The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-17
Tells of President ROOsevelt's
Plan to Preserve Forests.
THE WORK In KANSAS.
Every Village and Homestead
Bowers of Beauty.
April 10 Is Designated as the
Date.

tant In Kansas as the Fourth Of July
but of late years fast fading mem
Dry, Is to be revived
Governor Hoch and State Superin-
tendent e. T. Fairchild have entered
into a conspiracy to this effect. They
are going to pump some oxygen into
Arbor day this year, and the first step
was the issuance today by Governor
FIoch, of a proclamation designating
April 10 as Arbor day-the day upon
which you are to set out trees.
This proclamation will be followed
by the publication by State Superin-
tendent Fairchild of a program which
he recommends to the school teachers
of Kansas for use on April 10. It will
include Roosevelt's proclamation,
Hoch's proclamation, and few facts
about Arbor day in the past and pres
ent by Mr.. Fairchild. There will be
of the day. and every school in the
state will be expected to plant some
trees. Twelve thousand copies of
this proposed program are being
printed at the MscNeal shop, and will
be distributed the latter part Of the
week.
Superintendent Fairchild said to-
day: THE interest in the growth and
preservation of trees is growing every
year. 1t has reached the place where
it is one of the great national ques-
tons. President Roosevelt has ap-
pointed a time for a conference of all
the governors Of the nation at Wash
ington, to talk about forest preserva-
ton. and other allied subjects. T be-
lieve in Arbor day, and in the lessons
which 1t should teach to children.
The planting of trees by school chill
dren tends to cultivate the aesthetic
side of life. Even though the trees
may not all thrive, it is a good thing
for the children just to be interested
in planting them. If we can plaht
Of Kansas this spring, some of those
trees are sure to live, and so there
will be that much tangible gain to
the state
Governor Hoch's Arbor day pro-
clamation follows:
Spring time with it's buds and blossoms
and wealth of foliage will soon be here,
and in contemplation of it's coming I de-
State to the time honored custom of de-
voting one day each year to the planting
of trees. Nature shows its friendship for
way than in the forests which enrich the
world and in the trees which everywhere
adoTn the landscape eal Trees says ,d Hen
feelings, and our sweetest memories. like
birds, build nests in the branch Sa -
tongues" and he adds, who does not I'M
derstand their language and enjoy their
converse" In some lands trees are so
greatly valued that no one can cut one
down without government permission,
and then another must be planted In It's
stead. In QUIZ own land the wasteful ex-
has been denuded has alarmed our
statesmen until the preservation and re-
storation of our forests has become a ma
tional issue of such great importance that
the President Of the United States has
called a Congress of Governors to meet In
May largely for the purpose of consider
ing this great question. But trees are not
only essential to the country for CONNER
cial purposes; they are are essen,lal TO the
They adorn our cities and surround our
homes with an Indispensable environment
the summer sun, and caress us with their
cool breezes. In winter they stand like
mute sentinels keeping faithful vigil over
Kansas. originally a prairie state, has
assiduously cultivated trees until nearly
every village and city is bower OF beau
with these beneficent gifts Of nature. The
one spot. however, where trees are most
school environment, and nowhere are trees
more needed for the environment of
school house enters unconsctously into
the life of the pupil and Is vital part OF
his educa ion.
In consultation with Hon. e. T. Fair
hs eeen Il that
DAY this year shall be especially devoted,
so far as our mutual influence may go, to
the aQOTuLnenL Oh t1lS SCHOOi STOuHOS OI
the State with trees. and this message.
supplemented by letter from Mr.. Fair
child with other matter appropriate to
this subject, will be placed in the hands
Of the school people of the state. and I
urge boards OF education, teachers and
10th. which I here and now designate as
ARBOR DAY, to the planting of trees
about the school premises OF the State.
Of the nearly nine thousand school dis
tricts Of Kansas.