Was Our Arbor Day
Generally Observed as a Holiday and Many Trees Planted by Citizens
PARADE, MUSIC, MARCHING AND SPEAKING
Exercises at the University Grounds -- Address by Judge Francis -- Response by Pres't Craig.
Arbor day yesterday morning was ushered in as a typical spring morning, amid rays of sunshine interspersed with showers. Later in the day the showers had ceased making it possible for all who desired to attend the exercises, still the streets were not in the best condition, which cased many to stay out of the parade. This had no effect on the gallant school children for they were out in full force, old and young, large and small, rich and poor, alike, to aid in doing honor to the occasion.
Long before the hour for the procession the children had congregated around the Central school building, the different orders and societies assembling at the court house square. Promptly at 10:30 both columns began to move, the children headed by the Post band, moving east on the same street, meeting at Higgins avenue, where the school children headed the procession with Marshal of the Day Judge John L. Sloane in the lead.
Following the pupils on foot came six busses filled with the smaller children. Next in order came the G. A. R., A. F. of L., I. O. O. F., Foresters, while other societies and orders had representatives in the lines of march and among the throng which followed the procession to the University grounds.
At the grounds the program was opened by music by the Twenty-fifth Infantry band of Fort Missoula, then followed invocation by Rev. R. H. Sawyer; music by the Boys' band; song, Arbor day and Salute to the Flag by the school children.
At the conclusion of the salute Judge Sloane proposed three cheers for "Old Glory," which were given with a will.
Judge W. H. Francis, president of the Missoula Board of Trade, then delivered the dedicatory address. In a few well chosen words he reviewed the history of the State University of Montana, its short existence of a year or more and the good it had wrought in Missoula, casting its influence to all quarters of the state. He then gave the history of the grounds which were donated to the state by the estate of the late C. P. Higgins and the Missoula Land company. The most pleasing part of his address was the imaginary picture he drew of University grounds and promised that in time to come the children who were there and present would point with pride and say there were present at the dedication and tree planting of the grounds on Arbor day, 1896.
In response President Oscar J. Craig said in part:
This is an auspicious day. On this bright and beautiful morning, gathered on this spot untouched as yet save by the hand of nature I see before me representative people of Montana.
Grouped together are various organizations, lodges, social societies, religious orders, benevolent brotherhoods. Here stand the soldier and the citizen, the young and the old. All have come to say God speed to one of the noblest enterprises that can ever engross the attention of any people.
We may have petty differences of opinion in political matters, concerning religion, and in social life, but there is one point where we all agree and that is that we give hearty and unqualified support to that culture and training of mind and body which we term education.
It is indeed fortunate that we can meet on this common ground, for it brings in closer together and gives us more of that sympathy and interest in each other's welfare that will ultimately enable us to look beyond all the minor differences of the present to that future which shall be marked by the peace and harmony which is universal.
Noble spirits donated to educational purposes this land which lies so beautifully at the mountain's base, because these same noble spirits knew that of all contributions to humanity, that are possible, to contribute to the means for advancing the cause of education is the greatest and best gift within the range of human effort.
Recognition the same fact, other noble spirits have today, after the protection of this magnificent gift by the enclosure, that have been made, provided for the beautifying and adorning of these spacious grounds with trees. Trees, that with their graceful foliage and waving branches will invite the youth of the land to seek truth within these boundaries and to enjoy that provision that will yet be made for opportunities of culture in halls, museums, lecture rooms and libraries placed here by individuals or by the commonwealth.
Dr. Craig traced the course of the University and drew a beautiful picture of its future. He closed as follows:
On behalf of the University I gratefully acknowledge the invaluable service of the Missoula Board of Trade has this day rendered to the cause of higher education. As a representative of the University of Montana, I then take this opportunity of thanking them for their services and of also thanking all those who have left their ordinary work, and by their presence, contributed to the success of this occasion whether as individuals or as organizations.
Following Dr. Craig came more music by the Twenty-fifth Infantry band, then a recitation by Missoula's favorite elocutionist, Miss Ruth Anna Gray, who excelled herself in "The Planting of the Apple Tree." The benediction was the pronoaunced by Rev. O. C. Clark.
Part II, of the program consisted in the planting of trees, whereby 500 trees were planted under the auspices of the Board of Trade. The University faculty, University societies, children of the schools, churches, lodges, G. A. R., other organizations and individuals. The initial trees were planted by Mr. E. L. Bonner and Mr. F. G. Higgins. Mr. Bonner planted the tree to the right of the main entrance to the grounds and Mr. Higgins the tree to the left. Never in the history of Montana were so many trees planted in the same space of time and under such auspicious circumstances.
AT THE ATHLETIC PART
Promptly at 2 p. m. the procession reassembled on Higgins avenue and proceeded to the Athletic park. The procession was small which had nothing to do with the large crowd at the park. The program was begun with a presentation speech by Judge W. H. Francis, who in behalf of the citizens turned the park over to the Athletic Park association. In response Judge F. H. Woody for the Athletic park made the winning speech of the day.
He was loudly applauded during his remarks, more so by the members of the Athletic Park associations, because the honorable judge is the rider of a bicycle and therefore has a tender spot in the hearts of the members of the Bicycle club in particular. After the speeches the Base Ball club, Garden City Bicycle club and Caledonia club, each planted a tree near the grand stand in honor of the occasion. Next came a bicycle race, distance, one mile, riders H. Clark, W. Mix and E. C. Mix entered; race won by Clark in 3:01 3-5.
Quarter mile race, W. Mix and H. Clark entered; Mix won in 41 4-5 seconds.
One-half mile race, H. Clark, K. Clark and E. C. Mix entered; at the end of the quarter mile, Mix was distanced. H. Clark won in 1:25 2-5.
The best race on the grounds was the free-for-all quarter mile race. Only J. L. McBride and J. S. Draper entered. For the first half of the distance Draper kept the lead; on the home stretch McBride was at his best and rode over the white ribbon a length ahead.
Owing to lack of time the Caledonian games were dispensed with.
The important event of the afternoon was the base ball game between the Missoulas and the Hamiltons. The home team went to bat first and made 3 scores. The visitors in the same inning made 0. Second inning, neither side made a score. Third ining Hamilton 0, Missoula 2. In the fifth inning the Missoulas made 3 when the Hamiltons went to bat. It was in this inning that the hitter team refused to play the game out, based upon rotten decisions of the umpire and fool pranks on the part of the Missoula captain. The umpire not only gave rotten decisions to the visitors but to the home team as well, probably to equalize his rash decisions.
The positions on the diamond were as follows:
Umpire, W. S. Hanley.
Missoulas -- Kennett, pitched; Holt, catcher; Bailey, first base; O'Toole, second base; Heyfron, third base; Murphy, short stop; Campbell, right field; Harkness, center field; McCormick, left field.
Hamiltons: Ostermeyer, catcher; St. Vrain, pitcher; Kelly, first base; Anderson, second base; Dever third base; McKennon, short stop; Cody, right field; Zeijen, left field; Neal, center field.