres of
state lands were burned There re-
mains approximately 100000 acres of
government land unburned. The only
aid rendered by the elements was in
the form of heavy dew which fell
during one night of the fire. Except
for this, the climatic conditions Were
most adverse. it being extremely dry
and every day was windy.
The fires burned with fierce inten-
sity and great rapidity. The destruc-
tion wrought is complete; over thou
sands and thousands of acres not a
live tree remains. In all except the
thinnest stands the flames leaped
high above the tops of the trees. A
fire set at p. m. Monday covered a
distance of 10 miles by night. The
roar of it could be heard for several
miles. Many game animals. foxes, rae
ceons and rabbits were found dead in
it's path.
The fires were the result of a ma
liciously conceived and brazenly exc
cuted plan to destroy the game, graz
ing and timber resources of the ma
tional forest. Not content with the
havoc being wrought by fires started
on one part of the forest Sunday, and
which were being fought by every
spirators went to distant part of the
forest and set other fires which quick
ly assumed enormous proportions and
which in the end caused greater dam
age than did the ones set the day be-
fore. The law-abiding citizens of the
communities adjacent to the forest
are highly incensed and every aid is
being extended the federal authori-
ties to the end that every guilty per-
son be brought to speedy and full
justice. 1t is expected that an end
will be put to such high-handed law.
lessness.
1t is estimated that the fires have
destroyed 100000 cords of sand pine
wood. While this material has but
little commercial value at this time
it will no doubt be but a few years
until it will be badly needed. Befort
the fires the forest service was in
touch with paper manufacturers will
a view of interesting them in the
establishment of a plant on the ma
tional forest. A limited amount Of
sand pine is now used for the manu-
facture of boxes. buckets, crates, etc
Such uses are certain to increase
The rapidly expanding citrus anc
truck industry of Florida will max,
ever heavier and heavier demands
upon the forests of the state. If loca
material is not available the indus
tries will face serious handicap.
In considering the effect of the re
cent fires it is necessary to have il
mind the 35 per cent of the gross re
ceipts of national forests go to tn,
support of roads and schools of tn
counties within which the forest i