The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-05-20
THE DzFECT AND THE REMEDY.

Il HE DES AsD iNG
One of the greatest obstacles thrown
in the way OF Kansas becoming lead
ing manufacturing state is its lack OF
timber suitable for manufacturing pur-
poses. No manufactures of wagons,
agricultural implements, barrels, farni-
ture, and many other articles OF which
there is an enormous demand through
out the country, can at present help
swell the population of Kansas cities
and towns, simply because Nature has
been sparing Of its gifts Of suitable tim
her in our otherwise greatly favored
State. The richest and most prosper
Gus communities of the world are manu-
featuring peoples. Kansas hopes to be-
come chief among the chiefs, and con-
forming to her motto will wade through
AL difficulties to the achievement Of the
chef rank in the constellation of States.
Now how can she overcome the obsta-
Gle which partially prevents her being
world.and the possession Of that which
places many other States above her in the
roll Of grandeur, prosperity and wealth.
We firmly believe that the obstacle can
be overcome in 4 few short years by pa
ucnco and labor, and by following the
plaza which we here mark out and which
cannot by any means be considered
dreamy nor utopian.
Oar idea is to plant The maple, the
hick orv, the bass, and other scriceable
woods for manufacturing, in our Kansas
sofia soil as good tor tree growing as
any under the sun. Tree growing thus
far IN Kansas has only been rcsortcd TO
~ "A pastime. Ii has never been made
a study and regarded as a science, as has
been the culture Of wheat, corn and the
vegetables. Thc tree has been planted,
and then /" left TO take care Of itself. -
1t dies for the want Of care. The soil
is not the cause of its sudden demise
When people can see that their wallets
may become plethoric by raising trees
aud selling them to tho manufacturer
then will they give to it the same watch
ful care as their fields. The tree fail
ure " may happen as does the "crop
failure" but" try again will apply in
both cases.
A few short years has been Time suf-
ticient to develop many a sapplng III
this country TO the proportions ola tree
lit TO make good firewood and rails. A
few years more growth will make ii
ready for the manufactures, provided II
as tho kind Of wood he can use.
All over the world tho alarm is sound
cd that the forests are rapidly disappear
ing, and the remedy proposed is "to
plant trees" Kansas can commence
with other countries ia this good work
and be behind none in furnishing lum-
Der TO the manufacturer.
We can SEQ no reason why the pine
may not grow thrilllly upon our hills
which arc not suitable for agriculture
If the tree is set ont at the proper seas /
on and carefully attended TO afterwards. !
After il has once taken root it does not
easily perish.
Kansas may become leading manu-
featuring State, and tree gro ~ing will
be of the utmost Importance IN bringing
her to that position. The time is TO
come (aud we believe that time Is not
far distant), when the farmer of Kansas
will have his twenty or forty-acro wood
lot from which hickory, maple, oak,
walnut, ash, bass and Pine logs viii be .
hauled to the manufacturer. The world |
must have moro trees and raising them /
will be an important industry of future
Kansas.