The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-04-11
Stronger Punishment For Offenders
Advocated As Woods Burning Curb

Closer cooperation between
citizens and county officers in
the experimenting and prosecu-
ton Of persons deliberately set.
ting fire to wood lands and me
chanization Of forest fire fight
ing equipment emerged as two
answers TO Jackson county's
woods burning problem at a
meeting MONDAY at the court
house in Pascagoula.
The meeting was held before
the county Board OF Supervisors
and attending were representa-
tives Of the major wood land
owners Of the county, as well
IS a large group Of representa-
tives farmers and small land
owners.
Representing the State Fores-
try Commission were State For
ester Albert a Leggett; his as
sistant, Lee c. Sessions; j. b.
Brown, district forester; M. B.
Parsons, district ranger, and f.
G. Hodges, area ranger.
Following a lengthy discussion
Of the problem 1t was decided
to call a similar meeting in the
fail of this year when detailed
plans would be laid for combat
ing the fire menace through en-
forcemeni of fire laws and bet
ter handling of fire equipment.
Charges we're made thet in nu-
merous instances that the For
estry Commissions fire profec-
ton service in the county is i'm
adequate, but these charges we're
denied by Mr.. Legett who cited
figures to show that jackson
county received more than its
proportionate share Of the two
cent acreage tax earmarked for
forest protection service.
jackson Problem" County
Jackson has long been a prob
lem county. Mr.. Legett said,
with a large portion OF the burn
ing being done by individuals
who deliberately set fire to wood
lands for various reasons.
j, /, Ford cited figures to
show that fires in jackson coun-
tv during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1945, covered an aver
age of al acres per fire, while
the state average amounted to
only 33,46 acres per fire, giving
Jackson county approximately
twice the state average. The
same condition prevailed in prior
years, he said.
j. II. Laird of the Internation-
81 Paper Company, said that fire
damage in the eompany's hold
ings had dropped to three per
cent this year from 10 per cent
last year. However, A. }. Frank
lin, county farm agent, said that
in his estimation the burning
this year was the worst in many
years, with approximately 40 to
so per cent of the woods area
in northeast jackson county be
ing buried over. The section West
of Pascagoula river did not suf-
fer as badly. he said.
c. L. Dees and J. A. Ramsay
of Vancleave both told of fires
in their section and added their
belief that fire standby crews
and fire fighting crews were in
adequate. +. A. Khayat, presi.
dent of the Chamber of Com
merce, cited the shortage of
equipment and low salaries paid
for fire standby crews as the
basis Of the inadequacy, while
r.. II. Ware of V%nncleave also
told of the inadequacy of the
fire guards.
Walter Lowrey of near Wade
told of specific instances of see
ing horseback riders setting fire
to woodlands, and of following
them in one instance and de-
tecting the act. He said punish
ment melted out to offenders
was inadequate in view OF the
fact that the law allowed the as
sessment of fines up to $500 and
three months in TAIL.