Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-02
Forestry on the Plains.

fUieSiis vi tie fldiaS,
The following excellent address was de-
iyered before the Farmers institute, at
Winfield, Kansas, By J. F. Martin:
I have selected but two topics for
present consideration:
l. The governments duty In regard to
forestry on the plains. That the unbroken
forest is only suited to be the home of the
savage, and the treeless plains to the
nomadic tribes, at best they viii not
sustain dense population or develop and
sustain high state of civilization, are
well-admitted truths. The great ques-
tons now being considered by econo-
mists are, what can be done to prevent
the distractions of the American forests.
How can they be restored when this de-
struction has already gone too far? And
what best to do to secure a timber
growth on the plains?
In the discussion of the problems,
vital principles are involved, and, if justly
solved, will bring blessings co-extensive
with the race of man. The general gov
eminent has made some feeble efforts to
secure tree planting on the plains? These
efforts have been feeble, from perhaps
two causes: Lack of interest in the sub
ject, and want of knowledge as to the
means to be used in its accomplishment
2. What has been done? Congress in
passing the timber act says a person may
occupy one hundred and sixty acres of
land, of the treeless domain, and by
planting and caring for forty acres of the
same in forest trees, for term of eight
years, he shall have a deed for the same
The further acts pertaining to this matter
are to force compliance with the con-
ditions of the law. Is not this about all ?
To the unInfOrmed as to the difficulties
in the way, the legal inducements are i'm
portant and usually are highly
esteemed by the homeless in the over
crowded eastern states and countries OF
Europe. Add to these inducements the
monthly and bi-annual reports Of the
state board OF agriculture OF Kansas,
showing the wonderful resources OF the
state, and the rapid development of our
material interests, and the pictorial rail
road advertisements, frequently over
drawn, which are scattered lavishly ev-
erywhere and the impression is too ire
quently made that ours is an Ell Dorado
land; a bonanza, to be had by simply
coming and occupying it. tits not known,
or considered, at least-the difference be-
tween eastern and western Kansas, and
that practical knowledge of the sur
rounding conditions is a matter that must
be learned by every settler, that of trees,
plants and grain, that were grown with
success in the east, some will partially
succeed and others totally fail; conse-
quently in many instances the settler
sooner or later after expending his cash
capital and much hard labor, finds he has
not succeeded, gets discouraged and
abandons his claim, which is too soon
used by cattlemen for pasture. The set
tiers on timber claims are, in one sense,
agents, and should be so regarded, of the
government to aid in timbering the
prairies, and they should be fully in
structed and otherwise aided, if need be,
that they may not fail. 1t is somewhat
humiliating to our intelligent American
to confess that our government, and even
our own state, have very unsatisfactory
means of giving a list of trees suitable to
plant in the western part of the state
Every settler finds that he is cropping his
way in the dark, and that his neighbors
are in no more fortune than himself. Is
not this pitiable state of affairs? A ma
ton that could subdue mighty rebellion,
liberate four millions of slaves, and
shoulder with perfect ease debt of four
billions of dollars, is powerless to tell
pioneer what, how or where to plant
tree, that it may become a monarch of
the future forests. What giant child!
Individual effort in experimenting has
given many valuable lessons, and local
gathering and disseminating these facts,
but the work is scarcely commenced.
The general government should establish
at once forestal school by liberal APP
preparations, and wisely connected with
forestal experimental stations. In the
meantime our own state, through her
legislature, should step forward in the
line of duty to her citizens, present and
prospective, and make an annual appro-
priation of not less than $1,000, that one
or more experimental stations may be
maintained.
Let the directing power be under the
control of our state agricultural college,
but the appropriation be expended most
" in one or more stations other than the
college farm. The state board of agricul-
ture would act wisely and Justly in en-
larging its field of usefulness, while using
the valuable information it collects and
and disseminates, in inducing emigration
to the state, that it may also inform these
emigrants that il they settle on the pub
lie or railroad lands of extreme western
Kansas. they need not expect to make
money In growing corn and wheat, that
at present at least, grass is king. To tell
them in word what they may not try to
do as well as what may be done to make
them prosperous and happy in their new
home.
Such information the enigrant needs
to know, that he may not be compelled to
pay the costIy price of experience by re-
peating unsuccessful experiments so
tried by those who preceded
him. No individual organization, or cor
poration, is justiiable in misguiding the
and coufding emigrant I
am aware that DR.. Houyh and others, OPP
Grating under the forestal bureau, as we'll
as many public citizens, have done iuval-
liable service in disseminating facts in
regard to forestry, and thus created a
great interest in the subject, yet this
knowledge is too much of general
nature to be OF much benefit to the In
planter, especially If the
planter is located on the plains Definite
facts, plenty OF them, plainly seated, are
what he wants and what he must haze
through some agency, before success can
be assured. In no way can these facts be
gathered to better advantage than by ex-
perimental stations and schools OF for
estry. Their importance is being recog-
mixed, and their necessity should be urged
upon the proper authority pntil action -