256 THE 1RK1 GAT10N AGE. 



be a success and I think there is absolutely no doubt it will be the 

 road will devote thousands of acres of land in the vicinity of its right 

 of way to the culture of forests. Other great railroad systems which 

 consume immense numbers of ties will follow the example. What the 

 railroads do on a large scale will be emulated by private parties until 

 thej aggregate area devoted to new woodlards becomes larger than 

 any of us now dream of. The state and national governments will 

 fall into line with fostering legislation and a vigorous public senti- 

 ment will bo aroused, expressing itself not only in restoration but in 

 the better care and preservation of those forests that now exist. 



"I don't think I am painting the picture in too glowing colors 

 when I say that future forestation will minimize the vast damage done 

 by the siroccos of the West and that there will be established new cli- 

 matic conditions of incalculable benefit to agricultural and commer- 

 cial interests. A few years ago I would have been laughed out of 

 court for such a prophecy, but the doubling of value of many kinds 

 of timber in the last few years is bringing the question of future tim- 

 ber supply home to the people in the most impressive way." 



Mr. Brown has been pleading and negotiating with the officials of 

 a number of roads other than the Illinois Central in an endeavor to 

 interest them in forestry culture. Better than any other man, per- 

 haps, he knows what has been done by these roads and what is con- 

 templated by them. He finds that, in the aggregate, something like 

 a million trees have been planted for experimental purposes He 

 says: 



"The Rio Grande Western planted 65,000 catalpa trees last spring 

 on a tract of land near Provo, Utah. The trees are on irrigated land. 

 In a year they made a really wonderful growth and the officials of the 

 road are perfectly satisfied with the result of the experiment thus far. 

 It is to be regretted that the Goulds could not have their personal at- 

 tention called to this particular enterprise. I believe they would con- 

 sider such an investment the most profitable kind they could 

 make. 



"The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis road (Big Four) 

 has a catalpa plantation of 100,000 trees along its line in Indiana. 

 The trees are now two years old and the growth has been satisfactory 

 so much so that there will be planted several hundred thousand more 

 trees this spring. These trees are in the natural home of the catalpa 

 and all the conditions are favorable for a rapid and healthy growth. 



"The Boston & Maine road, which is deeply interested in the sub- 

 ject, will make an experiment with 10,000 catalpas this spring on 

 vacant lands belonging to it in New England. It has been found that 

 the catalpa can be grown successfully in Maine; New Hampshire and 

 Massachusetts, where little was expected of it. The ultimate results 



