The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1926-11-18
Eastern Washington Campaign to Raise $500

way. They are going TO hand 1t down to posterlty
with the story Here is a stand of virgin Douglas
fir We saved it for you"
How"
"Why way back in 1926 the club women of the
state each gave dollar to save tree. Some did
still better and gave $780, Anyway they all worked
like slaves, every club in the state put armor
and went forth to battle that fund of $4,000 might
be raised before the last day of the year, and as
result the most beautiful stand of timber on any
highway in the land passes on from generation TO
generation Timber Exhibit Park. the gift of the
club women of Washington to the state to be
guarded and preserved for all time.
This week and next are the weeks that the
women of eastern Washington are working hardest
to make their dream reality The seven counties
comprising this district have been assessed quota
of $4,000. They hope to have it by Thanksgiving Day
so that thing might be added to the list
of things to be thankful for this blessed year oil
1926. The money throughout the state must be
raised by December goth, and the presentation
made to the state if the option which the club
women have the land is to be taken up.
Mrs G. +. De Graft, chairman of the Save
Tree" committee for eastern Washington, will not
admit a possibility of defeat for the movement
"Why we raise several thousand dollars in the
streets of Spokane in one day on forget-menot OF
poppy drive. Surely in seven counties with en-
thusiasm of up to its present pitch we will
raise the needed amount in two weeks"
The story Of the timber option is an interesting
one. 1t dates back to Once upon time" stand
of beautiful timber on the Index Road Nothing
remains of it but barren stumps. 1t has all been
cut in fact it while women were making
frantic effort TO save IL as the women OF Cali
fornia have saved the giant Redwoods to the pos.
terty not only of California but of the world Who
does not know of the Redwoods of California? Its
women have spent more than S1,25O0OO and before
their program is completed Will spend S30O00Oo
saving the trees of California that not only their
children but their children's children know the
glory Of
"A tree tvhose hungry mouth is preSt
Against the earthS stueet Hotong breast
tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her Ieafy head TO pray.
tree that may in
nest of robins in her hair
Upon tohose bosom SnoV has lain
Who intimately iiUes 0ith rain
When Joyce Kilmer wrote 81 think that shall
never see A poem lovely a tree" and concluded
his poem with the words, Poems were made by
fools like me, But only God make tree" he
must have wondered at the mingled feelings OF the
timber men when they go into the virgin forest
and slay, after the other, the mighty monarchs
found there whose tops almost pierce the heavens.
have heard it said that strong men have wept at
the fall of mighty trees cut by their own hands. No
one could work in the woods and not love the trees
Perhaps it this reverence for trees that brought
such hearty response on the part of the OFFICIALS
OF the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company to the eff
forts of the to this stand of Douglas
fir and induced Mr. Long to give his personal check
for $4,000 to start the fund of 100000 to buy 62S9
acres They are selling the timber to the club
women or the state with the understanding tnat
the timber can never be cut from the tract, for II
il is sold or commercialized it is to Immediately re-
vert to the timber company. The price which the
women are paying is said to be a mere fraction Of
the true value of the timber, the company paying
five times the price asked the club women for a
tract in the vicinity not so good
In choosing this tract, the Division of Conserva'
ton of the Washington State Federation of Wom'
ems Clubs has been most fortunate in having the
able advice of Dean Hugo Winkenwerder and Pro-
essor Elias T. Clark, College of Forestry, Univer-
sity of Washington w. G. Wegle, Snoqualmie Ma