FOREST POLICY. 



ern boundary line; the Missouri forms the eastern boundary 

 line towards Iowa. 



One quarter of the State north of the Platte River is occu- 

 pied by the "Sand Hills," which are not sand dunes, but give 

 rise to springs and offer pasture. 



3. Distribution: In the broad Missouri Valley of the 

 extreme east were once fou.nd splendid groves of hardwoods, 

 notably of burr oak, walnut, ash, box elder, honey locust and 

 Kentucky coffee tree. The canyons of the rivers coming from the 

 west show cottonwoods, willows and red cedar. Further west, 

 some yellow pine, quaking aspen, cottonwoods and birches occur. 

 Yellow pine covers several narrow ridges S.ooo feet high near 

 the Wyoming line. Red cedar is found sparingly everywhere, 

 the original growth being cut away for fence posts. 



In the Sand Hills, logs and stumps of yellow pine are 

 found buried in the sand. After Dr. C. E. Bessey, pine groves 

 (ponderosa) were found 50 years ago even in the eastern half 

 of the State. About 300,000 acres (?) of forest plantations are 

 now in existence. Honey locust, cottonwood and green ash are 

 said to do best. The European pines are reported thrifty. 



4. Forest ownership: The federal government still owns 

 the Sand Hills. 321,000 acres of forest along the rivers are at- 

 tached to farms. 



5. Use of timber: The hardwoods of the Missouri bot- 

 toms are practiralty used up. In 1880 there were 38 firms pro- 

 ducing annually 14,000,000 feet of cottonwood and burr oak lum- 

 ber. In 1900, 23 mills, of $1,900 average investment, were in 

 existence. Output in 1900 is not given. Stumpage is worth $2.29 

 per thousand, and logs at mill bring $5.69. 



Firewood and fence posts are the leading requisites. 

 Leather and pulp industry: None. 



6. Forestry movement: John Sterling Morton, Cleveland's 

 Secretary of Agriculture, was the soul of a vigorous movement 

 in favor of prairie forest planting. He introduced Arbor Day. 



A State agricultural society offers three premia to the 

 largest tree planters. 



The "Nebraska Park and Forest Association," founded in 

 1899, tries tO' influence the newspapers. 



Instruction in forestry at the University of Nebraska by 

 Dr. C. E. Bessey. 



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