Arizona weekly citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Ariz) 1880-1901, 1896-02-15
Arbor Day at the University OF Aris

a, bor day Friday for the third time
time in the history OF the institution.
The exercises were fully up to the stand
ard of those heretofore given at the Uni
versity. and the appreciation shown by
our citizens by their appearar CO upon
this occasion must bsve been gratifying
to the mem oers of the faculty and stud
ents. The small assembly hall was filled
almost to it's utmost capacity and en-
phasized the necessity for another build
ing containing large room In which
meetings of this character may be held.
The program for the day had been ar
ranged by Profs. Devol, Blake and Hall,
and was not quite 80 long as those OF the
years before. President Billmsn was
chairman of the day and in opening the
exercises spoke briefly Of the University
and its needs.
The first upon the program was an
address upon "Arbor Day, an Historical
Sketch" by Prof. bevol. lie stated
that al Dor day was the outcome chiefly
necessity augmented by the love OF
beauty as felt by mankind. He took up
the forestry question and showed how
the destruction of forests had affected
toe climate, and character Of the vege
tat!on on the surface of the earth and
the politics of various parts Of the world.
He gave some details of tree planting,
showing how 1t had been observed in
Germany SINCE the 10th century, in
u q he In. nj a
century, and how even the ancient AZ
tees, in the region We now occupy, had
been in the haoit of planting tree on
the birth of each child and naming it
for the child. He also gave some stat
Istic showing the enormous consumption
OF forests now going on in this country,
and showed that it would take an area
of Il, 900 million acres to keep up the
forest supply at the present rate OF des-
truction. As to Arbor day proper he
stated that it was fret observed IN 1874
IN Nebraska. Secretary j. Sterling
Morton issued a proclamation setting
aside day for planting trees, and on
the first arbor day ia that state over
L., 600 trees were planted. Since then
g high as 20, 900 trees have been plant
ed Oh a single arbor day in Nebraska.
Connecticut followed, then in 1881 Mich
gan observed en- arbor day. The mex
year the American Forestry congrest
met and appointed a committee to se-
:ure the general observance OF arbor
day throughout the United States, and
with the aid Of earnest advocates In va
-ious parts Of the country this object
has been secured. In most of the east
ern states the school children are deeply
inter ested in arbor day and plant large
numbers OF trees and have beautitied
the school grounds until they are very
attractive in many localities.
The next selection was to have been
Trees" humorous speech, but Mr.
Redeuill, because of the press OF college
duties, was unable to commit his piece
md instead gave clarinet solo, which
| was we'll received.
Prof. Tourney followed with an adj
| dress "The Trees Place In Nature IN
| which he described the sdaptsh.lity oil
diff ,rent kinds of trees OF different local
| tiles and the various conditions or soil
| Innate, etc. He showed that in Ariz.
| ona we have an abundance or native
rees to provide all needed for forestry
purposes aud especially for ornaments
'stion. He made strong plea for toe
planting of trees about our homes
| where they will grow without much wa
| ter and a minimum amount OF care.
The numb Der was piano solo entitled
"Palms" by Miss Jessie Hughes, which
| solicited the hearty applause always &C.
corded her when she appears in pu blic.
Miss Virginia Mosen, Prof. Hughes
most apt pupil in elocution, recitt q
Longfellow's ''The Language OF Flow
re-"
The next phase OF the tree question
was taken up by Professor Blake whose
ddress entitled "The Trees OF the
Rocks" dealt with the history OF trees
he spoke of the development of psleo
iotany and the valuable results attain &c
by that science III determing the age
If trees upon tho esrth's surface. de
bowed how the minute structure oil
trees had beer preserved in sand ano
silt and mud, afterwards transformed
| to imperishable rock. He spoke espe
nally of the stone forests in Apache
county, these constituting one OF the
reat wonders of the world. The minut-
asst details OF the structure oil
the trees are preserved and their great
ty are easily brought out by the 81
# ihe microscope.
The new music teacher, Professor
CASTILLO followed with an excellent selec
ton from the opera Trovstore. "Treet
Chemically Considered" was the title oil
the rext number, an essay by Marx
Walker, Jr. He stated that trees were
engaged in the same work as the chemist
that is, were handling chemical COM
pounds and were transforming them into
Ither compounds. He described the
different elements found 10 trees and
how found and their source. de spoke
,f the economy Of trees in nature AZ
| reaking up carbon dioxlde, commonly
called carbonate acid gas, IN its elimin
4ting carbon and oxygen, using the
,arbon and turning the oxygen back te
he cir. Carbon di-oxide is an inert gas
which man can not use but when TIE
xygen is returned to the air 1t is Jus'
What man and all animals need to
breathe.
The governor was present and spoke
upon the necessity OF students taking
he best advantage of the surrounding
here and making their impress upor
This region. He emphasized the neces
| sity of character building, which is after
/
| ddress from the members of the board
If regents was given by Mr.: j. Geo
Hilz,nQer, who sp' Ike very briefly uPor
he university, llkenins it to tree. HI
ssid the students should show theil
| appreciation to those who planted thu
university here by making the best us'
Of the university, that lie, by becoming
coed students, aud behaving decently,
The program within the building wal
,Iosed by vocal duet, selection trou
| rrovatore by Professor and Mrs. Cas
tile. Mrs. Castillo is a pupil OF th'
professors and certainly showed excel
lent training for she thoroughly captiv
ated the audience and hBd to respond Il
an encore. The audience then adjourn
I'd to the ground where the Fresh mal
nan class planted palo verde. Thl
is the first native tree planted upon tn
yround upon any public occasion. Ml7
Flood represented the class and spoke o
the desirability of having native tree
IL, ,6 he,