STATE IIOirnciT/n RAI. SIKMKTY. 77 



Pkof. Thomas — I tliink that opinion is, in tlie main, "correct, and 

 that there is a better distributing of the ruin-fall in wooded countries. 1 

 am decidedly of the opinion that forests have influence in this matter of 

 rain-fall and evaporation. 



Mr. Periam inquired as to the effect of forest-tree planting in Europe, 

 where a great deal of attention was paid to this subject. 



Dr. Warder referred him to Brewer's publication of Walker's 

 Census, which gives a great many interesting statistics in regard to these 

 matters. He further stated that in this country two merchantable walnut 

 trees, for example, per acre was about the extent of the crop, while in 

 Europe the trees stood much thicker, and much more profit per acre 

 was realized. 



Prof. Thomas — The amount of hard-wood timber in the North- 

 western States, and the Territory of Dakota, is much less than is generally 

 supposed. I know of but one important area, which is the Oak Woods, 

 in Minnesota. I was told by the workmen upon the bridge across the 

 Mississippi river, at Dunleith, that the piling which they were using came 

 from Southern Illinois, because no suitable timber could be found in that 

 region. There is no liard-wood timber west of the one hundredth merid- 

 ian which is fit for use, and west of this line you could not find timber to 

 make a wagon, or even an ax handle. When in San Francisco I went into 

 the wagon shops, and pointing to one after another of the pieces of hard- 

 wood timber, asked where it was obtained, and was informed that it all 

 came from the States ; that the oak and ash of the Pacific Coast was unfit 

 for use on account of brashness. While excellent timber for building 

 purposes and furniture can be found, no good hard-wood timber grows 



there. 



Mr. Bryant— ^In Bureau county the timber has been cut off — say 



two-thirds of it — for railroad purposes. This was mostly hard wood, 



such as hickory, walnut, elm, and oak. The trees that are left are small, 



and but little of it is soft wood. 



Dr. Warder — The railroads are very destructive on young timber. 

 I saw, as I came to this place, great piles of ties of young timber. It 

 must strike any one who observes at all as very destructive. 



Pkof. Turner — I wish to suggest what is the stumbling-block in the 

 way, in this whole business. You may think strange of it when I tell 

 you what is the trouble. It is ten per cent, interest. Now, it is impos- 

 sible to figure out ten per cent, on investments in tree planting, and you 

 can't make our hard-working farmer, who works for pay, see any money 

 in this business. Those who i)lant trees nuist be those who, like vou and 



