Show 1 s i 1 Ti y i k r 4 i t I 5 hOZ By ELMO SCOTT WATSON the date for the observance of Arbor day varies farles In different states of the Union most of the theS celebrations are held durIng during dur- dur durIng Ing the months of April iJ S and May It li Is therefore appropriate to recall at nt this time the to whom man we weare weare weare are Indebted for this holi- holi holiday holi holl holiday day and his service ser to the nation in fn taking this step to conserve one or of orthe the great natural resources of this country The Father of Arbor Day was J J Sterling Morton who at nt a n meeting or of orthe the state board of agriculture in to Ne- Ne Nebraska Nebraska Ne Nebraska braska on January 4 1872 a resolution setting aside April 10 for tor planting planting tree Nebraska had always been known asUn as a Un treeless state but butIn butIn butIn In that year as a result of Mortons Morton's suggestion sugg more than a million trees Were planted The custom was con con- continued continued continued during the lie following years and andIn andin andIn In 1575 Kansas and Tennessee fol fol- followed followed followed lowed the example of Nebraska by setting aside one day hi In the year M as Arbor or Tree Planting day In 1870 MInnesota alarmed by the destruction destruction destruction tion of ot her white pine forests began to observe Arbor day North Dakota b began gan In fn 1882 and In Missouri the idea was taken up in fn in Ohio first celebrated Arbor day on April 27 1882 1552 at nt Cincinnati as ns a re- re result result re result sult of a visit to that city of ot Baron Richard Von Yon Steuben the royal chief fore forester ter of o the then German empire Ot Of that Hint occasion an Ohio historIan cs i Von Steuben a R descendant of ot the th famous General Von Steuben who had aided General Washington so BO conspicuously conspicuously In the Revolutionary war had come ome to America In 1881 with other Von to unite In tho the centen centen- centennial centennial nial celebration of the th surrender at Yorktown Baron Von Steuben's work orle In for for- forestry for otry estry In Germany had gained him a ft worldwide reputation and when he vIsited Cincinnati It was W but natural that advocates of or forest conservation In the Middle West should seek him OUt for advice Plant trees he told toM them thorn For every tree treo you ou cut down plant an- an another an other or two If It possible A committee was appointed to create cre- cre create cre-at cre ate public Interest In tho the subject of tree planting and Its work culminated culminated t ed In a ft three days three days meeting In hall beginning April 25 23 1882 The Schools were dismissed on the last two days Ia's ays to enable the pupils pupil and teachers teach- teach ers era r to take part In a n celebration of cf tree planting In the public parks park The governor of Ohio had designated April 27 preparation as Arbor cia day Extensive tion had been made for tor Its observance In Eden park was In holiday attire The soldiery and organized companies of citizen formed an Immense pro pro- procession pro pro-ce cession Ion and marched to tho the park parle Thousands of school children were al- al already already al already ready massed there when tho the march march- marcher era er rs arrived At the firIng dring of a signal gun Writes write Henry HenrT Howe the hIstorIan hl Presidents Grove Pioneers Grove Battle Grove Groe Citizens Citizen Memorial Grove Groe and Authors Author Grovo Grove were planted and dedicated with loving hands and approprIate ceremonies Addresses were made by Gov ex-Gov- Noyes Doctor Loring Cassius I Clay of ot Kentucky Durbin Var Ward Warl and nd others No tight sight more beautiful no ceremonies more touching had ever been witnessed In Cincinnati An Im- Im Important Im Important lesson In forestry had Inde indeed d been brought home to the hearts ot of the people In 1 1883 IMS the Ohio State Forestry as- as as association sedation was wag organized Tie The same Year ear the th Ohio legislature by Joint resolution fixed tho the fourth Friday In AprIl as a Arbor day Howe How declares that the grovell planted In n Cincinnati were the first memorial groves ever planted In AmerIca tho the first public planting ot of trees In honor of ot the tho memory ot of authors statesmen soldiers pioneer and other distinguished citizen citizens Ile He might also have added that this was the beginning of the part played by school children In the tl e Arbor day celebration which has become such sucha a marked feature of the celebrations since that time Another result of ot this CIncinnati celebration was that It led directly to the formation of the American Forestry association of which George GeorgeE E Loring of Salem Mass was first president and with which Incidental incidental- Incidentally ly lr Morton was closely associated for many years In 1883 the American Forestry congress as the AmerIcan Forestry association was then known met In St Paul MInn B D G North North- Northrop Northrop North rop rop of Connecticut Introduced a res res- res- res resolution resolution recommending the thc observance ot of Arbor day In all the schools ot of the country I A committee was ap- ap appointed ap appointed pointed to press the matter with Mr Northrop as chairman In 1881 1 he secured the adoption of ot the toll follow following ow ing resolution at the annual meeting or of the National Education association then tion Resolved That In view of the valuable valuable able results of ot Arbor day In the tho six Ix states where such uch a day has ha been ob- ob observed ob observed served alike upon the School chool and the th home this association recommend recommends the general observance of ot Arbor day for tor schools school In all fill our states tates Since then the ob observance of ot Arbor Arborday Arborday Arborday day has spread beyond the United States In 1881 1887 1887 the first Friday In May was set aside In the province ot of Ontario for tree planting Spain adopted the plan officially In fn 1890 Hawaii took It ft up In 1905 and It ft Is Isnow isnow Isnow now observed In fn all the dependencies ot of the United States