Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-09-29


No one had taken it up with conf
dence and courage. At the legisla.
tive session Of 1887 we were a mem.
Der. By dint OF incessant applica-
ton, we were, to the general sur.
prise of the most of the members
successful in existing enough helf
to pass the present forestry law.
Now, after the forestry ball has
been set in motion, much aid is vol.
unteered by journals in the Missouri
valley. We are thankful for this
assistance. 1t will help to crystal,
ize public sentiment upon the great
est of all questions connected with
the material development Of western
Kansas.
The Kansas City Lire Stock Mdi-
Gator of this week has this to say:
The subject of tree-planting on the
Great American Desert, as means
of redeeming that extensive terrific
ry from its usually barren nature,
and making it more inhabitable for
man, has been discussed from time
! to time, the prevailing theory being
that the presence Of trees induces
more moisture. Although there
have been many thousands Of trees
planted on the prairies Of Kansas
and Nebraska during the past few
years, sufficient growth or necessary
area has scarcely yet been attained to
demonstrate whether the theory is a
good one; but whether it is or not,
there is another side to the question
which to our mind is of vastly
greater moment. We refer to the
future use Of the timber that may
be grown upon these arid lands.
That timber will grow on the
western prairies has already been
demonstrated to the satisfaction of
those who have given the subject
due attention, and the fact, noted in
another part Of this paper, that a
farm wagon is now on exhibition in
this city, made entirely from wood
grown from the seed on an Illinois
prairie farm, conclusively proves
that a little more attention to for
estry can be made profitable, not,
perhaps, to the present generation,
but undoubtedly to those that fol-
low.
But, leaving out the question of
visible financial profit to the farmer
who plants trees, there is another
profit which, though not so appar-
ent to the superficial observer, is
sure to add many dollars to the ac-
count, in the matter Of comfortable
shade for stock. What farmer
would lie down in the sun for an
hours rest if he had convenient
shade? Stock that are well provi-
ded with shady pastures thrive much
better than those on the treeless
plains, hence make more money for
their owner; and this fact alone
should induce more western farmers
to set out trees, that will add to the
comfort of their stock, increase the
value of their farms, probably aid in
increasing the fertility Of the soil,
and certainly secure a good profit to
their children or their children's
children in the future.
Lumber has been steadily advan-
cling in value. and is likely to con-
tinue upward, as the demand will
not decrease, while the supply is
surely becoming less. The system
attic planting Of trees, however, with
the object of future supply of
lumber in view, is quite likely to re-
tard rapid advance, and the con-
sumers on the plains may assist in
holding prices down by systematic
toward tree-planting.
To encourage the planting Of
trees in Kansas west Of and inclu-
ding Phillips. Rocks, Ellis, Rush,
Pawnee, Edwards, Kiowa and Co.
counties, one Of the leading
daily newspapers of Kansas City has
offered ten cash prizes amounting to |
$3.50 for the largest number of trees
planted on any quarter section of
prairie land-no two prizes, howev-
er. to be awarded in any one town.
ship. To this a leading business
house adds a like amount, thus
doubling the prizes, while an enter
prising nursery firm adds one-fourth
to each of the original prizes-pro-
viding the winner purchases trees of
that particular nursery.
To keep the ball rolling, the Lire
Stock indicator will add one-tenth
TO each prize. provided the winner
purchases his trees from any of its