Years ago, I stumbled across an article detailing the creation of a national forest in Finney County in 1906. Organizers planted 1,000,000 trees near Garden City to set their dream in motion.
For those interested in end results, road trip to the Sandsage Bison Range Wildlife Area and count remaining trees. For native western Kansans, imagining a national forest on our landscape is as much fantasy as the storied golden city of Quivira. However, early settlers following then current theories that rain followed the plow felt certain ample moisture would nurture their efforts.
Later, while researching Ellis Headlight newspapers and vintage pamphlets, I found even earlier references to Kansas Forest Service activities in the late 1800s. In 1887, Kansas legislators established one of two western Kansas Forestry Stations. They located the first in Ogallah, initially in Ellis County, and later Trego County.
Such stations encouraged homesteader dreams of securing an additional 160 acres of land if they committed to a timber claim. This required planting and nurturing 10 acres of trees on their filing, and regional tree stations made such hopes possible.
Over time, Mother Nature did her darndest to defeat such efforts, but if you want to see the remainder of one successful claim, follow Highway 283 south of WaKeeney 11 miles and look east. Note the stand of remaining trees. Do the research and find evidence of other timber plantings.
Initiating this program, Governor Martin appointed S.C. Robb as the first State Commissioner of Forestry. Robb’s duties required him to establish the office and assure appropriations necessary for “planting and growing forest trees in Kansas.”
Mr. Robb immediately secured two parcels of land each of at least 160 acres about a mile and half west of Ogallah just north of Union Pacific railroad tracks. The landowner, County Clerk C.C. Hoar, couldn’t afford to donate the entire acreage so area citizens contributed funds to complete the deal. Mr. Robb then constructed a 15 x 30 ft. barn for $325, an 85 ft. deep well with attached windmill, and 14 x 32 ft. six room and office house for $1,040. For two years, he lived there and ran the forestry station before relocating to Dodge in 1889 to establish the second station.
On April 27, 1887, Mr. Robb and employees prepared and planted eight acres with various deciduous trees They first planted cottonwood, black locust, honey locust, boxelder, Osage orange, catalpa, Russian mulberry, black walnut, hackberry, Lombardy poplar, and soft maple seeds. Their efforts resulted in 500,000 seedlings to give regional residents to plant the following spring.
Yes, the station gave trees to Kansans. The only cost involved transport. Locals picking up orders usually showed up driving a horse and buggy. For those living far away, trains offered another transportation option.
In 1889, Ogallah Forest Station grew 1,960,200 seedlings, adding red cedars, and Austrian and Norway pines to the selection. That year, 4,175 Kansans placed orders. According to Mrs. Fred Shaw, some ordered more trees than they could plant, intending to share with out-of-state relatives. Authorities quickly discouraged this practice.
Appointed in 1907, Mrs. Shaw’s father Francis Ridgway was the last commissioner of Ogallah Forest Station. Commissioners earned a salary of $1,000 per year while laborers earned $1 per day, enhancing the bank accounts of many Ogallah area men for the 25 years the station operated.
More to come….
