The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-05-10
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

~LTHOUGH the date for the
~ observance of Arbor day
varies in different states of
" the Union, most of the
" n celebrations are held dur
w ing the months of April!
IN n and May. 1t. is therefore
NNSY appropriate to recall at this
- time the man to whom we
are indebted for this holt
day and his service to the nation in
taking this step to conserve one of
the great natural resources of this
country.
The 'Father Of Arbor Day" was j.
Sterling Morton who at meeting of
the state board of agriculture in Ne
braska on January 4, 1872, introduced
resolution setting aside April 10 for
tree-planting. Nebraska had always
been known as "a treeless state" but
in that year, as a result of Morton's
suggestion. more than million trees
were planted. The custom was con-
tinued during the following years and
in 1875 Kansas and Tennessee fol-
lowed the example of Nebraska by
setting aside one day in the year as
zkrn0r or Tree-Flanting day. In 1876
Minnesota, alarmed by 1.-THE destruc-
ton Of her white pine forests, began
to observe Arbor day, North Dakota
began in 1882 and in Missouri the
idea was taken up in 1886.
Ohio first celebrated Arbor day on
April q, 1882, at Cincinnati, as a re-
suit of visit to that city Of Baron
Richard Won Steuben, the royal chief
forester of the then German empire.
OF that occasion an Ohio historian
writes:
Won Steuben, o descendant of the
famous General Won Steuben who had
aided General Washington so conspic :
uously in the Revolutionary war, had
come to America in 1881 with other
Won, Steubens to unite in the centen-
NAL celebration of the surrender at
yorktown.
Baron Won Steuben's work in for
estry in Germany had gained him a
worldwide reputation, and when he
visited Cincinnati it was but natural
that advocates of forest conservation
in the Middle West should seek him
out for advice.
"Plant trees" he told them. For
every tree you cut down, plant an
other, or two, If possible"
A committee was appointed to Gre
ate public interest in the subject of
tree planting, and it's work culminat-
ed in three-days' meeting in Music
ball, beginning April rs. 1882. The
schools were dismissed on the last two
days to enable the pupils and teach
ers to take part in a celebration Of
tree planting in the public parks. The
governor of Ohio had designated April
81 as Arbor Gay. Extensive prepara-
tions had been made for it's observance
in Eden park.
Cincinnati was in holiday attire.
The soldiery and organized companies
of citizens formed an immense pro-
cession and marched to the park.
Thousands of school children were all
ready massed there when the march
ers arrived.
"At the firing of signal gum"
writes Henry Howe, the historian,
Battle Grove Citizens Memorial
Grove and Authors Grove were
planted and dedicated with loving
hands and appropriate ceremonies.
Addresses were made by ex-Gov-
ernor Noyes, Doctor Loring. Cassius
M. Clay of Kentucky. Durbin Ward
and others. No sight more beautiful,
no ceremonies more touching, had ever
been witnessed in. Cincinnati. An i'm
portant lesson in forestry had indeed
been brought home to the hearts of
the people"
In 1883 the Ohio State Forestry as
ISOLATION was organized. The same
year the Ohio legislature, by joint
resolution, fixed the fourth Friday in
April as Arbor day.
Howe declares that the groves
planted in Cincinnati were "the first