Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-12-21
Stop the Prairie Fires

is devoted to the question, advisable o-
inadyisable, Of breaking the prairie sod
That it would tend to the precipitation
and conservation OF rainfall to some ex.
tent there can be no doubt, for the laws
governing the fall of rain are influenced
in measure by the amount of moisture
already upon the land; but while We are
dealing with the subject of making fru;t-
full these vast tracts of plain, let us not
overlook one Of the greatest and yet east
est obtained of means within our reach.
I allude to prairie fires.
It is commonly believed that the buffalo
grass is a detriment to the country-pro,
ducing aridity. But this is a mistake.
Vegetation of any kind is preferable to
none. The buffalo grass finds root and
covers the earth where nothing else can
grow, preparing the way for a ranker
growth of other kinds. Let any tract of
land be covered with this grass, keep it
from being destroyed for ten years, and
each year it will become thicker and
ranker. Around its roots mold will be
formed of the decayed grass which tends
to the conservation of moisture in two
ways, viz: Serving rs non-conductor
of heat; second as sponge absorbing
the rain and allowing it to enter the soil
which it would otherwise fail to penetrate.
Let this go on and you will soon see here
and tx ere punches of blue stem spread
ing asits roots find substance, still further
aiding to the same end.
But few years since and an m broken
plain beyond the pale OF civilization
stretched from the Missouri on the east
to.the Rockies, and south nearly to the
Gulf. Unobstructed the fire swept all
before it annually, save here and there
along the bed of some stream where
few etunted trees managed to withstand
its ravages and exist. Each summer the
hot winds scorched what remained of the
vegetation and this was the Great Ameri-
can Desert.
This has been gradually encroach-
ed upon by the march of civiliza-
ton, and the burned territory becomes
less and less, and the influence of hot
winds is in like manner circumscribed.
This is due you say to cultivation. True,
but in a far greater degree to the cause
described herein. And had the fire been
kept from this for twenty-five years pre-
ceding the settlement by the whites there
would have been no natural obstacle to
overcome. Trees would have sprung up
along all the streams and heavy grass
would have covered the greater part of
the upland
Why is this so? The law tersely put is
this: Cooling condenses; condensation
precipitates the moisture; vice versa
the short grass and bare ground act as
mirror, heating the air, body of which
passing over an area SO heated takes up
moisture; passing to cooler surface,
through cooled but one degree, often
produces rainfall. This is exemplified in
the southern and western part of our
county. Two years ago a fire set by some
careless person swept over this part, con-
SO large an area that the differ
ence was percaptible in heat generated
and corresponding lessening Of crops in
the burnt district and contiguous sec-
tons. Not only is this true for single
year, but it takes a decade to recover
from the evil effects of it.
It is not enough that my place or my
neighbours be provided with fire
guards, but I am damaged if a dozen
miles away the fire be allowed to spread.
The whole county is interested = the
whole state. Why our scientific legisla-
lators have not taken up and seen to the
enacting of law compelling the annual
blowing of fire guards around each Sec
ton cannot see, or at least within rea-
enable limits. The poor fool who sets
out fire one year and the next wonders
why his crops were burned out has failed
to connect cause and effect. He curses
The country and goes back empty-handed
to the place where he emigrated from.
No amount of cultivation will increase
the rainfall much, but instead of the
dashing storms, waterspouts and high
winds I expect one day to see them su- l
perseded Ivy gentle rains and winds, but
not till we have learned wisdom.
Break up the prairie and cultivate it,
but while you are ct it turn over few
and bye and bye, before we
know it the change will have come and
Trego county will take rank among the !
successful agricultural counties.
n. HARLAN.
STATE OF ONO, CRY OF TOLEDO.
LUCAS COUNTY s. S.
Frank J. Cheney makes oath that he is