The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-11
KANSAS COAAENT
THE KANSAS roREsr REsERvE.


may not be generally known that
the government is Going into the bust
ness OF growing timber out in western
IAa1sas. Inere Is q great stretch Of
lano known as the sand hills lying
south OF the Arkansas river which Is
not much good for either growing crops
or grass at present. On this the gov
eminent proposes to try to grow trees.
we we're talking with q man from
syracuse the other day and were some
Wnat surprised at first to find that he
mas Httie or no faith in the project.
iauo; ne Is basing the opinions
largely on the result of the timber
claim act which was a delusion and a
farce which allowed a great many set
tiers TO prove up two quarter sections
instead OF one but which never result
60 IN growing any trees. When that
act was passed the author of it fondly
fancied that in a few years the tree
less plain OF western Kansas would be
STUDDED thick with 1uxuriant forests Of
eimper but after forty years the best
tnat could be found on the ordinary
timber claim would be maybe one or
two measley little stunted cottonwoods
winch had managed somehow to strug-
gle along until they had attained the
height Of maybe 10 to IL feet.
so far as we know the timber claim
act never resulted in the growth of a
single good grove of timber. There are
many nice groves of timber out In
western Kansas, but they were not
planted or grown on account of the
timber claim act. However, If the de-
partment of agriculture takes hold Of
the forest reserve business In dead
earnest the trees can be grown out in
that sand hill country. There will need
to be some sense used In planting the
trees and also in taking care of them
after they are planted. If sense and
honesty are not used in planting and
appropriated by congress will be simply
fooled away and nothing more will
come of 1t than came of the timber
claim act.-Mail and Breeze.
VACATION TIME.
It is but a few weeks now until
vacation time and men and women
will get away from the care Of the
world for time, or at least they will
try to. Colorado will be the stamp
ing grounds of many of them during
the summer months and other locali-
ties will also claim their share of the
patronage. Where they go matters
same thing everywhere. Pleasure and
rest are the alleged objects Of these
vacations.
Men who do not even walk to their
| places of business will take long
tramps through the woods and over
Hills, Will row DOdLS uutll IHolT HdHOS
are blistered and their backs ache.
They will wade up and down streams
trying until they are completely ex-
| hausted to run down some gay and
| festive fish. Women who want to get
away from social cares will go to
| these summer resorts where balls.
parties, suppers, ETC., are all that
make life bearable. They will spend
good money taking this rest cure"
and will come home nervous, cross
and irritable, but will declare they
had the best time ever and feel so re-
| freshed.
| Vacations are all right. People
| work a great deal harder. submit to
annoyances which would drive them
| insane at home and enjoy it all. But
they imagine they are resting, and
perhaps they are. At any rate they
tackle their business affairs with a
greater vim when they return. AS to
the rest, however. it lies principally
| in the Imagination, much as many
other things.-Salina Journal.