Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-29
Estate HOUSE..
Arbor Day Suggestion by
President Roosevelt.
State Registrar Young Sends
Letter TO Town Clerks.
Roland A. Scribner, Chief Clerk to
Secretary Of State, Resigns.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council.
Tuesday, May 7. at 10 A. M.

Inc following communication from
Hon. w. w. Stetson, State superinrend-
cnt Of public schools, enclosing a letter
from President Roosevelt relative TO
Arbor day, and addressed TO the school
children of the United States, has been
mailed to the superintendent of schools
in the State of Maine:
Augusta, April, 1907
To the Superintendent:
The following timely letter from our
President needs no explanation or en-
dorsement:
The White House,
Washington, April 49, 1907.
My Dear Sir-I enclose q copy of the
Presidents letter on Arbor day to the
children of the United States. This let
ter is being sent to the children through
the school officers of each state and
territory. If you can assist the PreSi-
dent i'll reaching the children Of your
jurisdiction he will greatly appreciate
yonr cooperation.
Very truly yours,
VIM. LOEB, JR..
Secretary to the President.
w. w. Stetson, State Supt. Of Pub
lie Schools, Augusta Me.
To the School Children of the United
States:
ArhOr day (Which means simply
Tree day. is now observed in every
state in our Union. and mainly in the
schools. At various times from January
to December, but chiefly in the month
of April, Cor May in Maine) you give
day, or part of a day, to special exer-
cises and perhaps to actual tree plant
ing, in recognition Of the importance of
trees to us as Nation, and of what
they yield in adornment, comfort and
useful products to the communities in
which you live.
1t is well that you should celebrate
your Arbor day thoughtfully, for with
in your life time the Nations need of
trees will become serious. We of an old
er generation can get along with what
We have, though with growing hard
ship; hut in your fun m3nhood and
womanhood you will want what nature
once so bountfully supplied and man
SO thougltlessly destroyed; and be-
cause of that want you will reproach
us. not for what we have used, but for
what we have wasted.
For the Nation as for the man and
succecs is the right use of what we
have and the Improvement of present
opportunity. IF YOU neglect to prepare
Yourselves row for the duties and re-
sponSibilities which will fall upon you
| later, if you do not learn the things
which YOU will need to know when
your school days are over, you Will Sut-
| fer the consequences. SO any nation
which in its youth lives only for the
sumeS without outstanding. must cX-
pect the penalty of the prodigal, whose
labor could with difficulty find him the
bare means of life.
A people without children would face
hopeless future: country without
trees is almost as hopeless; forests
which are 50 used that they cannot re-
new themselves will soon vanish, and
with them all their benefits. A true for
wood, but, as it were, factory of
wood, and ut the same time reservoir
of water. When you help to preserve
our forests or u plant new ones you are
acting the part OF good citizens. the
value of forestry deserves, therefore, TO
be tanght in the schools. which aim to
make good citizens Of you. If your Ar
Dor day exercises help you to realize
what benefits each one of you receives
from the forests. and how by your as
sistance these benefits may continue,
they will serve a good end.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.