New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-28
FORESTRY.

L TVhE6VhIs
The following paper was read before tn
American Institute Farmers Club, on tn
second instant, by Colonel D. A. Robertson
Of Minnesota:
During the last twenty years the flow o
emigration from Europe and the olde
States of the Union to the fertile prairies O
the Northwest, stimulated by annually in
creasing numbers and lines Of competins
steamships and railways, has been without
parallel i'll the history Of American COLOMBIA
ton.
The people of the prairie States Obtain
their chief supply OF lumber from tbs pine
forests of tho Northwest and Canada. The
lower Mississippi States also depend upon
the same sources for their supply. The de-
mand throughout the Mississippi valley ID
rapidly increasing, the supply yearly di
minishing, great scarcity impending, and
exhaustion is rapidly approaching. No time
should be lost by the governments of the
Union and Western States in providing
the Northwestern pine forests, AZ well
as for extensive tree-grOwing on the
plains and prairies. Emigration to the
West has already reached the limits of sue
cessful agriculture. The vast region be.
yond, stretching westward to the Rocky
Mountains, must continue almost unculti-
waited and destitute of civilized population
90 long as it remains q treeless waste.
The growing of trees over this whole re-
gion would be quite practicable, if protected
from the fires which annually Overrun its
surface. Wherever the fires are proven ted
upon the prairies trees grow spontaneously.
But upon the plains the prevention Of fires
will not be sufficient to make successful
agriculture possible. The atmosphere is too
dry. For want of trees the plains are desti-
tute of springs, and have few streams or
bodies of water Irrigation will be necessary
until forests sufficient to secure the necessary
supply and distribution Of rains shall have
become established. A considerable supply
of water for irrigation may be obtained by
means of ordinary wells, with wind mill
pumps. but the Chief reliance must be on
artesian wells. There is no doubt that an
abundant supply may be procured from
this source. The experiment has al.
ready been sufficiently tried to prom
Use success. A well organized system of
artesian wells may be sufficient to attract
q large emigration to the plains,
and with other announcements, lead to
their rapid settlement, and extensive tree
planting upon every quarter section Of land
thereby irrigated. While the condition
preceaent necessary to successful settle
ment of the plains is the boring OF arts sian
wells, this can not be done by private enter
prise. 1t must be accomplished by the
general government the owner OF the
anus. HoVern0r Campoeil, OF wyoming.
states mat tine Union Pacific railroad
nave Gemonstrated the Feasibility and prac-
Iicaonty Vi securing q supply OF water,
sven upon our most elevated plateaus, by
means Of artts an wells The management
has commenced several artesian wells in
his Territory, ranging in deDth from 326 tn
,i4o Ieee' a. an average cost OF 30 81 per
oo1i cacn VI sheso weils furnishes an
'nPio supply OF pure water, varying In
luan,,ty from oooo 10 2loo gallons per |
'o W1;
r neneVer, on our plains, as on the deserts |
u ASIA anu A1ilca' water Is brought to the |
urlaco, tnoro soon appears abundant and
1xurlant veeetalion; For some years past |
=. no sovor ana o.. VI france mas had corps
ian wells IN the deserts Of the Algerian |
'anara; ana with the most gratifying sue
ess. Hacn Oh THESE wells soon becomes the |
onuo VI al oasis VI PAIN Trees and other |
okoSa':on, anu tnat eguai ana even greater |
conomioal results Will follow like expert |
uen'e upon our western plains there Is no |
eason W uoups.
!, mere ~ sunclent osta 1or the opinion
l = W 1uo.o piaine' as wen as the pralrles OF
100 nu 10; =, oaes' were once covered with
ba sn wni04 were graduaiiy destroyed by
make these plains equal to our best agri-
ui.utai iauos anu Inc seat OF many opu |
s anu p"Puious states Is irrigation and
~ plan.hg OF Trees; Ihe agricultural
siue VI tnese piains, when they shall have
zen 30 reclaimed Ia cumprehended' by
cry .ew o. our people; The causes OF this
fee!ess Aliolty, wnich nave been operating
- ~, many oenturies' nave enriched their
WI WIN III nteoed 1ertllizing elements.
no annual recurrence OF long, hot, rain
3 go 'oasonS' p:euuoang excessive evapOra-
.oh, mas raised from great depths
-, '"9 Suliace tne Salts and alkalis
.eu III SuiShates and pbosphOrates,
, n .S arc emoresced upon the surface
tno ory season. ana deposited during the
LILY eoaeol ~ the upper and sub-soil,
no.o :r ~ swaN Inc coming husbandman, to
GU, u'ii1 ~. IN tne growing OF abundant
Ups Auoso SOILS OF the plains contain
Ioeueu Ieru1izer except water. They
70 rlcn IN car6onaceOus mold from the
ou"y "a .Gvs anu leaves OF plants, and
Ippneu WIN All tne essential minerals, in
-, a0, . snoA, " como ne with the potash,
40 P'yuuos VI centuries OF fires. Out of
,I Ii s, .Io roos Oh tne grasses and cereals
~ h.S sincate OF potash to glaze
"a. IuoiF stems and stalks and
b..at ."oeo pialns must become vast
~ t uouo' So"cient 70 supply the world
Srs,aa.;
=. D OTo;. Tree culture upon our West
y, ~. p, .han, 's necessary. not only to pre-.