REPORT. 



DODGE CITY, KAN., July 3, 1900. 

 To his Excellency W. E. Stanley, Governor: 



SIR I have the honor to herewith submit for your consideration 

 my biennial report as Commissioner of Forestry and Irrigation, cov- 

 ering the period from April 15, 1899, to July 1, 1900. 



I received my appointment as Commissioner of Forestry and Irri- 

 gation April 15, 1899, and immediately took active control of this de- 

 partment. 



I appointed A. B. Jones, of Wa Keeney, Kan., as foreman of the 

 Ogallah station, and at once proceeded to complete the season's deliv- 

 ery of trees, which was well advanced. I found both stations run 

 down and presenting a very slovenly condition, fences down, and a 

 general appearance of neglect manifested everywhere. The preceed- 

 ing unprecedented severe winter had killed a great many of the trees 

 in the parks of both stations, making their appearance very unsightly. 

 I dug up all the dead trees and reset to hardier varieties. The poplar 

 suffered the greatest loss from the cold, as fully three-fourths, or 100 

 in all, were killed in the park at Dodge. The poplar is not adapted to 

 western Kansas, and I would not recommend its propagation. The 

 trees in the parks at both stations had not been trimmed in years, if 

 ever, and presented a very unkempt appearance. The winter months 

 were devoted in part to this long-neglected duty, and the result shows 

 great improvement in external appearance, and is of undoubted bene- 

 fit to the trees. The neglect of former years in keeping the stations 

 in good repair has entailed a severe hardship on the present appro- 

 priations which were made for current expenses. 



During a life residence on the plains, I have been a close, inter- 

 ested observer of every experiment looking toward the betterment of 

 this section as a home in all that the word implies. I have been 

 especially interested in the propagation of trees. They charm by 

 their grace and beauty; they comfort by their shade and companion- 

 ship; they energize by their health-giving influence. Our forests 

 are the great laboratories of nature; the conservatories of public 

 health and wealth ; the most effective sanitary agents known. They 

 harmonize our high and destructive winds into balmy, redolent 

 breezes. They are conducive to moisture and rainfall, and take an 



