ee 
4 
TIN DAKOTA. : 141 
“The fuel question is an important one in a tree- 
less country like this. But I think itis beg rapidly 
solved—in fact, has been already solved—by the dis- 
covery of immense beds of coal at many places in 
‘the northern portion of the Territory. Those prac- 
tically inexhaustible deposits will soon be systemati- 
cally worked, and then coal will be sold at every rail- 
road station, and fuel will be cheaper here than it is 
in Illinois. Still that fact should not interfere with 
the cultivation of timber. Every farmer ought to 
have a good grove around his house and other build- 
ings. It costs but little to start one, and in a very 
few years it will add much tothe beauty of his place, 
and will afford delightful shade in the summer and a 
valuable wind-break in the winter. And in addition 
to all this tt will supply him with fuel, if he prefers 
it to coal, and all his fence posts and most of his 
other lumber.” 
“ All this being true,” continued Mr, Stockdale, 
‘as it certainly is, 1 am rather surprised that one | 
does not see more groves started on these prairie 
farms.” 
“ You must remember that the country is newly 
settled. Four years ago, when I located here, I had 
but. one neighbor in sight. Those who have come 
since are generally in moderate circumstances finan- 
cially, and have, therefore, been compelled to raise 
trees from seed, which is cheap, but rather a slow 
process, Most of them, however, are growing them 
in this way, and in a few years they will makea 
