Items of Interest July 29, 1916 Issue

Items of Interest

Unusual commencement exercises were held recently at the Kansas penitentiary at Lansing. Thirty-one inmates of the big prison became graduates of the Kansas Agricultural College and received the same diplomas from the college that the boys and girls had received at Manhattan a week previous. For many years a night school has been conducted at the prison for those who cared to devote their evenings to actual study work. Two years ago the agricultural college offered to supply the prisoners with the complete home correspondence courses which it maintained for students unable to spend the time actually in residence at the college. More than one hundred men availed themselves of the opportunity offered. The thirty-one students who were graduated recently were students in steam and electrical engineering, carpentry, blacksmithing, agricultural and motor engineering. They have done practically the same work that would have been required of them had they been students at the agricultural college in these courses. Wherever possible these men were given practical training in the power plant and on the farm of the prison.

In an address before the Southern Forestry Congress at Asheville, N.C., recently, the chief forester of the United States emphasized the importance of the timber supply of the South and pointed out methods by which it may be perpetuated. "Nowhere in the whole United States," said he, "can the naval stores industry or the protection of hardwood timber be carried on with the same natural and economic advantages as in the Southeast. Forests occupy more than half the total land area of the South. Southern pine is the principal softwood used in fully two thirds of the country east of the plains. Backed by a supply of some 325,000,000,000 feet of yellow pine and about 20,000 sawmills, the pine industry holds today a commanding place in the country's lumber market. By their very magnitude the forest problems of the South command attention.

In addition to the value of the timber the southern pineries furnish annually about $35,000,000 worth of turpentine, rosin, and the like. This income is in danger of being entirely lost through failure properly to care for and perpetuate the forests. "The turpentine industry of southern France," said the chief forester, "is a man-made industry. A century ago the barren sand dunes could be bought at any price one was willing to pay. Today the poorest pine land covered with two-year seedings sells for $9. Stocked with 30-year old pine it is worth $80, and with 50-year old $160 an acre. In this country the turpentine industry has had the advantage of a great natural forest. Instead of being founded and preserved by the diligence of man, its destruction will be brought about unless steps are taken to perpetuate it. The growing of timber for turpentine purposes is a profitable undertaking at present."

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