Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-18
ARBOR DAY TO BE
NEXT THURSDAY
Great Tree Planting Day Of the Ma
tion Founded by a Nebraskan
Years Ago.
TO. PLANT A MILLION TREES


He that pianteth tree Is the servant Of
lie provideth kindness for many genera
tions
And faces that he hath not seen shall
bless him.
Thursday. April 90, is Arbor day
in Nebraska. and probably several
million trees will be planted in this
state.
Instituted by i. Sterling Morton,
Nebraska pioneer, this most useful
and practical of all our'holidays has
spread all over the country. until
now it is observed in every state. And
it is a matter of great pride to. Ne
braskans that a citizen of this state
originated the idea. Arbor day is
often referred to as "Nebraska's gift
to the states of the union" --
Need of Trees.
As early as 1854 @. p. Marsh OF Yer
mont. our representative at the courts OF
Italy and Turkey, pointed out the alb
solute need OF forests in this country and
their great influence on climate and rain
fall. I'm Europe the forests are regarded
as the most valuable. CROP he said.
J. Sterling Morton IN 1872 started the
first practical. strong movement for the
establishment of a set day for the plant
Ing of tree and vines.
The first Arbor day proclaimed in the
United States--or the world-was pro-
claimed in Nebraska, April 10, 1879. 1t Is
estimated that 100000 trees were planted
on the treeless plains of Nebraska that
day.
In the sixteen years Immediately follow
ing that, 350OO0.0O0 trees and vines were
planted in Nebraska. And up to the pres
ent time more than thousand million
trees and vines have been planted in Ne
braska.
Fooled the Scientists.
It was a great movement to be started
in state where there were hardly any
trees and on whose soil spectacIed and
lhigh-browed scientists solemly declared
trees would not grow.
Probably in this case necessity was the
mother of invention" and the real and
genuine need Of trees prompted the
pioneer to start the movement to have
trees.
The first Arbor day TO be officially pro
claimed by an executive was that OF 1874
when Governor Robert w. FIarnas
named the third Wednesday in April OF
that year 20 be Arbor day. The day was
proclaimed annually In Nebraska. after
that. until 1886. when the Iegislature
passed an act designating April %, Mr.
Morton's birthday. to be Arbor DAY and
made II a legal holiday each year
Tree Planting state.
The legislature Of 1896 designated Ne
braska as the Tree Planters State
and adopted the golden rod as the floral
emblem. This state even made a change
in its constitution providing that the IN
creased value OF land by reason OF live
fences. fruit trees and forest trees should
not to taken into account In levyins
assessments for taxes.
The school children in all the Omaha
schools will have special exercises In eel
ebration OF the day. There win be songs
and recitations and ceremonies and tree
paintings. Most OF the city schools have
ample trees planted in their grounds now
and 1ourishinc like the green bay tree
these being there now as a result OF by
gone ATbor days and standing as Twins
examples OF the beneficent effects OF tree
planting. In grounds of some OF the
newer schools trees provided By the
Board OF Education will be planted.
The state department OF public instruc-
tion issues a book on Arbor day which il
CONTINUED on Page Two. Column One