THE KANSAS CITY ELECTRIC TIME BALL. 723 
small amount it was necessary to use the utmost economy in the purchase of ma- 
terials and apparatus. The apparatus thus briefly described, has been found to 
answer every ‘purpose, and is probably as accurate as very much more costly 
apparatus would have been. Kansas City is about one hundred miles from the 
Observatory and except in cases of breaking of the wire, when the ball cannot be 
dropped at all, it is dropped within one or two-tenths of a second of correct time. 
The discrepancy in the local time kept by different jewelers in the city, before 
. the erection of the ball was astonishing, and led to endless confusion in business 
and travel. . 
On the first day the ball dropped this difference in extreme cases amounted to 
fifteen or twenty minutes, some being eight or ten minutes fast others as slow. 
The establishment of the time ball has brought about a uniformity never before 
known, and must soon make itself felt not only as a convenience, but a promoter 
of punctuality in business engagements. | 
From the daily clock-signals sent over the wires from the Observatory it will 
be easy to establish a similar time signal in any city in the west, which will take 
the necessary steps to procure these signals. An arrangement has been made also 
by which they may be distributed to jewelers, and clock-makers, and manufac- 
turing establishments in the larger cities. 
The people at Kansas City are indebted to the officers of the Western Union 
Telegraph Company, for many courtesies in connection with the establishment 
and maintenance of this time ball. Mr. W. K. Morly, Supt. of Telegraph on 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad, kindly allows the use of a wire in dropping the 
ball, while at Kansas City Mr. M. D. Wood, Superintendent, and Mr. W. H. 
Woodring, chief operator, have gratuitously given their services each day at the 
time when the ball is dropped. Without their cordial cooperation, the success 
attained would have been impossible. . 
DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. 
T. L. LEWIS, BOLIVAR, MO. 
The indifference of our people to forestry is criminal. It has been estimated | 
that there are but six states east of the Rocky Mountains which have a surplus of 
timber ; yet, nearly all are denuding their lands and shipping wood, ties and lum- 
ber. Strike a line through Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas; or take longie 
tude 80° west of Washington, and the eastern side contains all the timber, while 
the western is almost one boundless desert of treeless prairie. California is far 
above an average, yet only about one-twentieth part is timbered. This western 
world of prairie is now teeming with active life, and must soon be the home of 
millions, with their shops, factories, railroads, etc., etc. It becomes thena — 
practical question—will the supply meet the demands under our present reckless 
system of the wanton destruction of our forest? It is an impossibility unless the 
