The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-09
PLEA FOR TREES.
Congressman Madison Makes a
Brilliant Showing.
Prevents Abandonment of Gar
den City Forest Reserve.
HIS PAT APHORISM.
No Tree Has Brought So Much
Happiness As Christmas Tree.
Reply to Objection Concerning
Growing of Jack Pines.

Washington, Feb. 9-fThere is no
tree that has brought SO much happi-
ness to mankind as the Christmas
tree declared Congressman E6 Mad
ison in his defense before the house
when strong effort was made tic knock
out an item in the agricultural appro-
priation bill for the maintenance of
forest reserves In Kansas and Nebaska.
Maolsons defense saved the Garden
city forest reserve. the house voting
$s,SO5 for it's maintenance.
Il want to say to the members of
this house. said Judge Madison. that
there Is a forest reserve III Kansas
which has proved a great benefit to
the people OF our section of the state.
In the first place, the department of
agriculture is searching throughout
the country and finding out the kind of
trees That viii grow upon these sand
nils. They are bringing the seeds or
cuttings OF this species to this reserve;
and l want to say to gentlemen who
nave insisted that these forest reserves
are of no value, that they are growing
trees on the Garden City reserve
that there is no question about it be-
ing a success. -
1T is true that as yet these forest
reserves have not been long establish
ed, but sufficient experiment has been
made to establish their practical value.
Ihey have nursery at Garden City,
where they grow young trees from the
seed and then take them out into the
SAND nils and plant them. and they
are growing. A large percentage of
them are living. 1t is entirely possible
TO grow Jack pine and other species
of trees in those hills. and the gov
eminent is actually doing it,
The educational value to the people
who 1.-Two in the communities near q
forest resrve like the Garden CITY re-
serve Is simply incalculable. These
people out on those treeless plains
want to be told and have demonstrate
and the influence in this forest is be-
coming to be felt all over the south
western portion of Kansas"
Congressman Gaines of West Vir-
ginia INQUIRED as to what kind of trees
were being grown on the Kansas re-
serve and in the sand hills of that
state.
Principally the jack pine" answer
ed Mr. Madison. a.
rs the Jack pine good for anything
except Christmas trees 20 was the in
terrogation of Congressman Crum-
packer OF Indiana.4
Replying. Mr.. Madison said: st want
to say to my friend from Indiana that
there Is no tree, sRn9 earth that has
brought so much happiness 70 man
kind as the Christmas tree This re
mark caused much applause and
laughter. 80
Continuing, Judge Madison said: "If
the gentleman had lived in Western
Kansas and Nebraska, he would know
what tree hunger is, and he would I'M
derstand of what value even scrub
Is to the people upon those wind-swept
plains.
ut is also true that this land which
is now being planted to forests, if YOU
take it out Of the jurisdiction of the
forestry bureau. will simply be turned
out to the commons. AS it Is now, it
Is leased to cattlenen for grazing pur-
poses, that portion that they have not
reached IN the tree planting. a large
portion OF the money obtained from
these leases-I am not able to saw
what per CENTS covered in to the local
treasures for the support of public
schools and the building of good roads
If there was no other reason except
that, 1t ought to be sufficient to keep
these forest reserves in western Kan
sas and Nebraska going, and / sincere
ly hope that the motion to strike out
will not prevail. but that this magnifi-
cent work that is being carried on by
the forest bureau in our section of the
country will be continued"
Following prolonged debate the mo-
ton to strike out was defeated and the
items providing for the Kansas and
Nebraska reserves were left to stand in
the bill.
Congressman Tawney- made a fierce
but Intellectual fight on the floor of the
house to limit the activities of the
press agents of the forest service. He
claimed it was impossible for MEM
Der of congress to criticise one of these
departments without getting belted over
the head shortly thereafter in the pub
| lie press. at the instigation of these
| press agents, who. he thought, also
prevented economy in the adminiStra-
| ton Of the departments by stirring up
public sentiment requiring money to
quiet down.
Congressman Charles F. Scott OF
Kansas defended the press agents of
| the forest service. and the Tawney
amendment to prohibit them from send
| ing out Information was lost.
Congressman Phil Pitt Campbell has
| introduced a bill authorizing and direct
pay the sum of $4,000 to W. H. belong,
| of Kansas, for. injuries received, with
/ out any fault on his part, in 1888, while
| serving as railway postal clerk in
the employ of the government.
| Bernard F. keenan,. having just com
pleted a sentence in the Leavenworth
Penitentiary for robbery of store
/ near the soldiers home. is now under
arrest in this city. on the charge of
endeavoring to escape payment of $25
board bill. He arrived here from Leav-
enworth about 80 days ago.
SHOT MOTHER WITH RIFLE.
fortunately She Was Not Killed But
Will Limp for Awhile.
Chanute, Kan. Feb. "a target
rifle in the hands of her young son &C
cidentally went off, the bullet striking
Mrs. William T. Shultz. living four
miles northwest of here, just above the
ankle.
The ball ploughed its way to the
bone but was there detected and came
Tout several inches below where ii
| went in.
KIND WORDS FOR COMPETITOR.