Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1870 [PAGE 384]

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370

WHEREAS, Since it requires many years for the growth of trees to supply this indispensable commodity, it is imperatively demanded of the present generation to commence at once the planting and culture of trees on a scale commensurate with the prospective want, and WHEREAS, The history of the • old nations and countries of Europe has clearly proved that no country can continue productive and healthful, when robbed of its forests of timber ; therefore, it is Resolved, That we, farmers upon the prairies of Illinois, recognize the duty incumbent upon us to set an example of timber planting, and do hereby pledge ourselves to plant from year to year, as circumstances will admit, such trees and tree-seeds as are adapted to our several localities. Resolved, That this convention respectfully suggest to our constitutional convention in session at Springfield, the necessity of inserting a clause in the constitution, making it obligatory upon our Legislature to enact laws for the encouragement of timber culture. Resolved, That we respectfully request the editors of newspapers and agricultural journals in the State, to publish these preambles and resolutions. S. EDWARDS, 0. B. GALUSHA, A. S. MILLER.

Moss—I am committed in favor of the object of tree planting, but think we ought not to incumber the convention with this matter, but refer it to the Legislature. FLAGG—That seems to me more appropriate ; besides it seems very uncertain at present whether the constitution will be adopted.

EDWARDS—I would be like the good old darkey; if the Lord

said to jump through a stone wall I would jump at it, and leave the result to God. I am not over sanguine as to the result, but I would give line upon line and precept upon precept. CHURCH, of Kockford—I have attended these meetings, and been interested. No matters have been up upon which I knew enough to say anything ; but any reflecting man can appreciate the danger of getting out of timber. Statesmanship should consider it. Our people look too much to present profits and not enough to the future. I do not exactly concur in the resolutions. Constitutions should rather instruct what not to do. Instructions don't avail much, as we saw in our last constitution. If the money spent in the last Legislature in ring-legislation had been put into tree planting, it would have given a great impulse to the matter. Agricultural education is not sufficiently appreciated, although nominally approved. A philosophy of agriculture will bring about a change. The resolutions having been adopted—