The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-21
Freshman Class Of Fairmont
High School to Plant
4 Tree Saturday

[ NkEIitiiI llSS Sotu' h0J
Saturday is the golden anniver-
), safy. Of Arbor Day and In his pro-
clamation setting aside April 16-
22sas Forest Protection Week and
the golden anniversary Of Arbor
mas, President Harding declares
that "both through widespread
annual celebration OF Arbor Day
aud through the increasing ohser-
vance Of Forest Protection Week
public attention has been COM
tnendably directed to the value Of
trees, the unnecessary waste of
our diminishing forest devastation
and the need for remedial meas
nres against depletion OF an essen
tial natural resources.
For many years 1t has been GUS
tomary for the freshman class of
the Fairmont High School to
plant a tree on Arbor Day, and
this custof was carried out
'this custom was carried out
exercises today, including speech
eslby members OF the class.
The Arbor Day idea originated
fifty years ago with ]. Sterling
Morton, Nebraskan, who was
then president of the state board
Aagriculture and who was at
forwards appointed Secretary Of
Agriculture In PresideN Cleve-
9ais second administration. At
the day was April 10, but
= Y Arthe legislature changed II to
April 90, the date OF Mr.. Nor
TOMS birth.
More than a million trees were
planted in tho state on that first
Arbor Day and since then the idea
has spread to practically every
state In the union. Nearly bill
Non trees have been planted in
Nebraska since then, and some
5000 acres Of treeless grass land
III the sand-hills have already
been successfully reforested to
ptnetby artificial planting.
The first observance Of Arbor
Pay in Ohio, which was held dur
ing the sessions OF a national for
INSTRUMENTATION III SluGIIudLlp
took an entirely new form at the
suggestion Of Warren HiGhley,
9afestdent Of the Ohio Forestry
Commission. Under the direction
of John B. Peaslee, superintend-
entSof schools, the school children
Of the city had prominent part
in the celebration, which includ-
ed public parade through the
streets to Eden Park where trees
We're planted in memory of dis
tthguished men.
Twenty thousand children parti-
cipated in the singing and reciting
and In putting soil about the
trees, which had already been set
itIsplace. Two new elements were
introduced into the Arbor Day
plan on this occasion the day was
i1adeea school festival and the
practice OF planting memorial
trees and groves was started.
This became known as THE Gin
cinnati plan" and was largely re-
sponsible for the extension of Ar
Dor Day over the rest Of the Uni
ted States and beyond. Tree
tlanting became a festival COM
bfning pleasure, utility and in
struction: and one Of the graatest
benefits Of the observance OF Ar
Dor Day has been its effect in i'm
pressing upon the minds of the
= young people the value OF trees
and the necessity Of conserving
aliSthe natural resources OF the
country. A@s1Nai 4' = 'A'
s ArSor p reSSa has spread sps U1S not
only throughout the whole United
IN 1887 the educational depart.
ment Of Ontaria set aside the
flower planting day. In 1885 The
plan was adopted officially in
1Es1b, and Is now in vogue in ali
the dependencies Of the United
adas Australia, the British Vest
indies. South America, New yea
TaiSan and China.
America has the prettiest na-
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