Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-03
April % Fiftieth
Anniversary Of
Arbor Day in u. S.


anniversary of the first Arbor Day is
April %. The month brings also the
the father of Arbor ray; the fiftieth
anniversary of the es Adjustment of
the famous Arnold Arboretum: and
the fortieth anniversary of the
rounding OF the American Forestry
Association at Cincinnati.
]. Sterling Morton ircugurated the
first Arhor Day in "teeless Nebras-
Ia" in 1877. At first the date was
April 10Th, but later the legislature
changed it to April 20, Mr.. Morton's
birthday.
schools throughout tic country are
making plans to celebrate the date
and there will be tree planting both
this Spring and. where conditions are
more suitable. IN Fall In Washing
ton the American Forestry Associa-
ton will plant a tree in memory of
Morton and in New York City on
April p. the centennial of Grants
birth, it will also I, mt tree on Riv-
erside Drive near Grants tomb. The
tree is being sent to New York from
Grants Farm near ST Louis by
August Busch, present owner Of the
property.
The John Burroughs Clubs will in
.aLSurate the Washington tree plant
ing with the placing Of Hall of
Tame on the grounds of the Lincoln
Memorial. The trees will be red
oaks placed in the shape of a half
wheel for Burroughs. Whitman. EN-
crson, Thorcau, '.iuir. Theodore
Roosevelt assistant secretary Of the
ravy. who as q boy Inew Burroughs,
will plant the tree for the naturalist,
whose birthday IS Monday.
Since J. Sterling Morton gave
start TO Arbor Day. the idea has
spread throughout TIE world. His
son, JOY Morton of Chicago. has Just
given q tract of land near that city
for an arboretum. The father of
Arbor Day was born at Adams. JET
ferson county. \. ", in 1882. He
vas graduated from Union College in
1854, and the following year settle 4
in Nebraska, first It Bellevue, and
later at Nebraska City, where he
founded and edited the Nebraska
City News, the first newspaper to be
established in that state.
Mr.. Morton was elected to the
territorial legislature in 1856 and in
1858 was appointed secretary of the
territory by President James IL
chanan. Upon the resignation of
Governor w. A. Richardson, a few
J onths later, he bccarl" acting go----
crnor and local rep, sentative OF the
administration il the bitter struggles
in the territory. In 1898 he entered
the cabinet of President Grover
Cleveland as Secretary of Agricul-
ture. remaining in Office until 1897.
J ~0sdent Mckinley. j. 1901, appoint
Cd Mr.. Morton one OF the commits
sioners for the Louisiana Purcha-e
Exposition.
Following the lead Ct Sterling Nor
ton, as long ago as 1895, the Nebras-
la legislature proclaimed that Ne
br" shall hercof~r be known as
"The Tree Planters State" for
100000 acres had been planted. Fol
lowing the lead Of Nebraska, Ten
ncssee and Kansas rtooSnized Arbor
Day in 1875. Then .here was a
lapse until 1882 when Ohio and
North Dakota decided to have tree
planting days.
In Ohio the celebrate was during
the sessions of the convention in Gin
c.nnati which resulted l.. the forming
Int is now the American Forestr-y
Association. Warren Higley. Of the
ONO Forestry Commission, sugges. ed
to John r. Peaslee, tbs superintend-
cnt OF schools. that the school chill
dren have part in tie celebration.
This resulted in parade Of 10000
school children through the streets TO
Eden Park where trees were planted
IN honor Of famous men. The follow
ing year at st. Paul, B. G.. No,thrtin
OF Connecticut, introduced a resolu-
ton calling on every safe to set aside
tree planting day. In 1887 Ontario
set the first Friday in May fot tree
planting. In 1895 Spain adopted the
ldea and Hawaii took It up in 1905.