Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-13
BuaIe Note. for Nebrnskn.

OMAHA. Jan II. To the Editor OF The
Bee: In the dismal and discouraging years
Of the early white occupation of this part
of the Transmissouri country ] said in The
Omaha Daily Herald this: Nebraska is
an agricultural state or It is nothing" Be
hold the verdict Of forty years upon that
tremendous issuel
A few days ago The Bee exulted in the
discovery OF winter wheat in our state as
our proven alternative crop in seasons Of
failure Of the corn crop. and boosted that
the old theory that the protection Of snow
had been shown TO be an error But The
Bee forgot TO tell the reason why It was
not an error until the press drill method
of sowing wheat made the earth play the
part Of snow by protecting the grain from
winds and cold. That great railroad cap
tain, General George w. Holdrege, is the
man who discovered winter wheat for Ne
braska by experiment along the Burlington
lines more than ten years ago. 1t was the
next thing to the greatest bugle-note for
Nebraska as an agricultural state that was
ever sounded. 1 refer to that ringing call
Of Mr.. c. s. Harrison, president OF the Ne
bra ska Park and Forestry association, which
reverberated through the columns OF The
Bee, calling upon the people of the state
TO come forward and lay down their money
to redeem one-fourth OF its sterile area,
which is now a sandy waste, by covering II
with pine trees. II comes to my own eager
ears as a trumpet-call upon the people of
the state to rise as one man to their oppor-
tunity to cover the waste places with valu-
able trees. at no matter what reasonable
cost 1 make no attempt to do Mr.. Harri-
son the injustice of summarizing his fine
appeal for systematic and continuous plant
H.. lee
small districts which would return thou
sands for centuries IN actual wealth. with
parks for decoration. ask everybody to
procure the letter to The Bee and, read
every word of It, and also the press Of the
state to give II immediate and sustained at
tention. Nothing in our larger future In
terests, to my own mind, better deserves It.
The legislators now sitting in the capitol
OF this opuent and growing commonwealth
should raise a Joint committee OF proper
numbers and it's best character, and call
Mr. Harrison before 1t for a careful hear
ing on this great question, that steps may
be taker for a progressive forward move
ment for tree planting on broad plans by
state aid. Trees are not merely rich pro-
ducts for commercial consumption and do
nestle use for the farm and the home.
They protect both farm and home by
Christening the storms; they impart heat to
soften the severity of the winter; they pre-
serve moisture and increase the rainfall,
and adorn the landscape with sylvan
beauty GEORGE L. MILLER.
VIII Not Ask subscriptions.
OMAHA, Jan. Ito the Editor of The
Bee: Your paper of last Thursday evening
states that dinner will be given by the
finance committee of the Young Women's
Christian association next Monday evening
to business men and their wives for the
purpose of raising funds, and that twenty
four business men will be asked to be
responsible for raising $500 each.
| Permit me to state that the invitations
were not issued by the finance committee,
but by the board of directors of the Young
Womens Christian association to friends
| of the cause, and not to business men and
their wives only. That the purpose is not
to raise funds, but as stated in the in
vitation, TO exhibit plans of the new build
| ing and interesting views OF buildings and
work of other associations by means of
| the stereopticon; and to show what il being
done with the money entrusted to the as
ISOLATION by the many members and to
ask for advice in planning the needs of the
| future. The board has not thought what
ever of asking subscriptions on this occa-
sion. VIII you be kind enough TO give
this correction publicity in your Saturday s
issue. Very truly yours,
MRS. GEORGE TILDEN,
Chairman Finance Committee.