Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-08-03


and making a living out of it.
Now they are prosperous and
many of them have attractive
homes. Some of these homes are
set out with trees planted under
the Robb administration and
they show the possibilities of
tree culture in the arid region. -
During much of the time from
the Robb administration up to
the present the post of commits
sioner has been a political job in
the worst sense of the term A
considerable number of trees
were shipped each year, but
only enough was done to make a
sufficient showing to draw the
pay allowed by the state. Local
interest in the Ogallah station,
which had caused its establish
ment, was succeeded by disgust
and Indifference Although the
present commissioners, whose
term began only a few months
ago, has done all in his power to
rejuvenate the station, the sign
of former neglect are overwhelm-
ing. Many trees from six to
twelve years old are thickly
sprouted at the roots. neither
! trimming nor cultivation has
been given them apparently for
some years. Mr. Ridgway was
unable to do much trimming be-
cause of the latenesS of the sea-
son. The station house and barn
were in utter dilapidation when
Commissioner Ridgway took
charge. The former commission
er had allowed family to occupy
the house although it was not
employed at the station. Mr..
Ridgway has made a complete
renovation of the interior, has
repapered- it through out and will
soon put the premises in order,
after which he will remove his
family from his farm five miles
distant and make his home at the
station so long as he shall remain
commissioner.
Commissioner Ridgway is not
a technical forester. He is a pro-
gressive farmer who is interest
ed in trees. He has one of the
best shaded homes in Trego
county. He is doing his utmost
to inform himself on the subject
of forestry and is ambitious to
make the Ogallah station credit
and a help to the state. He asks
only consistent time to make a
record. He shipped over 800, 900
trees last spring and:put in seeds
for about one half million new
trees. Originally most shipments
from the station went to the
central part of the state A larg-
er proportion than ever before
is now going to the high plains of
the western part of the state.
| These trees cost the planter
only the amount of the express
age. They can be had for the
asking. if they are on hand. Mr..
Ridgway received one order for
100, 900 trees, but could not fill
it in full as he did not want to ex-
haust his stock In.spite of in
lstructions, however certain
percentage of trees is lost every
year because farmers either ne
Iglect them or have not time to
plant them when they are receiv-
ted. In other instance many trees
have been ordered and only part
of them planted, the planter Sc
lecting the choice ones, thus
taking advantage of the state.
In my opinion, said Commits
sioner Ridgway, 1T would be
well to make small charge for
these trees one cent each.
A man who really wants trees
would not hesitate to pay at the
rate of 81 per hundred for them
in advance. In this way we would
run less risk of having more trees
ordered than are wanted and few
would perish in the express of
fees leaving us to pay the
charges. If / had received 81 per
hundred for the trees I shipped
last spring the income of the sta
tion would have been more than
4 $1,000 or more than the entire
appropriation for the station.
If the state is not disposed to
make a larger appropriation, it
seems to me that the same re
suits could be achieved by max
ing a small charge for the trees.
Such a charge would protect the
station, which cannot get a fair