The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-22
ARBOR DAY.

NV Gay iitN SchihS SAe ASAN W 49,
other year. The motives that brought
the holiday into existence are, it cannot
be denied, of the most p~raiseworthy
kind. Whether we regard the day from
the utilitarian, the aesthetic or the eli
matte point of view, the occasion IS II
that should commend itself with espec-
ial force to the people OF Montana.
While it is true that nature has richly
lowered the state with vast supplies Of
timber, it is equally true that our plenty
and the growing needs of III young
communities have made us spendthrifts.
In the matter of railroad supplies alone,
it can be readily seen how largely we
are draining natural timber re-
sources. Place the life of IA tie at a
couple of years, estimate the extent of
our railroad system and the requisite
local consumption, and it takes no elab-
crate figuring to prove ourselves within
measurable distance of the end. And
railroad demands are but a single item
in the long account that is growing
every year with the growth of the state
and its cities. There is one of the diff
culties hat .Arbor day was wisely insti-
tuted to meet and cope with. Further,
there seems no reason to doubt that the
destruction of our forest lands means an
essential difference in our climatic con
ditions. The absence of a copious rain
fall and therefore of an abundant water
supply is one of the main difficulties
that the agriculturist and the placer
miner have to reckon with. To ma
~terially lessen, as we are constantly
doing, the area of our timber lands and
to decrease our already insufficient rain
fall is therefore a policy that verges on
the suicidal. Arbor day should help us
in some degree to remedy the evil.
So far the day in Montana has not
proved a conspicuous success. 1t may
be that the omission is due in part to
novelty. Most people are perfectly vii,
ling to admit its desirability, but it is
not old enough to have become a recog-
nized institution. No doubt, too,the diff
culties net with in the successful rams
planting and rearing of trees, have acted
as a considerable deterrent to popular
action in the matter. Whatever the
reason, there is one point that seems
specially worthy of the attention Of the
citizens OF Helena. Our city and its i'm
mediate environs are not overburdened
with the monarchs of the forest or even
with tender saplings. But we have
trees on Mount Helena, not many of
them, it is true, but still there are some.
One day, Helena is going to be a great
city, and its citizens will be glad to es-
cape from the pent-up streets and close
houses to the freedom and the fresh
breezes of the ~neighboring hills. Is it
wise to allow the senseless destruction
of the trees we do possess? 1t is surely
a most sarcastic comment on our OBJ
servance Of Arbor day that bonfires
should be blazing from the SUBMITS of
the ne%ighboring mountains. They serve
no useful purpose, that goes without
saying. They are the work, not of the
malicious, but of the thoughtless, and
some day the vandalism will be deeply
regretted. We have already called at
tention to the matter in these columns,
and the recurrence of Arbor day and of
the fires induces us to speak again. If
there is no one with the requisite au-
thority to put an end to this foolish
ness, a strong expression of opinion on
the part of the thoughtful among the
citizens may serve the purpose equally
we'll. 1t should be forthcoming.