ARBOR DAY. 147 



ILLINOIS. 



STATE OF ILLINOIS, 

 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, 



SPRINGFIELD, March 13, 1888. 



" AN ACT to Encourage the Planting of Trees. 



"SEC. 1. Be it Enacted by the People of the State of 

 Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That the 

 governor shall annually, in the spring, designate, by offi- 

 cial proclamation, a day to be designated as Arbor Day, 

 to be observed throughout the state as a day for planting 

 trees, shrubs, and vines about the homes and along high- 

 ways, and about public grounds within this state, thus 

 contributing to the wealth, comfort, and attractions of our 

 state." 



To give effect to and carry into execution the foregoing 

 act, Friday, the thirteenth day of April, 1888, is hereby 

 designated as Arbor Day. 



I earnestly commend to the people of the state the 

 observance of said day. It is believed great good will 

 result from an earnest effort by the public to inaugurate 

 and perpetuate a day for the special purpose of planting 

 trees, shrubs, and vines. It would greatly add to the 

 beauty of our state, could every home, school-house, 

 church, highway, and public grounds be ornamented by 

 trees, arbors, shrubs, and vines, and great benefit would 



