Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-05-06
w. Barrett, State Superintend-
ent of Irrigation and Forestry
on the Subject.
An Urgent Appeal to the Citizens of
North Dakota to Plant
Trees.
Miscellaneous Local News Gathered
For the Intormati0 n of Weekly
Tribune Readers.
Arbor Day.

EDITOR TRIBUNE: One of the
thoughtful sons of the bleak, treeless
west discovered the need of a deeper in
terest in the matter of forestry, and
seeking for a desirable method to pro.
mote this object, became impressed with
the idea of having all the people devote
one day of the year exclusively to the
"a planting Of seedlings and tree seeds.
This was the beginning of Arbor Day,
the wise originator being J. Sterling
Morton, the then governor of Nebraska.
Since that time Arbor Day has been OBJ.
served in most of the states and terri
tories of the union. And as progressive
thought is limited to no CLINE or nation,
our mother country, old @England, took
up the project and theES,e the custom
has spread until the day has been OBJ
served in Scotland, France, South Afri-
ca, and the great islands of Ocesnica.
The observance of Arbor Day nas
been attended not only with pleasure
but with most desirable results. In our
own country, particularly in the west,
many thousands of trees of different
vfysieties have been planted on this day,
! from eason to season, and those having
snecessary care and conditions have
grown and fourished, adjoining the
country and city alike. The attractive
and much admired trees surrounding
the state house in the capital park at
Bismarck were started under territorial
rule IN Arbor Day, and many of the
trees set out and dedicated to the noble
and the good n year ago, in harmony
with the proclamation of our konored
governor, are now in a fourishlng and
promising condition. These last years
paintings thousands we're planted by
school children alone) are to be seen on
the tree lot, at the home, the school
house, the church and along the streets
and roadways-living beauties of bene-
fcient uses.
And again u worthy executive calls
upon the people. to plant trees, shrubs,
vines and flowers on May 6. This is a
privileged opportunity and the sacred
trust is binding upon all classes. Then
let the elderly fathers and mothers plant
trees as a token of love to the coming
generations. Let the strong and active
plant trees as an evidence of usefulness
in their day and nation. Let the youth
and maiden and the happy children
plant trees, trailing vines and shrubs and
flowers Of odor or bloom-naming each
in remembrance of those who have
wrought for human good-to beautify
and ~sanctify the land, whereby they but
confirm themselves in the office of gener-
Gus benefactors of the present and COM
ing time. Let the. unlettered plant for
recreation, the thoughtful for favorable
use, and the wise for economic purposes.
Leginstruction upon arbor culture &C.
s5mpany the exercises. Let the spirit
and the object Of Arbor Day, the study,
culture and development of forestry be
continued through all the coming years
when, 10, shade trees, windbreaks, graves
and forests will e~ncircle the homestead,
dot the vale, clothe the hill and line the
water courses of our rich broad state;
to beauty the landscape, to shield from
cold and hot winds, to modify and i'm
prove the climate, conserve moisture,
and to assist in the production of condi-
tions indispensably necessary for ascer-
tainty of crOps and the highest and most
profitable attainment of cultural pur-
suits. WV. BARRETT,
State Supt. of Irrigation and Forestry.
Bismarck, N. D., April 81, 1892.