The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-19
TIMBER CROPS l
 PAY DIVIDENDS.
New State Forester Urges De-
 velopment And Protection Of Forest Resources
(State Capital Bureau.)

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb. 1S.- Alabama's potential resources in tim, Der were stressed as an overlooked source of wealth to the citizens of the state by Major Page S. Bunker, state forester, Monday, discussing the work of the newly created position which he will fill. Major Bunker has been in Montgomery only few, days, having come from Texas, wherel he served as assistant state forester.
 Landowners of the state who Slight the timber possibilities of the nonagri- cultural acreage are neglecting, re- source that will bring them consider 9 able financial return in years to come he declared.
 By protecting such lands from fire and practicing simple forestry methods involving little expense" he, explained, there tracts will become very valu- able on account of their timber growth. Probably there is no place in the world where the accessible supply of valuable timber can be grown as rap idly and with as little cost as in the Southern pine region.
 "It is often thought" continued Major Bunker, that the growing of a timber crop is too much of long time investment, but when it is con sidered that the years must slip by anyway, it is well to let them add a constantly increasing value to natural forest lands, instead of letting such areas lie idle. The time required to grow timber crops is really much less than is popularly supposed, provided there is adequate fire protection"
 Post and pole timber can be ob- tained after a D. >riod of 10 to 15 years, which is also the case with mine tim bers, that, are greatly needed in Ala bama, Major Ban'.e stated. Filing and tie timber can be obtained in IS to 25 years. and saw log timber in 20 to 60 years, depending on the species, the forester stated.
 Convictions Are Reported.
 The following convictions were re- ported Monday to the state conserva- tion office: C. B. Coggin in Talladega county, and F. D. Steele in Conecuh, each fined $10 and costs for hunting without licenses.
 Cullman Man Qualities.
 The secretary of state received the qualification of w. l.. James of Gull man as candidate in the democratic primary of May 13 for nomination as Presidential elector of the Seventh dis trict. So far as officials of the state department were informed the Cullman man is the first to qualify for the post of Presidential elector from Ala bama.
 Investigating Prison Fire.
 InyeStira tiOn into the Flat Ton mina fire of last week in which four con- vcts lost their lives is being made in Birmingham Monday by Chester F. Johnson, state fire marshal, 1t was learned at the capitol.
 It is understood that the marshal was instructed to go to Birmingham for this information after confer ence with Governor Brandon in which the state executive stated that he wanted q full probe of the fire and its causes. Mir. Johnson left Sunday night.
 Before leaving he telesraphed to two deputy fire marshals, the oldess in the state in point of service, to meet him iu the Magic City, and assist in the probe. These deputies are G. k. Shaf- fer and H. w. Blake
 Harwell G. Davis, attorney general, wcs. also not at his office in the capi- tol Monday an. it was stated there that he had gone to Birmingham. It was likewise stated that the object of Major Davis in making his trip to the Magic CitJ was not an official one, but that he left on an invitation to make an address at memorial service conducted by the American Legion.