The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-02-06

ton.
: But there is still another gres
!, and powerful agency, aside froI
those above referred to, and whic
: greatly aids and accellerates tn
changes which are distined, ult
mately, to transform this mythics
desert into an earthly paradise
, We refer to the steady and irresis
} table tide of immigration that i
flowing in from every quarter O
the habitable globe. The stroni
arm of the husbandman is to &C
complish very important part il
in this great work. Thousands o
acres of this rich soil are annually
being broken up and exposed tt
the action of the elements of ma
ture. By Him millions of forest
trees are annually planted ont
By Him the ravages of the fir'
that for ages has destroyed every
green shrub that CHANGED to lie il
its way, will be preserved anG
soon grow into dense forests.
There are many other agencies
which aid in affecting changes in
the seasons, such as the construct.
ing oErailroads and other public
thoroughfares, the digging of ca.
nails, bitches, DC. These however
are of minor Importance when
compared with the three former
agencies mentioned, viz: the re-
cedeing of the wild buffalo, the
tilling of the soil, and the cult
walton of forests.
We believe that in addition to
the so-called timber act passed
last winter, and which provides
that all who plant and keep in
cultivation for ten years forty
acres of timber shall have a patent
for one hundred and sixty acres,
there should be additional legisla.
ton, and of much more liberal
character, such as would be cal
culated to encourage immigration
and settlement on the lands. In
the first place, the late timber act,
referred to, should be so amended
as to make it more available to
the poor man, and calculated to
induce thousands during the COM
ing year, to emigrate from every
quarter of the habitable globe and
and settle on these rich lands.
The Homestead and Presumption
acts should he so amended that
no occupant of the public lands
could obtain 4 full title to the
same, until there should be GER
tain per. centage put under a good
state of cultivation, and thus more
favorably exposed to the ele-
ments of nature; and an addition
al per centage planted to fruit and
forest trees. The Importance of
the agencies above referred to, and
of their immediate adoption and
obvious to the most casual obser-
yer, who has resided in the coun-
try for any considerable length of
time.
AS an illustration of these facts,
we would state that we have a
farm in the midst of the so-called
American Desert" which but
four years ago had as much of the
desert appearance perhaps as any
portion of the country. The wild
buffalo ar that time roved in count
less multitudes in that vicinity,
and the broad plains were almost
destitute of any vegetation except
the short buffalo grass. Now,
behold the change? In the place
of this buffalo grass the bluejoint,
as high as q mans head, and fields
of golden grain grow luxurantly
and produce abundantly. Shady
groves are beginning to beautify
the treeless plains, causing the
desert to rejoice and blossom a:
the rose. Some of these groves
only four years old, have tree!
from fifteen to eighteen feet high
The increas, of rainfall has beer
exactly in proportion to the sup
ply of favorable circumstances a.
above indicated. All of this, be i
remembered, so far as the allow
locality is concerned, has been &C
complished in the brief period o
about three years. What nigh
we not then expect within tn
next five years, with the aid o
prompt and liberal legislation OF
the part of the government 70
. this special end. We answer i
would not be ten years before
E good proportion of these broad
: plains would be covered wit
/ beautiful forests, shady groves
l and orchards of luscious fruit
presenting an appearance NOR
Y grand and beautiful than the Al
q lists pencil can paint, or the poet
8 pen describe. Its equal in exten
: and beauty could not be foun
d upon the face of the green eartl
, 1t has been proven beyond 4 dout
It that every tree commonly foun
e in this latitude will thrive her
If and many kinds even better tina
Y in other localities. AS to the so
b that has long since been settles
= We have, on an average, as goo
Of if not a better soil, than can, /
ID found in so large body on tt
y face of the habitable globe. The
lie is included in this broad expan
8 of country an area of no less thi
a. four hundred millions of acres
it land, extending from the Britt
ht possessions on the north, to t
al Indian Territory and New Mexi
of on the south, and from the base
re the Rocky Mountains eastwa
ed from four to six hundred mill
as Here we have q tract of count
he sufficient in extent, and abunda