* Cbe Coriecrvative ,
tions but are capable of intelligent
solution.
The catalpa tree will muko the tics ,
in sixteen years growing to a size that
will make five cross-ties , which will last
for thirty-five years.
Upon almost every railway right of
way may bo growing 640 trees to each
milo of track , omitting the inside line of
curves , but planting one row of trees
upou each side the track , and 40 to 50
feet from center , trees one rod apart.
In sixteen years this will provide
8,000 ties , being enough to relay the
milo of track.
Since the catalpa renews itself from
the stutup , when cut , and the young
shoots grow very rapidly with the well
established roots to support the now
growth , the trees would bo permanent ,
| and full } ' supply all requirements for
ties , fence posts , telegraph poles and
lumber.
By cutting a portion each year the
avenue would remain unbroken.
An AvoiiiH ) 1,000 lUllcK .Long.
As many railway lines are of much
greater length than this , it would be one
of the happiest views which America
could possess.
Transportation of ties for long dis
tances now constitutes a largo portion
of the cost. This may bo entirely elimi
nated by growing them where they are
to be used. The cost of timber so grown
would be inconsiderable as compared
with present prices , and estimated by
the future prospective prices , unless ex
tensive plantings shall speedily be made ,
insignificant.
One year old trees are always used in
forest planting , and these may be had
at from $8.00 to $5,00 per 1,000 trees.
Doubtless there are many persons who
would be glad to contract for supplying
the trees , planting and care for several
years at fifty dollars per mile , possibly
less.
Another plan contemplates the plant
ing in solid forest , large tracts near the
railways ; 1,000 acres of laud costing
$10.00 per acre , and planted , cultivated
for five years , together with all labor ,
interest and taxes for 16 years , would
aggregate $20,000 , while one million
cross-ties would bo the product , worth a
dollar each. Meantime , after the eight
years , surplus posts worth $8,000 would
reduce the expenses and more than pay
interest and taxes.
Directions for 1'liiiitlny Clitiilim.
The utmost care should be observed
in obtaining the hardy western catalpa
speoiosa. Unless it is specially desirable
to start with the seed by all means pur
chase one year plants. If seed are to bo
used they should be planted in rows
easily cultivated by horse , near four feet
apart , covered very shallow and not too
thickly strewn.
Thorough cultivation is essential. In
the autumn when the wood has ripened
they are taken up , tied in bunches of
100 and heeled in for the winter. In
spring , with the ground well prepared ,
furrow out deeply rows six feet apart ,
and plant trees about four feet in the
rows , the intermediate spaces being
cultivated in potatoes , corn or some
uon-viuing vegetable. Neither weeds
nor grass should bo permitted to grow ,
a sod of grass will quickly ruin the
catalpa. The trees will thus form tall
upright trunks , with few side branches.
After the fifth year the shade and falling
leaves will protect the tree , without
further cultivation ; it may be sooner.
By the eighth year all trees should be
removed except the permanent stand ,
not closer than 12x12 foot , in order to
give room for the roots and each its
share of moisture.
JOHN P. BROWN.
Secretary Indiana Forestry Associa
tion.
TU15 AVAll ON CONSUMPTION.
The alarming increase of consumptives
has become a matter of great public
concern. It is a most serious menace to
public health , and has long perplexed
medical science. The state of New
York has adopted a .new system , in the
establishment of state hospitals for the
treatment of tuberculosis among the
poor. Of the new departure the Evening
Post says :
The tentative beginning in the matter
of a state hospital for the treatment of
incipient pulmonary tuberculosis among
the poor , authorized by the law rhich
the legislature recently passed , is the
tardy result of nearly half a century of
well-directed , sustained , and unselfish
effort on the part of broad-minded phil
anthropists and progressive physicians.
As early as 1855 a society having this
object in view was organized by Peter
Cooper , assisted by Dr. Alonzo Olork.
The arguments then brought forward
rested mainly on the confidence of
thoughtful men that good results would
come of such a movement. Since that
time these arguments have been em
phasized and made unanswerable by the
results of experience , and by a scientific
progress which has placed at the com
mand of physicians the means of early
and infallible diagnosis. New York has
been anticipated in this matter by
Massachusetts , which began its work
almost two years ago with an appropria
tion four times as large as that which
New York has just made.
Cmi bo ISriullcuted.
No fact is bettor established in the re
sults of world-wide experience than that
what is popularly known as consump
tion can be practically eradicated , and
that it has no proper place among the
causes of death in a civilized communi
ty. Equally certain is it that , if it be
neglected and allowed to spread by the
thousand natural agencies of infection
and distribution , this disease not
hereditary , distinctly proventible , and
demoustrably curable if nature is soon
enough given a chance to act under the
conditions of a favorable environment
will swell the annual death-rate with
steadily-increasing rapidity. Fortunnto-
ly , it is no longer quite neglected. As
the result of measures adopted by the
Board of Health , during recent years , in
the dissemination of information , the
discouragement of carelessness in
handling the sputa of patients , the dis
infection of clothing and premises after
deaths , and through other means , there
has been an apparent reduction of about
HO per cent , in the deaths from pulmon
ary tuberculosis in this city since 1808.
The mortality from this cause is still
largo , however. In 1899 there were , in
the boroughs of Manhattan and the
Bronx , 8,016 deaths from pulmonary
tuberculosis , and 1,559 from other tuber
culosis diseases. The average life of
patients with recognized tuberculous
disease in this climate will probably not
exceed three years. Some authorities
place it at two years among the badly-
housed , underfed poor of New York.
At many go away to improve or die else
where , the New York death-rate indi
cates that wo have between 20,000 and
25,000 well-defined cases of tuberculosis
in Manhattan and the Bronx , and for
these an average life not exceeding two
years is statistically allowed. For the
state 45,000 to 50,000 cases would be a
conservative estimate.
A Disenso of the Poor.
Tuberculosis is a disease of the poor
not exclusively , but to such an extent as
makes the generalization proper. Among
people in comfortable circumstances ,
who can have a change of climate , with
rest from business cares when their
physicians so order , who are at all times
well nourished and stimulated , and who
can avoid exposure to bad weather
and sudden changes of temperature ,
consumption rarely gains headway under
present methods of treatment , and does
not reduce the average of human life
appreciably. It is also true that in the
well-ordered homes of people in com
fortable circumstances , and under good
medical advice , there is little or no ex
posure to infection among members of
families in which such cases occur.
Among the poor , however , and especial
ly in the crowded tenements , tuber
culosis begins its work unsuspected ,
gains headway without recognition , runs
its course rapidly , exposes others to the
maximum danger of infection , and kills
the unfortunate victim in from one to
three years , during most of which time
the sufferer is incapable of self-support
and becomes a burden upon those still
able to labor , or upon the community.
This is what makes it the terrible
scourge of our cities.
A consensus of medical opinion would
warrant the division of tuberculosis
cases into three great classes the cer-