Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-08
WRONG IDEA OF. REVENUE
Department Well Awars There Was No
Timber On North Platte Reserve
PLANS ARE TO PLANT TREES ON TRACTS
Bids Received at Treasury Depart
ment for sites for PostOmOe
Buildings in Fearney
and Columbus.
CFrom a star Chrresnondentl }

CFrom a stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-Cspecial Tele-
gram -Oflcials Of the Forestry bureau
today were shown a story which appeared
in The Bee recently Announcing that there
are no trees on the so-caIled North Platte
forest reserve, and the further statement
by an "ex-official OF the government serv-
ice" that the president was deceived into
the belief that the country mentioned was
heavily wooded. The forestry officials were
much amused over the alleged discovery by
a former attache of the government serv-
ice" that there is practically no timber on
the 100000 acres known as the North Platte
forest reserve. The fact is the forestry
people have known all along that there were
no forests on this strip Of sandy land and
1t was merely set aside for the purpose OF
experimenting In growing Of forests upon It,
In 1901 a field party from the geological
survey made an exhaustive examination OF
the North Platte region now embraced in
the reserve and made an elaborate report
10 the department. II is the purpose of the
Forestry bureau TO plant yellow pine on
the North Platte reserve and they will draw
their seedlings for the planting from the
forestry nursery at Halsey, Neb. The soil
Of the North Platte country, 1T is said, ls
similar in all essential respects to that Of
the Black Hills country, where vast forests
OF pine of merchautabl bic value thrive. From
time TO time seedlings will be taken from
the HaIsey nursery and planted on the
North Platte barren wastes and in the
course Of the next generation, IL is cslcu-
lated, a virgin forest Of yellow pine Will
succeed the now treeless, sandy expanses.
Until such time as the Forestry bureau Is
ready to plant its seedlings permission will
be granted to cattlemen to Craze their
herds. As fast as a tract Is seeded, or
rather planted, this area will be fenced by
the government to protect It from being
disturbed by roaming herds. 1t IL estimated
that It will take from thirty to forty years
to fully accomplish the forestation Of the
North Platte reserve.
Bids for Building sites.
Bids were opened at the office of the SUI
pervising architect of the treasury for sites
for proposed new public building at Kear-
ney and Columbus. Neb. Congress has APP
propriated $4,000 for site and the cree
ton Of a building at Kearney while at
Columbus as yet only an appropriation has
been made for a site, namely $500.
Kearney Bidders-James w, Cummock,
corner Cenral avenue and Twenty-hfth
street, $4,000; j. G.. Lowe, corner Twenty
fourth and Central avenue, 5000; Lottie g.
same site 125x19O), $4,000; w. s. Ragsens,
corner Twenty-third and Avenue A, A,5OO;
Anna NJ Bell, corner First avenue and
Twenty-second street ,C5xl3Ol, $500;
same bidder and Others same site, larger
area. though precise size not stated $1,000;
third street, 1920; Clara L. @. Spencer,
corner First avenue and Twe9ty-second
street ,0 GGS ok 500; same bidder same
Columbus Bidders@Daniel. sohram, lots
5 and 8, block g., 5000; Hugh Hughes,
Streets 5000; H. N jenkins northwest
corner of North and Fifteenth streets,
5000; o. l.. Baker, Fourteenth and owe
block is. $4,000; Herman P. H.. ochluck and
Mrs. Mlnna Helbs lots l and block g.
$500 wS% anS aa Mafy G staeses
corner Fosrteen9h and SSSth streets 5000;
fPd Wam and SaRe
streets, $500; Augustus G. Millott corner
Fourteenth and Nebraska streets, $500.
" pitches 10 BE Repaired.
The, secretary Of the interior has author
lied the United States reclamation service
to organize a service to carry the work OF
repairing and maintaining the interstate
canal North Platte irrigation project In
wyoming and Nebraska. This, authority
carries with it an appropriation Of $4,000
for the purchase Of horses. tools, etc. In
addition 10 repairs on account Of erosions,
washouts, etc. work will consist of putting
in small drainA. inlets to take small
amounts OF surface. water into the canal,
paving around outlets and other work
which would necessitate a multitude OF
small contracts. causing delays and in
! creasing the cost. "a, .- g..
Minor Matters at Capital.
The application OF w. /. Farley A. w
Hickman, p. NJ. Green. ]. d. Ferguson and
c. A. Phillips to organize the First Ma
| tional bank OF Marquette, Neb., with sS,-
900 capital has been approved by the comp
troller OF the currency. ,-...
Rural carriers appointed: Iowa-Wadena
route 1, Raymond Clark, carrier; Bertha J.
Clark, substitute South Dakots-Wessing-
ton Springs route 1, A. w. Hall, carrier
] Nelson c. Jensen, substitute.
| civil service examination will be held
! at Huron. 8. D., August is. for positions OF
clerk and carrier in the postofice service