The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-20
He FINDS FAULT.
i'll. C. Cooper, New Forestry
Commissioner, Talks.
Says HI. E. Beaubien Left Things
in Bad Shape.
NO PLANTING DONE.
The Horses We're Even Without
Harness.
How the Trees Are Distributed
in Kansas.
NO PLANTING DONE.

H. c. Cooper, the new Kansas for
estry commissioner stationed at Dodge
City, finds a good deal of fault with
the condition in which H. E. Beaubien
left things at the Dodge City station
I'VE have three horses" says Mr..
Cooper, "and no harness for them 1
had to borrow harness to do the spring
work I also found that not a thing
had been done toward the spring
planting. There has apparently been
a lack of system in the handling OF the
work at the station. When the WORK
Intended for the station is handled
with vigor and industry, there should
he great good come of it for the state
I'VE have $50 acres in the farm out
there with a fine house and barn
do not expect to put the whole lou
acres in trees. \ good share OF the
farm is sowed to alfalfa and fodder OF
various kinds for the stock which we
have on the place
1--WE raise the trees from seed, and
IL is a hard job. sometimes, to make
thon grow This is true this spring,
sine ground has been very dry. We
have to haul water for the young trees
in A big water wagon and get the
water from wells. We do not attempt
TO irrigate The forestry station rs
near the big irrigating ditch which
was dug by some Englishmen num-
Der of years ago. The ditch is still
there. but it isn't doing anything
The trees which we raise are all
for western Kansas Eastern kansas
doesn't need trees, but our station
furnishes the only opportunity for the
western Kansas farmers to get trees
which will thrive in that dry country
We send out Usage orange, ash. col
tonwoods. and similar trees There is
no charge made for the trees The
only thing we ask is that the ap-
plicants pay the freight charges II
has been the practice to send out IN
the spring all the trees under cultiva-
ton on the place, but 1 think that the
state should have enough trees to get
q year ahead. and send out two year
old trees. I am going to try to get
things on that basis if possible"
1t is likely that the work of plant
ing the spring crops of trees was in
terfered with by the shortage in the
funds of the forestry station. The
legislature made a deficiency appro-
priatfon for the salary of the commits
sioner. but no deficiency approprfa-
ton for seeds. labor, etc. The bill
evidently intended that an appropria-
ton should be made for this spring
work but it said: For the purchase
of trees, plants. seeds and cuttings
or 50 much as may be necessary; for
la Dor help. freight. postage and 9TH
or incidental expenses@p The blanks
were left in the bill and the bill was
passed without the blanks being
properly filled out. Hence there was
no appropriation whatever for the
spring work. Seed for the spring
planting has been secured by Mr..
Cooper, however. and on July 1 the
funds appropriated at the last session
of the legislature Will be available.
The legislature allowed $500 for main
tenance and repairs. $500 for trees.
seeds and cuttings. $500 for labor and
5000 for freight and postage. The
"a Iarv of the commissioner is $1,000.
The same appropriations are made for
the forestry station at Ogallah. in
Trrgo county. where the same kind of
work is carried on.