Hobart Senior High School - Memories Yearbook (Hobart, IN)

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. 22 uninformed and undirected, and in each ' case the representatives of a pur- blind ruling class, incapable, apathetic, and “standing-pat” — a spectacle to God and man. Rome was not built in a day. Our national garden can not be replanted in a century. It is plain that some measures of reform must be taken if “Folly and Failure” be not written on the pages of our history. The people, heirs of the vineyard, must awake ! If only the people could be impressed with the situation! But what shall be done? What can be done? Plant trees. Plant a tree somewhere for every one that is removed. Plant new forests. Talk of the value of forests. Publish article s on forestry in our papers and magazines. Call conventions. Write letters to legislators. Lawmakers will lay aside tariffs, canals, and foreign possessions to protect our land. If ten thinking men and women in each state would do these things the change would be sudden and sure. When the individual citizen becomes interested, the community will follow. When a state awakens to the necessity of planting trees and protect- ing great tracts of timber land the voice of reform will be heard in the councils of the nation. Then shall the people in after-times look not upon barren wastes and arid plains, not upon broken bad-lands exposed and torn by rushing waters; but rather shall they behold fertile fields and stately groves, level meadows and gentle brooks. Then shall the people that inherit the land go forth not despondent and to profitless toil amid dreary surroundings; but rather shall they put forth a steady hand to reap the fruits of intelligent labor and enjoy the riches provided by forces that obey the commands of men.

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. 21 through the agency of coal the United States has surpassed England. Hut, lacking coal, Italy stands still and has stood still for over three centuries. What is true of our coal is also true of our ores. We leave about one-half in the mines in such condition that its future mining is impracticable. It is hard to believe that so intelligent a people as we are thought and said to be can tolerate this heedless waste. In the settlement of this country men wanted bread more than timber or beauty and, in the blindness of hunger, the pioneers regarded God’s trees as only a larger kind of pernicious weed, extremely hard to remove. Accord- ingly, with no eye to the future, these pious destroyers waged war. Chips flew and trees in their beauty fell crashing to the ground. But the making of fields would not have brought about the present conditions. We owe the approaching timber famine to the criminal lumbermen. No such destroyers ever before walked the face of the earth. They have robbed, killed, and laid waste the land. They have spread death and confusion in the fairest groves and gardens ever planted, in the American forests, the glory of the world ! What does the earth most want? Power. The forests are mighty factors in the world’s supply of power. Coal is only stored sunlight and it came to us by way of the forests. The ferns and other vegetation of prehistoric ages burn upon our hearths to-day. The waters that once were held back by the for- ests now are permitted to rush to the valleys without restriction. The rich soil that once lay about the tree-roots is now in the bed of the ocean. Not only are the material agents of warmth and light passing beyond our reach, but the very land, yea, the very soil that furnishes us food is slipping into the sea. When this work is finished we become aware that we have undone the work of countless centuries, that the garden God gave us has become a fruitless, profitless ruin. The age of steam is passing and the age of electricity appears. But the question that must be solved is the source of power. Our country has the best system of rivers in the world. If we but bring the yearly floods under control we have power and to spare. Mills and factories, railways and lighting systems may be supplied with electric power generated by distant rivers. Corporations are now seeking locations and franchises for this purpose. Give us electricity and we have motion, heat, and light. But to acquire this energy we must preserve and control our rivers; and, if we would keep our rivers and waterfalls, we must see that large areas of land are covered with forests. Europe and Asia can teach the United States a lesson on the care and management of forests. We have behaved as a rich and foolish spendthrift who has inherited an estate in perfect order and through neglect permits it to be plundered. Historically, the situation resembles the closing years of the old regime in France. In each case we have a nation eager for action but

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tiigji school annual. CLASS POEM. Carpe Diem. THERESA G. BUTTS. RE you, iny listening friend, prepared with me to roam ? Approach the goddess’ shrine and humble homage pay To her, whom “Opportunity” we name; whose home Is blessed with richest gifts for all who to her pray. She calls with beckoning hand and no uncertain voice — To honor, fame and fortune, her worhsippers sincere, Self-reliance, courage and fidelity, — her choice Of all the noble qualities that gain her ear. Unlike the angel’s visits, few and far between. She ever willing is to aid us in our cause, Wherever honest effort, to gain the prize, is seen, Of wealth, power, pleasure and the world’s applause. Though hidden rocks and thorns on that upward march abound, Rebuff and failure shall be treated as a dream, We shall plant our noble banner firm in solid ground With the imperishable inscription, “Carpe Diem.”