The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-05-08
SCARCITY OF TIMBER NO VALID OBJ.
@ JECTION TO KANSAS.

We frequently hear the scarcity OF
timber in Kansas presented as the prom
inent, and In fact, the only objection
to the country, by persons prospecting
the State with view of future location.
The soil, the climate, the water, the
stone, and all other natural advantages
cannot fail, and do not fail to please.
But the scarcity of timber, particularly
to those who hail from well-timbered
countries, is presented as a very decided
objection, and frequently deters the
party from purchasing lands and re-
moving their family to our State.
For the benefit of those who have
not considered the subject beyond the
simple fact that timber, in many To-
calities, Is scarce, we propose to discuss
the matter more fully. The uses for
which the farmer needs timber are for
building, fencing and fuel.
For building the walls Of our houses
and for fencing, we have, as substitute
for timber, the best quality of stone in
abundance, on almost every quarter Sec
ton in the State, which if properly
laid up, makes most excellent fence;
and in the end much cheaper fence
than could be made and kept in repair,
even in a timbered country. In ad-
dition to this, the Usage orange grows
AOSI Unity III AduSdS, dllu any idILucI,
by the expenditure of few dollars for
seed, and a very few days of labor, can
have, in three years, fence in all re-
spects very greatly superior to any rail
or board fence that can be made.
This, then, reduces the demand for
timber to the simple article of fuel in
localities where coal cannot be had at
reasonable rates. Let us now see how
much disadvantage results from this.
There are but few localities in the State
where fuel will cost more than five dol
lars per cord, and almost everywhere it
lean be had at much less. About
twelve cords of wood will abundantly
supply any farmers Eamily for one year,
which, at the highest price, will cost, say
sixty dollars, sum about equal in value
to the crop of corn that can be grown
on two acres of land. Now, we would
as soon plant and cultivate two acres Of
land in corn, as to chop and haul twelve
cords of wood? We think the differ
ence in the expenditure of time and Ia
Dor would be slight, or if anything, it
would be in favor of growing the corn.
But this is not all in this or any other
prairie country, it is difficult to find a
quarter section supplied with timber,
even to very limited extent, that has
not on it also many acres of rocky,
rough and uncultivated lands, the use OF
which, for general agricultural purpo-
SEES, is lost to the owner. Hence, our
the smooth prairie farm over the rough
and sparsely timbered quarter.
But it may be objected that the short
supply of fuel is every year growing
shorter, and that in few years its mar
ket value may be greatly increased.
This may, to some extent, be true, but
we have cheap remedy for this CEN
tingency clearly within the reach of ev-
cry farmer in the State. We were
shown, few days ago, number of
cottonwood trees growing on farm
adjoining the west line of the city, that
had been planted but nine years. These
trees, it is safe to say, would now aver
age each, for any ordinary farm house,
abundance of fuel for at least one week.
These trees were planted ten feet apart,
and at that distance 435 of them would
grow ON one acre, and furnish. at nine
years old, present supply of fuel for
more than eight years. Add to this the
growth of trees during the time the
grove was being cut over, and the fact
that the sprouts from the stumps, thin
ned out so as to produce the largest
growth, would furnish more fuel in five
years than they had produced in the
previous nine, and the fact that plant
alton of no more than one acre would
furnish any farm of160acres with album
dance of fuel for all time to come, is
clear.
If any one doubts the capacity of one
acre to furnish the requisite supply, let
them plant two, three or four acres, as
the expense of time and labor is mat
ter of very small moment. These groves,
too, can be located near the residence of
the farmer, and will be ornamental as
well as useful, furnish at the same time
an excellent arbor for birds, and shell
ter for stock, &C., sc.
If any one objects to cottonwood for
fuel, let them plant soft maple, which
will grow almost as rapidly, and pro-
duce in the given time, perhaps, an
equal supply Of fuel. In the vicinity OF
large towns, such as Lawrence, Leven-
worth, Topaka, &C., farmer could not,
perhaps, appropriate ten or twelve
acres of his lands to a more profitable
use than in growing timber, to say moth
ing of the establishment of his lands,
and the propagation of birds, the great
friends of the farmer.-lNills' Real ES-
tate Paper, Topeka.