Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-06-05

the water in the earth toward the water
above the earth to the same point.
The current, rising over forest, lifts
the atmosphere, and other atmosphere
must come in to take its place, thus
bringing the atmosphere, moisture,
clouds, from all points toward the forest
and often causing a storm center to be
organized.
Kansas is more interested in this sub
ject than any other state, for, unless the
area Of forest is greatly extended, the hot
winds and drouth will certainly return
and depopulate portions of the west, and
especially the southwest part of the state.
Now is the time to extend these forests
while there is rain enough to make the
trees grow. Don't be deceived about the
rainfall continuing to increase; it will
not do so unless man does his part. The
laws of nature have been giving western
Kansas rain period, but that rain
period will cease unless the number of
trees is very largely increased Pref
Foster tn LeaUeuNorth Times.
It has been several weeks since we
culled the above gem for the purpose of
copying it. The last two paragraphs are
what concern western Kansas most close
ly. What precedes them is either histor-
ical or plausible. When Mr.. Foster de-
clares that, unless the area of (our) for
ests is greatly extended, the hot winds
and drouth will certainly return and de-
populate portions of the West,'' the
World can applaud him to the echo.
The danger of failure in this direction
lies in the almost total lack of organiza-
ton looking to the execution of this plan.
The plan is proper. No one denies this.
The same might be said truthfully of
myriads of other plans which never have
been matured. In the very nature of
existing oond,tions, it is unreasonable to
put into more than the merest partial ex-
ecution the plan of Prof. Foster looking
to the extending of ''these forests while
there is rain enough to make the trees
grow"
And why do we speak thus of existing
conditions? For the purpose of doing
the country an injury? Yes, presuma-
bly,, If Christ meant to iniure the world
by calling upon sinners to better their
condition! But no! The trouble with
extending the forest area in western
Kansas to keep pace with the demands
in the way of improved conditions of
rainfall for the purpose of agriculture is
two-fold:
l. The buffalo-grass sod prevents the
easy growing of trees even under favor
able conditions.
2. Our conditions for the growing of
timber are unfavorable, because of the
almost complete absence of home nur-
series and practical instruction touching
the question of varieties of trees and
nature of soils and elevations, as viewed
from the standpoint of the timber grower.
The solution of this knotty problem
lies, then, in the Kansas legislature Civ
ing to western Kansas two free state
nurseries. In this manner, all the miner
details, which not only affect, but con-
troll, the growing of timber in western
Kansas can be arranged to the great
profit of the people of western Kansas
and the saving of tax money by those in
central and eastern Kansas.
II every newspaper in western Kan
sas will set itself to the work of creating
local sentiment in favor of the passage of
bill the coming winter looking to the
creation of these nurseries, we will guar
antee the success of the effort, and the
happiness of the people which will be
the result.