The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-28

Washington, d. c., March 27.-
| Arbor day Of this year will be cele-
brated with more enthusiasm than
, usual. 1t will mark the 50th ami
versary of the institution of ArboT
] day. Ceremonies celebrating this
semi-centennial will be held all
over the United States. Some for
eign countries have followed the
American lead and set aside q tree
planting day.
j. Sterling Morton is responsible
for the idea. Having taken up his
residence in Nebraska. then known
as the ''treeless state" he put forth
the idea of having an annual tree
planting day. At meeting OF the
state board of agriculture of Ne
braska, held in Lincoln on Jan. 4.
1872, he introduced resolution
that Wednesday, the 10th day of
April, 1872, be especially
set apart and consecrated for tree
planting in the state of Nebraska. :"
The resolution was adopted, and
prizes were offered for the indi-
vidual and the county society re-
sponsible for planting the greatest
number of trees on this occasion.
The plan received wide publicity,
and more than million trees were
planted in Nebraska on that day.
Two years later Governor Fur
mas of Nebraska set aside the 3rd
day of April as Arbor day, and in
1885 the state legislature passed an
act designating April %, Mr. Nor
tons birthday, as Arbor day and
ms kino II q loOaI hnIidou
From its inception until the pres
ent day Arbor day has been cele-
brated enthusiastically in Nebras-
ka. Tree planting was no new thing
in the state, as the earliest settlers
found the lack of timber a serious
drawback. Not only was wood
needed for fuel and fence posts, but
wooded areas for the protection OF
field crops and fruit trees from
winds sweeping across this fiat
country were imperative. But until
Mr.. Morton gave his idea to the
state, tree planting had been hap
hazard. Nearly billion trees have
been planted in the state since the
of Arbor day. Instead
Of being the ''treeless state" Ne
braska is now one of the leaders |
in practical forestry, it being esti-
mated that 100000 acres have been !
planted in trees. In 1895, in rec
ignition of this great change, the |
Nebraska legislature passed a res
0lutiOn giving the state the popu- |
lar name of The Tree Planters |
State"
Other States Follow.
Kansas and Tennessee were the
next states to take to the idea, fol-
owing the lead of Nebraska in
1875. The following year Mime
sofa joined the ranks. Kansas was
much the same sort of territory as
Nebraska, and the same reasons
mpelled the action of that state.
was forested, but the
white pine there was being de-
troyed at such an alarming rate,
With no provision for future re-
that the Arbor day i
dea got quick response there. II
After Minnesota adopted the idea I
here was wait of some years. I
Then in 1882 North Dakota and
ohio began to celebrate the day. I;
The first celebration in Ohio gave I
new angle to the spread of the
dea. At a national forestry con-
.ention in Cincinnati the school I
hildren took prominent part,
1000 of them parading through
he streets to Eden park, where
rees were planted in memory of {
.reat men. The children partici- |
'ated in singing and recitins, and |
n putting soil about the roots of {
he newly planted trees. This oc-
aston was the Inauguration of
making Arbor day school festival ]
nd of planting memorial trees and t
roves. II
These new developments came to t
e known as "the Cincinnati plan" {
nd are regarded as largely re- {
ponsib1e for the spread of the i
rbor day idea throughout the rest II
f the United States. and even be- {
ond. AS school festival, Arbor I
ay is observed throughout the {
ountry Ontario in 1887 set aside &
lie first Friday in May as a flower /
nd tree planting day. The plan I