National Republican., 1873-06-04
TREES AND sHRUBBRRY.

How the Improvements Can be Protected
Sensible Letter from Major A. q. Richards
to the Legislature on the subject.
On the 2sth day OF May the House Of Delegates
passed q resolution calling the attention Of the
superintendent Of police TO the fact that q law
Of the District Of Columbia for the protection OF
the shruDbery and trees In the parks and
reservations had not been inforced. A copy Of
the resolution was duly transmitted TO the major
and he replied TO II as follows:
oTSicr OF Mi!os AND svrEsaTssnIsT.
wnaMaIoE. Juhe3 lsia
"L Isyt;iafiss 4 ". :,s,S,, % b. & '''' "'"''v D''"
SIN: l am In receipt OF yours OF the 9sth uit.,
OF Delegates, May ss, lsi9, calling my attention
10 section one OF an act entitled, 'An act for the
protection Of parks IN streets and avenues" APP
Il Is proper that i state In reply, and for the
Information Of the House Of Delegates, that the
| law has been found TO be imperative 10 certain
extent, for the reason that lt applies only to
parks ''un the side rides OF any street or ave
nue., excluding the numerous public parks aud
reservations, many Of which have been recently
improved and beautifully ornamented, from the
| scope OF is operations. The attorney for this
District has gwen an opinion, stating that the
law cannot be enforced as against trespaasers on
/ other than parks son the sids Or sides Of any
''Owners or occupants Of the lots lying on the
same street or avenue, aud fronting on the
paIka,r &o., are virtually exempt from the re-
/ huu ptuhltlth pTONlueu IN SECTION one
OF the act in question. Ii Ia necessary 20 prove
that trespasses upon. grass plats are not mem.
bers Of the families Of ''owners or occupants Of
G. Ing Ss same 5S .'ts or sSs
Of such ''owners OF Oecnpahts" to enter upon
them before they can. be held amenabie TO the
penalties PROVIDED by the act.
"enter, care for and use them," and also the
placing OF the grass plats" under the imme-
diate scare and Keeping Of the .owners or oc.
Enforcement OF this law dificult and uncertain
| Indor this "care and keeping" provision, owners
or occupanta can permit not only their own chill.
dren and servants 70 enter lhese parks. but also
and the ''reat OF mankind"-not TO say all the
cows, goats and geese In the District aptured
by the board Of Health. desire also TO call at.
OF Washington, approved February ~, lsG5 -(see
Webbp Digest, page 1897 The provisions Of
said section are imperative In many Instances,
or gidswalks, for the reason that it provides nc
| petalty for failure to remove snow from side.
| walks where there u not "a building bordering
0H Se WIZ nsss nv
tion the owners OF vacant lots cannot be com.
PEELED 70 remove snow from the sidewalks 'front.'
Ing on snch vacant lots. In fact, this section
the footwsys or sidewalks In front OF vacant
lots.
Toe 10th section, page ls4, In reference to Ice,
walks . adjoining buildings or lots Of gTounds, y
&c. This section Is effective except In Instances
where the owners OF lots reside out OF the Dis
| triot (sueh instances being quite numerous) or
when tho persons having the care Of such lots
cannot he found, which Ia often the case, as
| there are no records showing who may have the
care Of such lots when the owner resides out Of
| the District. .,. .t.E.
Again, l am Informed that the Police Court
has ruled that when q bat Ia not used In playing
at the game Of ball In the streets, such opera
n n kR
| meaning OF the law, and therefore no offence Ia
| eommitted--(see Webbs Digest page SIS, SEQ
ton lI) THIS law should be 80 amended as TO
ball or missile In the AtreetH, avenues or alleys,
| In any manner whatever. Accidents and dam
ages are OF frequent occurrence, arising from
amusements with balls In the streets.
Very respectfully, A. o. RIcHARDs
+H. Major and Superintendent.