44 HAND-BOOK OF TREE-PLANTING. 



Especially may this be urged, when we regard 

 the trees not only as a source of supply for 

 the renewal of the road-bed, but also as a shel- 

 ter from sweeping winds and a preventive of 

 impeding snows, often such a hindrance and 

 source of expense. We have it on the authority 

 of the superintendent of the Northern Pacific 

 Railroad, that the removal of obstructions by 

 snow on that road during the winter of iSS2-'83 

 cost not less than $100,000, and he estimates that 

 by planting a shelter-belt of trees along the line 

 of the road, at a cost of one fourth that sum, 

 a permanent protection from impeding drifts 

 may be secured. The work has already been 

 begun. Some other Western companies are 

 doing a like work, and where, as in so many 

 cases, they have such ample grants of land as 

 have been given them, there would seem to be 

 no good reason why they should not only plant 

 shelter-belts along their lines, but devote sec- 

 tions enough to the growth of forest-trees to 

 supply in the not distant future all their needs 

 for ties. By so doing, they would not only pro- 

 mote their own interests and the comfort of 

 travel, but would be doing their part to secure 



