The independent., 1907-01-31
TREES FOR PROFIT.

ais Ic3AoW DreederS yesterday
TREES FOR PROFIT.
II the Pennsylvania railroad can af-
ford TO plant trees on its land for the
growing of cross ties. why not the Ne
DraSka farmer? The average land own
er may not be able TO wait so long for
returns as is necessary to the tree
grower, but how would it be with the
investor who wishes only TO provide
for the future? AT the meeting of the
state horticultural society week before
last, Professor Miller OF the state uni
yersity, cited few instances that
seem favorable TO the scheme. A cot
tonwood grove in Madison county at
the end of eighteen years proved to
have given returns equal to a rent paid
annually of $3.50 an acre a year, this
on land unfit for cultivation. A Paw
nee county catalpa grove of twenty
acres returned by the end of seven
teen years net S275 an acre, more than
twenty dollars a year, not allowing for
interest on deferred income. A black
walnut grove in Burt county did as
well. 1t is pleasant idea, that OF buy
ing few acres of land, planting it
to catalpas or walnuts, seeing that the
trees receive suffi.ent attention to
give d plOpcI start, anu Ifltfl IOF-
getti.g about them till old age
discovers them grown into
fortune. But there are possible
drawbacks to consider; the dan
ger of damage by fire, disease,
drought. marauding live stock or pos
sible incursons of timber thieves. We
know the paintings described by Pro-
fessor Miller succeeded. We do not
know how many other such attempts
failed in the meanwhile
Ten messages have been received
from ten democratic senators urging
the Oklahoma constitutional conyen-
ton not to put Jim Crow law in
their constitution. From the Oklahoma
anti-negro standpoint it is wise advice
That constitution has to pass muster
at Washington before Oklahoma is
finally state. To send up constitu-
ton with Jim Crow" clause in it
would precipitate a race debate at
Washington and throughout the coun
try that might delay statehood defin-
itely. In practical result it will be all
the same AS Senator McLaurin of
Mississippi intimates in his telegram
to the convention, the trick can be
turned in the legislature just as well
as III the constitutional convention
Unless congress offers a loan of a
million dollars it is feared that the
jamestown exposition may not be able
to open its gates with the coming of
the spring Congress has heard this
sort Of plant So many times in the
past that it is getting tiresome. Like
the boy who was going to skip his
prayers for a couple of nights. and
then. IL nothing came Of it never say
them again" our paternal government
may withhold its bounty this time to
see what will really happen.
Rome now has a population of a lit
tie more than half a million. and finds
IL necessary to expand in order to care
for a steadily increasing population.
The depression In real estate caused hv
the overbuilding OF twenty years
ago has now been weathered, and rents
have been going up OF late with almost
as much speed as In New York. To
provide additional room II IL proposed
10 build four new suburbs outside the
walls. This will permit the city TO grow
without encroaching upon historical
ground or causing the loss ~ valu-
able monuments. The plan Includes fine
outer parks. new methods OF communi.
cation and finally a broad avenue 325
feet wide entirely encircllnR Greater
Rome" This will be eighteen miles In
length. or about twice the length OF
the present city walls. The plans FOR
making the city equal 20 any of the
other world capitals are so ambitious
that Il Is estimated that twenty-five
years will he required 10 bring them
Co completion
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