and In la Great Britain Canada Australia the Eng Eng- English English lish West Indies South Africa New Zealand Norway Russia Japan and China In 1885 1585 the Nebraska legislature wishing to further honor the man who had originated the Idea of ot Arbor Arborday Arborday Arborday day passed an act net changing the date of Its observance to April 22 Mor Mor- Morion's torts tOILs birthday and making It ft a n legal holiday In that state Morton was born at Adams Jefferson county N Ny Y In 1832 lie He received red his early educatIon at nt the Methodist Episcopal academy at nt Albion MIch to which state his parents had moved In 1850 he was a student at the University of Michigan Ue lie graduated from Union college In 1854 and the fol- fol following fol following lowing year settled In ln treeless Ne- Ne Nebraska Nebraska Ne Nebraska braska first at Bellevue and later at Nebraska City where he founded and edited the Nebraska City News the first firt newspaper to be established In that state In 1850 and 1857 1851 he was elected to the territorial legislature and In 18 was appointed secretary of the terri tern territory tory by President James Buchanan Upon the resignation of Gov W A later he Richardson a 8 few months became acting governor go and local representative of ot the administration In the bitter struggle In the territory as the Democratic candi candi- candidate candidate candidate In 1860 1800 he was but was defeated date for governor From that time thue until 1881 when he was wag again a candidate for governor In politics active part he be took tool no In 1893 he entered the cabinet ot of President Grover Cleveland as secre secre- secretory secretary secretary remaining In of- of of office tary tory of agriculture fice Lice until 1897 By Dr 1895 the Nebraska legislature was able to proclaim to Nebraska's sister states that henceforth she WM was I to be known as the Tree Planter Tree State because this commonwealth whIch had once been so BO markedly destitute of ot this form fonn of ot verdure no had more than acres planted in fn trees Tiro TIre celebration tl t Arbor day In 1922 had special significance since It was ns the fiftieth anniversary ot of tho founding of or Arbor day und and at nt that time Charles Lathrop Pae Pact PaX president ot of tIle the American Tree assertion asso an- an announced an announced his seeing farseeing plat pink tor for cele cele- cele- cele celebrating celebrating brating the tho centennial of At Arf bor or day In 1972 1072 His Idea Is summed Bummed up In these words Plant a tree and register It ft with the tha Amen Ameri American can Tree association so go that your name will vIII be on the honor roll of planters tree planters and good citizens fifty years from now Since then the as- as as ns association sedation has urged this Id Idea a upon Americans so that thousands of ot trl trees es will be planted and nod marked by 1072 and the centennial celebration of ot that year ear may bo be made the greatest ever held In ln this country The dates on which Arbor fy y f- f f c y is observed In ln the various states Md SAd Ln in inthe Inthe the poss possessions are February Alabama Alabama February 22 ArIzona In Arizona In five northern counties Friday following the th first day of or At Elsewhere Friday following the th first day of February FIrst Arkansas Arkansas First Saturday In March March California California March 7 Third Colorado Colorado Third Friday In April The governor Issues a proclamation each year Connecticut In Connecticut In early May by proc proc- proclamation proclamation proclamation of oC the governor Delaware In Delaware In April by proclamation of the th governor Florida First Florida First Friday In February Georgia FIrst Georgia First Friday In December Hawaii First Hawaii First Friday In November Various Idaho Idaho Various dates In April selected se- se selected by county superintendents superintendent Proclamation Illinois Proclamation of ot the gov gOV- gOVernor governor governor Third Indiana Indiana Third Friday In April each year Proclamation Iowa Iowa Proclamation of the governor Option Kansas Kansas Option of ot the tho governor go Kentucky Kentucky-In Kentucky In the taU tall by proclamation proclamation proclamation tion of the tho governor No definite elate date dat Second Louisiana Louisiana Second Friday In Janu Janu- January Janu- Janu January January ary by resolution of ot state tate board or of education Option Maine Maine Option of the tho governor Second Maryland Maryland Second Friday In April New Jersey Jersey-By Jeney By law second FrIday In April New v N w Second Mexico Mexico Second Friday In March Proclamation of the th governor New York Friday York Friday following first or of orMay May North Friday Carolina Carolina Friday after Novem November November November ber 1 North Option Dakota Dakota Option of the gover gover- governor governor nor Proclamation Ohio Ohio Proclamation of the governor About the th middle middio of April Oklahoma FrIday Oklahoma Friday following th second Monday In March Second Oregon Oregon Second Friday In April Proclamation Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Proclamation if It f th governor Porto Last Rico Rico Last Friday In Novem Novem- November November ber Rhode Second Island Island Second Friday In May South Third Carolina Carolina Friday In No- No November No November vember South Dakota No Dakota No law but general generally ly observed In April Tennessee Appointed Tennessee Appointed by county su superintendents In November Texas February Texas February 22 Utah April Utah April Iii 16 by statute Vermont Option Vermont Option of ot the governor Usually first Friday In May VIrgInia Proclamation Virginia Proclamation of the ge gt In the spring West Vest Usually Virginia Usually observed on the second Friday In April Wisconsin Proclamation Wisconsin Proclamation of the tho th governor Usually the tho first Friday In May Washington Proclamation Washington Proclamation of ot tI the th governor Usually the th first Friday is h May Wyoming Proclamation Wyoming Proclamation of the gov- gov governor governor gov governor Usually the th first Friday In May |