The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-04-27
THREE TREES DEDICATED.
One Each to the fMemory of
w. S. Ladd, A. r. Ship
ley, and E. M. Belknap.

Although the wind blew a gale, it did
not deter goodly number of people from
| being present at the college arbor day ex-
ercises last Friday afternoon, which had
been postponed from the 18TH instant on
account of inclement weather. Some
time ago trees had been planted in honor
of w. S. Ladd, A. R. Ship1ey and E. M.
Belknap. which were to be dedicated to
their memory on this occasion. On the
veranda of Cauthorn hall, where the
ceremonies began, were seated the facul-
ty, Hon. E. B. McElroy. Mayor McFad-
den, William Lindsey, of Washington,
Pennsylvania, aud about two hundred
Corvallis citizens On the lawn a few
feet distant, and facing the audience, two
companies of college cadets were drawn
up i'll company front, under command of
Lieut.. Dei1tlar, U. S. A. Standing in
double rank at ''parade rest" their pres
ence added much to the i1npressiveness
of the exercises, which began with an ap-
propriate selection by the college male
quartette. In brief, but neatly worded;
address President Bloss dedicated one of
the trees to the memory of Mr.. Ladd,
late president ofthe board. In sketching
his life, reference was made to the many
struggles and privations endured by the
deceased president during the pioneer
days. who arrived in Portland penniless
stranger and accepted the first work Of
fered hi1n-that of digging up stump on
first street for the small sum of ten cents.
He spoke of his untiring devotion to the
college work, interest in its success and
in most touching manner referred to
his character as man and a christian
gentleman. The other tree was then
dedicated by Prof. Letcher to the memo
ry of Mr.. Shipley. The life of the late
treasurer was briefly reviewed from tho
time of his birth in 1927 in Mt Vernon.
Ohio. He was fellow law student Of
William Window, late secretary of the
treasury, and Senator Norton, of Ohio.
under Acknowledgement Taft. He came
to Portland in 1852, with less than $500;
was energetic, ,sattentive to business, was
twice master of the state grange, thor
ough christian, beloved by all who knew
him, and his life was an example which
all might follow with profit.
Superintendent McElroy was introduc-
ed and spoke for few minutes in which
he paid high tribute to the late Sena-.
tor Cauthorn, who he said introduced the
arbor day law into the Oregon legislature
and through whose efforts was largely
due its passage. Hon. William Lindsey
followed and gave brief account of his
travels, covering distance of 6, 900 miles
which he was just completing. He ex-
pressed himself as highly pleased and
greatly surprised at the beautiful VILLAIN
cite valley, and spoke in commendation
of Agricultural colleges. To illustrate
the advantage of such institutions he de-
scribed a visit recently made to one in
the City of Mexico, where American
plows were in use drawn by oxen. Fol-
lowing each were several students en-
deavoring to familiarize themselves with
the use of two-handled p1ow. In that
country the old fashioned single-handed
wooden plow is still in use. An effort
had been made to introduce the Ameri-
can plow in various parts of Mexico, but
the attempts, the speaker said, had as a
rule proved unsuccessful, and whenever
in use the natives insist in cutting off one
of the handles. For some reason or
other they have no adaptability for learn
ing the use of plow other than the old
wooden affair that has done duty for over
900 years.
The assemblage then marched to the
mechanical hall where the exercises
were concluded. After a song, Prof Co
veil in very fitting address, dedicated
the tree planted in memory of Mr.. Bel
KNAPP, late foreman of the mechanical
department, and whose duties had been
performed for period of nearly three
years under the supervision of the speak
er. Hespoke of the fir tree as being so
fitting and emb1ematic of the life Of the
deceased, in that during all seasons of
the year and under all circumstances it
remained the same; of the esteem in
which he was held by the students, and
whose life was worthy of their emulation