The Coolidge examiner., 1932-05-06

llshed that town. Adjacent TO the townsite ne
pre-empted tract of land half a mile square
and upon that site he built his home which he
called "Arbor Lodge"
Morton was the founder and first editor of
the first newspaper in Nebraska City, the Ne
braska City News and was a prominent figure
in Nebraska during its territorial days. In 1858
President Buchanan made him secretary of the
territory, and upon the resignation of Gov. Will
liam A. Richardson he became acting governor.
He was, however more interested in other mat
ters than in politics. He original men,
Der of the Nebraska territorial board of agricul-
ture and the Territorial Horticultural society.
Coming from two heaviy-wooded states New
York and Michigan, Morton was struck by the
bleakness of the "treeless state" as Nebraska
was called at that time.
The result was that at meeting of the state
board of agriculture on January 4, 1872, Morton
introduced a resolution setting aside April 10
for tree planting so that Nebraska would be a
'treeless state no longer. More than million
trees were planted that year and several mil
lion more during the following years.
In 1885 the Nebraska legislature wishing to
further honor the man who had originated the
idea of Arbor day, passed an act changing the
date of its observance to April q, Mortons
birthday, and making 1t a legal holiday in that
state In 1898 Morton entered the cabinet of
President Grover Cleveland as secretary of agri-
culture, remaining in office until 1897.
By 1895 the Nebraska legislature was able to
proclaim to Nebraskas sister states that hence
forth she was TO be known as the "Tree-Planter
State" because this commonwealth which had
once been so markedly destitute of this form
of verdure, now had more than 100000 acres
planted in trees.
ArbOr day is yet to be observed in a number
of states and in all Of them two names will fig
ure prominently-George Washington, the 'Fa-
ther of His Country" and J. Sterling Morton,
the Father of Arbor Day" Among those (as
this is written) the following:
Alabama-Procamaton of the governor
Connecticut-Latter part of April or first part
of May by proclamation of governor.
Georgia-First Friday in December
Hawai-First Friday in November.
Idaho-April 20, when possible, recommended
by governor
Iowa-Proclamation of the governor.
Kansas-Option of governor
Kentucky-In fall by proclamation of gov
ernor.
Maine-Option of governor in the spring
Observation-Disclosures Saturday in April pro-
clamaton of governor.
Missssippi-Second Friday in December.
Proclamation by governor.
Montana-Second Tuesday in May
Neyada-Pr0clamation OF governor.
New Observation-Disclosures of governor
early May.
New York-The law in this state is very
elastic in respect to ArbOr day and permits
of naming the date sectionally as to take full
advantage of climatic conditions in different
parts of the state. Hence, there are three Arbor
days in New York, one for Long Island, one
for upstate" and for the northern coun-
ties. AS a rule, the last Friday in April and
the first two Fridays in May are the dates
selected
North Dakota-OHtion of governor.
Ohio-Proclamation of governor.
Pennsylvania-Pr Proclamation of governor
Porto Rico-Last Friday in November.
Rhode Island-Second Friday in May
South Carona-Third Friday in November
Virginia-Procamation of the governor in the
spring.
Observation-Disclosures Of governor Usual
ly first Friday in May
Washngton-Proclamatio of governor U.s.
ually first Friday in May.
Wyomng-Proclamation Of governor Usually
first Friday in May.
&c. 1882. Western Newspaper Union.l