The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-05-27
Auti- sl1puppalist.
rree planting in Minnesota.


There is little doubt that the subject
of tree-planting has excited general IN
terest throughout almost every section OF
the State, and particularly in those re-
eions where timber. of all the lavish gifts
of nature, is alone wanting. Now that the
practicabiity of the heretofore unsolvcd
problem of tree-planting upon the bleak
nrairies has been fully demonstrated ny
the energy and enterprise of the st. Paul
& Pacific Railroad Company, Main
Line) the people, not only along the line
of that road, but elsewhere, have AWAKEN
ed from their long lethargy, and are De-
stirring themselves to accomplish Dy IN
dividual exertion, what they are aware
has been most successfully done by cor
porate enterprise. As consequence, IN
manv sections, each and every land owner
in the treeless regions. has gone
into the business on his own hook.
The general interest thus excited Will
certainly be productive of immense bene'
fit to the State and in comparatively
brief period.
L. B. Hodges, the energetic Superinten-
dent of the Observation-Disclosures OF the
St. Paul & Pacific Company,-the gentle
man who is emphatically the parent OF
the system in this State, and has accomp-
lished more than any other man in de-
monstrating it's entire practicability-say
him as to the amount Of work done this
spring and elected the following facts
The farmers, Notwithstanding the unus-
sually cold spring. and other dispirltlng
circumstances, incident to the general de-
preston of Buses, have taken hold OF
the matter in dead earnest, and
in the regions along the main
line of the St. Paul and Pacific
have set out not less than 100000 young
trees this season. Last year they hesita-
ted about planting one thousand cuttings
Der man, but this spring many of them
became ssenthused' and set out at least
5000 young trees each. A sort of a gen
erous rivalry sprang up amongst them
and they Wed with each other as to who
should be declared to be the champion
planter in the neighborhood. Hart Bar
ton. son of Hon. Ara Barton, of North
field, Mr.. Hodges says, to his knowledge
set out on Saturday, the first inst, 9,72(
cuttings. And so with many others who
although planIInb d icoo HuiHO0A' WY A.'
less spirited and enthusiastic in ther
work.
The company, on Arbor day. planted
100000 young cuttings, and during
the season which closed on tn
18Th inst, not less than 100000. Mr.
Hodges further ventures the opinion
that in twenty years the now treeles
prairies of the State along the line of tn
St. Paul and Pacific Road will be the hes
timbered section of the State. Incredu
lous as this may now appear, the predie
ton is not at all improbable when W
take into consideration the present ten
per of the people of the prairies on tn
subject, the remarkable success which ha
thus far attended all experiments, tn
surprising rapidity and vigor of growt
of the young trees, and last but not leas
the fact that the timbered section is bein
daily but surely depleted to supply tn
increasing demands from all parts Of tn
State and elsewhere. Taking all thes
matters into consideration, the cencl.
sion of Mr.. Hodges is far from impro'
able.