The courier., 1897-04-17
City Improvement Association.

and representative of a large circle CT
citizens. The paper on "Arboriculture'
by Mrs. Mcconnell was received with
the very best attention and heartily ap-
preciated. Mrs. Mcconnell is known in
Lincoln as a pioneer in the matter of
urging city improvement when the
foundations of institutions were being
laid in the first years and her enthusi-
asm does not abate. Her paper yester-
day was most excellent. 1t referred to
the love and worship OF trees among
the ancients, from me Grecian oracle
groves to the Druidic oaks and in later
days Of the influence of trees upon the
poets of all lands.
She spoke with sadness of the denud-
alton of our own hills and mountains.
that seems to threaten that forests of
any kind will be as rare as now are
those of the sequoias Of the California
groves.
In rapid review the great advance in
arboriculture in Europe was mentioned
France has reclaimed whole depart
ments from miasmatic swamps and
shifting sand dunes to fertile regions
fair to look upon. Germany since Fred
eric the Greats first steps has done
wonders and produced a great source
of national wealth. Italy has turned her
attention to tree culture. The campagna
is being wrested from the reign of fever
England's magnificent parks and storied
trees tell of that nations love for trees.
Coming to our own country, Mrs. Nc
COnnelrs paper was as follows:
I'm our own land we find a great
awakening on the subject of forestry.
Warned by the experience by other
lands our government and the different
states of the union have enacted wise
laws for the preservation and perpetual
ton of our forests.
Early in colonial days New Hamp-
shire and New York foresaw the de-
struction of their forests. Laws were
enacted to prevent and repair the in
jury. Agricultural societies tried to
d SChllHithl lsth ~! SibiC " dbpA l.
culture. But little was accomplished
for the boundless forests seemed mex
haustible.
But within the last few decades mar
vellous changes have been wrought
throughout our land. In this movement
Nebraska has been and now is a leader.
'The people of Nebraska, coming to
these treeless plains from older states,
where the grand old trees were the
companions and friends of their child
hood, realized how much of the joy
and beauty of life came from the COM
panionship of trees. Their economic
value too was a potent factor.
"a public sentiment, borne of neces-
sity, made the conditions favorable.
when at a meeting of the state board
of agriculture in Lincoln, January 4,
1872. through the far-sighted and inspir-
ing genius of j. Sterling Morton 'ArbOr
day was founded. From this beginning
Arbor day has grown to be one of our
most popular festivals. 1t is now
observed by every state in the union.
1t has been adopted by lands beyond
the sea. Grand results are already at
tanned by its stimulating influence. 1t
will increase and multiply as the years
go by.
THE awakened interest in arbOri-
culture has given US government forest
reservations and national parks
throughout the land-the beautiful park
systems of Washington, Chicago, Bos-
ton and most of our cities, great and
small, and aroused the concerted action
of communities for the preservation of
beautiful and historic places.