The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-09-25

upon the landscape, and the modify
ing climatic effects, the commercial
value Of timber upon every farm is
receiving consideration now that we
begin to realize that within a few
wears the forests will have entirely
disappeared. Only a few days ago a
member or the presidents cabinet
made this startling statements:
"We have reached the point where
we may we'll be alarmed at the foIes-
try conditions. Few know where to
begin or what to do.
''In twenty years the scarcity will
be felt strongly. and in forty years,
at the most. unless immediate and
extensive action is taken, The entire
country will be p.nched. Our timber
supply will be exhausted. and we
shall suffer a wood famine far worse
than the coal famine which England
is now confronting
These words uttered by the Honor
able Secretary Of Agriculture should
ring out over the land like a lire
alarm. Our pine woods are rapidly
disappearing. Go through the great
lumber regions and behold the desc
lation. The thirty lumber mills OF
Eau Claire, Wis. twenty mills or
| Marathon and twenty-three mills OF
| Fon du Lac, which a few years ago
cut millions of feet, are now all
gone. When the price of lumber and
coal has been doubled perhaps, we
may hope for legislation that will
not only encourage but compel forest
culture. For two years | have, in
connection with A1bor Day procla-
nations, e~ndeavoyed to work up a
popular interest in tree planting by
a special appeal to the county super
intendents and teachers of the pub
lie schools. The best results came
from Dawson county th rough the
efforts of your most excellent county
superintendent, Major Cou rsey.
During the last few years several
states have enacted laws for the en-
couragement Of tree planting. In
this state. with less timber than
almost any other state, nothing has
been done. This problem should re-
ceive immediate and careful cOnsid-
reation.
Throughout the United States to-
day the subject Of Good Roads, is
receiving a great deal OF attention.
In this state this matter has received
no attention because too many other
topics have been pressing for cOnsid-
Grafton and because we have the best
roads without any construction work.
But the time is approaching when
the vast sum of taxes squandered for
alleged road work should be used in
telligently and economically. This
movement for good roads is right in
line with the recent Improvements
such as farmers telephone lines,
rural free delivery, etc, ETC., which
IS making farming delightful and
farm life the most healthful and
profitable. Strange as it may appear
those who take the least interest," in
the good roads movement are those
who would receive the most direct
and greatest benefit, the farmers
themselves. A good road will for
practical purposes reduce the eX-
pense of marketing all farm products
and increase the value of the farm.
communities now deprived OF this
privilege. 1t will bring the rural
population to the churches and
theaters and lecture rooms of the
towns and villages. Good roads will
bring %neighbors nearer together and
obliterate to a marked degree the
isolation of the average country
home. 1t will promote social inter-
course which cultivates and retines
and moulds people into broader and
more useful citizens. Good roads
will dispel many of the disagreeable
features of farm life by bringing in
to the home rays Of sunshine that
drive out gloom. BY making farm
life what ought to be it will check
the rush from the farm to the city
of so many of the brightest and
best boys and girls, who long for the
day when they can escape the drudg-
cry, and oppressive isolation Of the
farm. The state can engage in no
more important undertaking than
develop agriculture. "Good Roads" is
Just engaging the attention of the
federal government. While the
United States during the last fifty
years has made more progress thar
any other nation in the world it is Z
remarkable fact that it is behind all
other civilized nations in reference
to the improvement of its highways
While each congress for years has ap'
prOpriated sums aggregating between
four and five hundred million dollars
for alleged improvements of rivers
and.harbOrs. much Of 1T is sqaundele(
on streams that never have teen anl
never will be navigable-all on The
Theory or Facilitating transportation
why not, by way of a change, put
few millions each year into good road:
where it would be a "thing of beaut,
and a joy forever One million dol,
lars was appropriated to Porto Rice
for road building and another million
for the same purpose for the Philip.
pine islands. While many states ar,
now clamoring for federal aid some
Of the more progressive states, like
New York, New Jersey and Massa.
chusetts, are devOting their best en-
ergies to a comprehensive, practica
and immediate solution Of this prob
lem.
Some Of the states have recent,
created State Boards or Commits
sioners to take charge Of this import
ant work of internal improvement.
Possibly this work could be added tt
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