The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1909-04-09
AHBOn bAY FINED BY 4 PROC
LANATiOS

Apfl 20 has been set aside ~ the
state ~ Mississippi ~ "hfbof Day
by proclamation ~ Governor Noel |
while Superintendent u Education
Powers has addressed letters 10 The |
school teachers and % the school |
children " The state calling their At
tcntion ~ the Importance " the Oeca
sion and urging them b. observe aud
celebrate the day ~ " is intended.
Accompanying the letters ~ the
superintendent Is u pamphlet In which
tho day Subscribed, rs meaning set
forth and possibilities Of ia obser
vance depicted In glowing language.
The children are urged 10 plant trees
aud shrubs, and the hope is INDUCED
that every child do something on
this day 90 make the school life Of
others happier and more cheerful.
superintendent Powers explains
that Arbor Day originated In the
State OF Nebraska during the time
when j. Sterling Morton, was Score.
tary OF Agriculture 10 Mr.. Cleveand's
cabinet. Alta meeting Of State agri'
cultursts Mr.. Morton proposed that
300 be offered the county agricultural
associations that planted the greatest
number Of trees during the year, and
| 825 worth Of books To the person who
| planted the most trees on Arbor Day
That was January 4, 1872, aud since
that time millions OF trees have been
planted and the desert wastes Of Ne
braska, and other Western States
have been made to blossom like the
rose.
| While there are no deserts In Mis-
sissippj those who have given the sub
ject any thought are convinced that
the great forests are being rapidly
denudcd and that something must be
done TO maintain growth and keep
up renewals. The aid OF the school
children OF the State is therefore en-
listed by the Governor and State
Superintendent OF Schools.
Endorsing the above suggestion,
Governor Noel has issued the follow
log proclamation, which explains IL.
self
ITO the School Authorities and Pu
pills OF Mississipp:
"As Governor, Join in the request
that Tuesday, April 20, 1909, be con.
stituted Arhor Day for our State
Our forests, like those OF other States,
and other counties, are rapidly disap
pearing AT the present rate OF
growth and OF destruction Of timber,
the supply OF the whole Union will be
exhausted within thirty years. or
course, high and increasing prices OF
lumber will lessen use and consump-
tion, and postpone TO some extent, the
evil which will certainly befali us, I'M
less n revolution be effected In the
timber industry. Forest, flowers,
shrubbery, birds, the beauty and the
usefulness OF a country, rise and fall
together, Extremes OF heat and cold,
OF droughts and floods, mark all tree.
, less lands. From such unfortunate
conditions we can be delivered by
timely thought, study and labor in
the conservation and development of
forest, flower and bird life. therefore
recommend that on theday mentioned
all educational institutions discuss
/, tree planting, forest preservation and
bird protection, aud that every per-
son be encouraged to render some per-
sonal service along these lines at
least TO the extent OF planting aud
overlooking the growth OF some tree,
shrub, vine or flower and to he i'm.
pressed with the important bearing
bird life sustains TO successful growth,
: OF farm crops, trees, flowers, and OF all
I vegetable life.n
n In witness thereof Governor Noe
h sets his hand aud Ankles the grea,
: seal OF the State OF Mississippi.