Impressions by the Way. 



The experiment proved a success and last fall, when riding 

 across these states over the same routes, I could hardly realize 

 that it was the same country. Nearly every farm now has its 

 large grove and orchard ; the little prairie towns have grown 

 into fine villages and cities, with broad, shady streets and beau- 

 tifully shaded lawns and parks. 



The stranger flying across the country now on a fast train 

 and seeing the numerous groves and the town buried in a 

 bower of green would almost think it was once a timber coun- 

 try and find himself looking for the stump fences. 



Another pleasing feature that has been added to the land- 

 scape is the many little lakes that have been formed by the 

 damming-up of the draws. 



I was eating supper in a hotel in the little town of Smith 

 Center, Kas., last fall, and the waiter asked me if I would have 

 fish. I replied : "No, I don't like fresh fish too far away from 

 the water." He replied: "These fish are all right; we caught 

 them last night." 



I ate them and found them fresh and nice. Upon inquiry 

 I found there was a fine little lake two miles east of town 

 (Rock Island Lake) over a mile long and twenty feet deep in 

 places. On my former visit to that country I had shot quail 

 over the same ground. 



At Erickson, Neb., is a "made lake" that affords some of 

 the best bass fishing to be found anywhere. These lakes are 

 numerous all over the west and their numbers are being added 

 to every year. 



The timbered countries should do everything possible to 

 prevent the wastefulness of the large tracts of virgin forest now 

 standing and put forth every possible effort to re-forest the 

 bare hills where it has been destroyed. Timber values are in- 

 creasing every year, and the available supply decreasing. 



As towns and cities build up our lakes and streams are 

 every year becoming more a necessity for water power, irriga- 

 tion and domestic water supply. 



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