The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-05-13

rOE tnc RcpuVficaus
DowAeIAc, May 18th, 1858.
lfBssRs ED1roRs:-Have the good
ness to permit traveller place in your
columns for few transient remarks
and observations by the way, as he
passes along from placet to place through
| the beautiful cities and villages of the
West. Since cur arrival here we have
noticed with much pleasure the efforts
on the part of some of the citizens here,
to improve the appearance of their lots
by planting shade trees in front of their
dwellings.
The maple appears to be an almost
exclusive favorite, though some have
chosen the elm, and others the locust.
Our own choice would be a mixture of
these with the lin and black walnut.
The idea of sidewalks heretofore has
been entirely too narrow; SO much so
that gentleman with an umbrella, or a
lady in full costume, is forced from ne
cessity to take the open street
We see by your last weeks issue
that the village authorities have estab-
ished the sidewalks at ten and twelve
feet within the line of trees hereafter to
be set This will give a walk suffi-
ciently wide for health, beauty, comfort
and convenience. Nothing, perhaps,
adds more to the beauty of country
village than good broad sidewalks,
handsomely lined and shaded with
ornamental trees.
Dowagiac is too destitute of trees,
yet still some of thecitizens appear de-
termined to cut down, girdle and uproot
the few remaining old oaks scattered
here and there around town.
"Axman spare that tree"
More care should be taken in the
preservation of trees when first set
than is usually bestowed. For want of
this much labor. and time in setting
trees is entirely lost. A tree that is
worth setting ought to be worth pro-
tecting; yet for want of that protection
! nine-tenths of all trees set for shade in
this village, since its commencement,
J have been destroyed.
Much difference of opinion exists as
to how much tree should be shortened
i'm when first set IN order to best ensure
, its life and its after we'll being and
, growth. We listened some days ago
to conversation between two citizens
in regard to this subject. Their con-
versafion >scmmenced concerning some
trees then lately scttn font of the r tss.--
licences of Tuthin and johnson, and
some set in continuance by Mr.. Patton.
Those set by johnson and Tuthill were
trimmed close, and headed entirely
back so as to leave no top at all, pre-
senting nothing more than bare pole;
while Patton had left his with nearly
the entire top unshorn. 1t was the
opinion of one of the gentlemen that
the trees cut and shorn like those of
the first, especially maple, were much
more likely to live, and that they would
make better formed tops than the last.
The other gentleman contended that a
correct standard for almost all forest
trees lay in medium between these /
two extremes. 1t would be well for
those who intend to set trees hereafter
to note the appearance of these trees
and their relative thrift in future. The
sidewalk has here been left at its full
width.
There is also another good example
of walk within a line Of trees recently
set in front of the residences of Brown
and Hull, on the street in front Of thu
school building This is a beautiful
street, and special pains should be takei
to make it convenient and pleasant
as main avenue leading to the public
building at its eastern termination.
We noticed also in our ra-eAes about
town some other nsllzles u sfees, anu
full width walks in front of III. Il. Den
mans, on Main street, and in front of
other residences on that and ON some
other streets in that vicinity. The
efforts of these gentlemen are laudable
and praiseworthy, and if followed out
by others, Dowagiac win, in a few
years, be what Kalamazoo has been
from its commencement-an ornament
I to the State and of admiration to
THE TRAVELLER. =
The Utah Expedition.
ST.. LOUIS, MAY S.EMajor General
Smith has issued elaborate orders rela-
tive to the movement of trains and
froopc of tho TTfob {,~ooc The 4-o.,..