Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-09-01
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
Of the Commissioner Of Forestry.

transmit my first annual report, in accor-
dance with Section 4, Chapter 100, session
laws of 1887, detailing my proceedings
under the act entitled Gan Act to estab-
lish the Office of Commissioner of For
estry, prescribing the power and duties
thereof, and to encourage the planting
and growing of forest trees in the State
of Kansas, and making appropriation
therefor"
My first duty, after filing my bond and
oath of Office, was to procure the dona-
ton of two suitable tracts of land of not
less than 100 acres each at points not to
exceed three miles from station on the
Union Pacific Railway, Kansas Division,
and on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railway, respectively.
As the law required that these tracts
of land be donated to the state, it was
thought by some that it would be diff
cult matter to accomplish. But I did not
find it SO. The greatest difficulty was to
discriminate properly between the many
different sites offered, and to choose in
diligently those which would in all re-
spects give the best results. The time
was short. Spring was already far adj
vanced. I was gratuitously notified by
different papers in the state that I was
expected to push things, and on the II
day of April I located Station No. on
the northwest quarter of section D, town.
ship IL. range %, in Trego county, one
mile west of the town and station of
Ogallah, on the Union Pacific Railway,
Kansas Division. On this land there had
been about thirty acres broken, and, with
only pretense of cultivation, had grown
more weeds than any thing else. As
natural consequence, it was miserably
foul. engaged foreman, got men to
cleaning of, blowing, ETC., and then went
to the other road to look out for a loca-
ton for the other station. I found the
people there enthusiastic in the matter,
especially at Dodge City, in Ford county.
They offered to buy for me any tract of
land which was for sale within three
miles of the city. On the 10 day of April
,, I located Station No. 2 on lots l, 2, Z and
8, section %, township 26, range "A west,
containing 100 acres, (being formerly
Usage Trust land) This tract of land
was bought at a cost of S5,200.O0, and
paid for by the City of Dodge and the
county of Ford. 1t is situated two and
one-half miles east of Dodge City and
less than three miles from a station on
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail-
way.
The tract of land in Trego county on
which Station No. ] is located is partly
donated by Glenn A. Hoar, present county
clerk of Trego county, and partly paid
for by few enterprising citizens of the
town and vicinity of Ogallah. The title
deeds for both Stations have been secur-
ed, properly recorded. and placed on file
in the Office of the auditor of state at
Topeka. These tracts of land were en-
6rely devoid of improvements, except the
blowing heretofore referred to. I pro-
ceeded to sink wells, break sod and fence.
A barn was built on each station. A
good, substantial frame house was built
at each place-15x3O feet, 12-foot posts
the one at Station No. costing 1926;
the one at Station No. 2, on account of
higher prices for labor and material,
costing $500. Water was obtained at
Station No. at IS feet, while at No. 2 we
were compelled to bore 1856 feet. At
these respective depths, an apparently
inexhaustible supply of water was reach
ed. A windmill was attached to each
well, the cost of which will be readily
seen in the general account of expenses.
very soon discovered that, in order to
make success of the business, it was
necessary to be on the ground. I at
once proceeded to build house on Sta
ton No. l, of the following dimensions:
Main building, 14x32 feet, 14foot posts,
with a wing on each side, 14x16 feet, with
9-foot posts. This is a frame building of
six rooms and an Office, standing on q
solid stone foundation Is inches high,
well built throughout plastered, pa
pered and painted, and cost S1,04O. 1t is
at present occupied by myself and family.
At Station No. 2 no house has yet been
built. A shanty, close by, has been util-
lied as barn; and the barn on the Sta
ton, plastered inside, is being occupied
temporarily by the foreman as q resi-
dence. However, a house is needed
badly there; and hope to be able, out of
the appropriations for 1888 and 1889, to
save enough to build one. The grounds
at each place have been tastefully laid
out, and planted with deciduous and ev.
ergreen trees.
At Station No. trial grounds, contain
about eight acres, have been prepared,
and will be planted this spring with a
large variety of different kinds of trees,
both 3eciduons and eyeroreop. buf 90