The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-01-22
THE GROWTH OF TIMBER.

49, F..
Few subjects are of greater import
ance to our prairie State than the growth
of timber. That timber can be grown
successfully and profitably has been fully
demonstrated IN Illinois aud other
states, Twenty-Five years from now
we oughtto have III Kansas ten acres OF
timber where there is one acre now
The subject is entirely feasible and prRc-
ticable, and will be of untold value to
the State. Leaving entirely out of the
question the value of the timber for
fnel and manufacturing purposes, the
value of the trees upon the climate, in
the generation of moisture the protec-
ton they afford FROM the severe storms
and extremes of heat and cold, would
amply pay for all the cost, time and la
Dor expended in growing them. The
growth Of groves of forest trees would
also add immensely to the beauty of
our State, and the scenery diversified
with little islands of trees scattered
over our plains and valleys and hills
would become the most attractive of
any to be found on this continent With
little effort and enterprise now, Kan
sas. in twenty-five years, viii become
not only the most productive, but the
most beautiful State in the Union. Trees
are natural rain breeders; this hiss been
proven in hundred instances. The
Cape de Verde Islands, so named from
their exec dinghy luxuriant and rich
foliage, have of late years been nearly
denuded of their immense forests, and
as a consequence the islands are blight
ed and blasted with long and protracted
droughts, where before this vandalism
upon the beautiful forests hid been
practiced, drought was not known.
Our State Legislature, appreciating the
great value arising from the growth of
forest trees, has offered liberal boun-
ty to tree growers. Section 1 of an act
approved February l5, 1856, reads as
follows: s5fa
every person planting one acre or
more of prairie 1aHd, within ten years
after the passage of this act, with any
kind of forest trees, and successfully
growing and cultivating tho same for
three years, or one half mile or more of
forest trees, along any public highway,
said trees to be so planted as to stand
at the end of said three years not more
than one rod apart, shall be entitled to
receive for twenty-five years, commence
ing three years alter said grove or line
of trees has been planted, an ANNUAL
bounty of two dollars per acre for each
acre so planted, to be paid out of the
treasury of the county in which said
grove or line of trees may be situated.
"The bounty to be paid so long as
said grove of trees are cultivated and
kept alive and in growing condition.
THAT the County Assessor shall not
assess lands planted and encumbered
with forest trees any higher than the
lands adjoining, on account of the land
being SO eIlcumbered."
Section 2 of an act to encourage the
growing of hedges and building of stone
fences, approved February 20, 1857,
reads as follows;
''That any person planting an Usage
or hawthorn fence, or who shall build
of stone q fence of the hight of four
and .one-half feet, around any field,
within ten years from the passage of
this act, and successfully growing and
cultivating the same, or keeping up said
fence until it successfully resists stock,
shall receive an annual bounty of two
dollars for each forty rods so planted
and cultivated, or built and kept mp;
the bounty to commence as soon as said
fence will entirely turn cattle, and to
continue for eight years thereafter.
Said bounty to be paid from the treas
ury of the county in which said fence
may be situated"
With such liberal bounties for the
growing of forest trees and hedges, and
the speedy returns to be gathered there
from, there ought to be 4 more general
growth of timber in this State. Every
farmer should have at least twenty five
acres of young timber growing, and no
one should allow another season to pass
without having commenced the good
Work.-LnICfence Journal.