Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1922-04-21
ARBOR DAY AND
FOREST PROTECTION

The president has by proclama'
tion set aside the week OF April IL
to April 22 as Forest Protection
Week. and simultaneously with this
announcement is the one that the
Governor OF Colorado has designat-
ed April 81 as Arbor Day through
out the state. This happens to be
the Golden Anniversary Of the es-
tablishment OF Arbor day. the first
one having been set apart by Neb-
raska for the purpose OF planting
trees. early In April. 1872. Since
that time practically every state In
the Union celebrates some day Is
Arbor Day.
At first the activities were con-
fined to the planting OF trees and
shrubs on school grounds: later on.
parks and roadways were planted
with trees. and still later municipal
ties undertook to plant on = large
scale. The rapid development Of
the idea can be readily understood
when II is known that nearly =
billion trees and more than 700.-
900 aoret have been planted in Neb-
raska alone-once practically
treeless state.
The Forest Service. whose tree
planting operations are usually ex-
tensive. has also been instrumental
in recent years in demonstrating the
beneficial effects on the life Of the
community OF forest protection.
Obviously there are millions OF
trees OF natural origin to every one
planted by man. and II may be
said that the greatest
value of Arbor Day lies in its ef-
feet upon our attitude toward the
trees that are already growing The
mere planting OF trees without also
the care and protection Of those
which we already have would be
quite useless.
In this connection the Forest
Service points out that fores, fires
still continue to be the greatest de-
s,ructive agent OF forests, at least
32.000.000 worth of timber and
other property being destroyed by
them each year. The Significance OF
this can be readily estimated by con-
that all the beneficial re-
suits obtained by tree planting are
obtained in equal or greater meas
ure from those provided on the
hillsides by nature. Not only do
the forests prevent early floods with
the accompanying erosion OF hill
sides. removal OF cultivable soil.
and subsequent droughts, hut they
also are a continual source OF lum-
ber and other timber products for
needs. furnish u refuge
for game. serve as \ direct source
OF financial income to the state
and county: t3s per cent Of the
gross receipts from the National
Forests being returned for schools
and roads,. permit . continual and
steady supply OF irrigation water.
and prevent the drying up OF water
used by the stock which Erxse on
National Forest range.
At the opening OF the camping
and tourist season. when hundreds
pf people will be using the National
Forests. the Forest Service is again
the users OF . few simple
rules for insurinE the preservation
Of our forest resources In beauty
and productivity-be careful with
cigarettes, cigars. and
pipe ashes while In the woods:
never throw live Goals on the
ground: remove dry leaves and In
flamable material from the place Of
tn. campfire before building Il:
and always completely put out tlSe
before leaving II by COW
erinr the ombcrs with clean dirt
or soaking them with water. In
this way large part of the mil.
lions mentioned may be saved to
the people each year and the In
come to the state and county ma.
terialiy increased. and this without
any financial outlay on the part Of