Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-01
Annual Report of the Parking Com
mission.
IMPORTANT SCGG ESTIoNS AND RECON-
MESDATIONs.


IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS AND RECON-
MESDATIoSs.
The annual report of the Parking Commits
mission has been submitted TO Engineer
HoXie, in which report IL is stated that
during the year ending October 81, five thou
sand three hundred and eighty-three trees
have been planted on the streets and avenues
Of this city; two hundred and twenty large.
decayed trees have been taken out aad debris
removed, and fifty eight trees have been
removed from positions and tranSplauted to
new grades. The trees in the reserve nursery
grounds number over 100000, ia various
stages of development, several thousand
being available for Immediate planting
en- streets, and all of them rapidly attain
ing sufficient size for that purpose.
The spring planted trees were greatly re-
tarded in their growth on account of the pro-
trScted dry weather that prevailed during
the early portion OF summer, but by constant
attention TO watering and mUlching, very
few losses occurred, and the rains that pre-
vailed encouraged a growth which has been
notably luXuriant in all other trees, as well
as Ia those or the latest planting. The re-
mOval of decayed trees, together with the
pruning, boxing and securing of the many
thousands that have been set out for the past
three years, occupies and absoTbS a large
portion of the labor aud means Appropriated
for the commission. These duties, however.
are iEdispensably necessary, especially In
regard 10 young trees, but at 10 period of
their existence can city trees be left utterly
neglected If the best results are TO be real
lied.
damages done 10 trees and tree boxes
ny runaway horses during the past year
have been unusually great. Accidents of
this kind are particularly aggraVating, from
the knowledge that IL is so frequently the re-
suit of gross carelessnesS. 1t is to be pre-
sumed that no one who has a due regard for
the public veal would endanger life (either
animal or vegetablel by trusting even the
most amiable QuadTuped in crowded city
wholly unprotected, and yet from such care
less acts accidents are OF frequent occur
renee. The want OF facilities ioT securing
k,.,yr 49,
number of these accidents, and il may not
be out of place TO repeat suggestion here
tOfOre made, that suitable rings be fastened
TO the curbstOnes for this purpose. These
would not be conspicuous; wouli not inter
feIe with the rights OF pc leStTianS, nor in
any way be Objectionable, while they would
greatly conduce TO public convenience and
safety.
outstanding all the care that may
have been exercised in the selection of trees
in the removal of poor soil and its replace
Inent by an ample supply OF suitable mate
Tlal Tor plan growth Ia the planting, pTJIn-
ing and watering, there is still a fGnda-
mental evil that Will constantly retard
healthy growth, and which is not in the
power of this commission to remedy, that is,
The drainage of the soil In which the trees
are planted. 1t does not seem to DE generally
understood that city may be very perfect
and yet be impeTfectly drained. Although
IL is popular impression that sewerage
and drainage are almost OF synonymous
meaning. yet they are more nearly the an
tipodeS of each other. y sewer Is a close jOInt-
cemented channel for conveying water or
whereas q drain is an open jointel series
of short tubes or pipes, capable OF
receiving the surplus percolations from
rains, or from surface irrigatiOnS. Tree-hOles
eXcavated in a clay sub soil without drain
age are simply receptacleS for the retention
of water and the exclusion OF air; and al
though the trees thus placed may appear TO
flourish for year or two, while the roots are
confined TO The drier surface, yet they will
suffer when the roots reach a strata subject
to a constant saturation during winter, when
vegetation is least active. Some or the ear
lier planted trees already indicate dimin-
isheu vigOr from this cause. This city pre-
age system; the park space between the
building lire and sidewalk could readily be
made available for this purpose. A COM
mon tile drain laid about three feet in depth
run in the center of this space parallel with
the street, would not only benefit vegetation,
but what is of vastly more Importance, ben
EFT the health of the inhabitants.
SURFACE DRAINAGE AND SURFACE VENT
are the primary conditions towards ahealthy
city, all others are secondary to these. With
perfect system OF surface drainage secured,
this city might well claim greater degree
OF erection, In parking and planting than
any other on this continent. In tae DISPOSE
lion and position of trees il cannot be ex-
celled anywhere. When trees are so close to
dwelling houses as to overshadow them for q
greater portion OF the day, so that direct rays
OF the sun cannot reach the building, they be-
come an evil, and ofttimes very seri Gus
one, rendering dwellings unh ealthy, while
the cause OF injury is not recognized.
The narrowing OF the streets and consequent
projection of the sidewalk TO q great dis
lance from the buildings, is certainly one OF
the most valuable incidentals of recent i'm
provements. This arrangement secures all
the most valuable sanitary effects of trees In
cities, and affords shady promenades with
out an excess of shade on dwellings. The
constant evaporation from the foliage of
trees has decided cooling effect upon the
immediate surrounding space, thus impart-
ing balmy influence to an atmosphere rem
dered arid by contact with heated surfaces
of stones and brick, and independent of these
sanitary effects their decorative beauty is
nowhere so conspicuous or impressive as
when contrasted with the hard monotonous
lines of city architecture. The disposition
to retain some OF the older trees has TO some
extent interfered with the completeness of
these improvements, Circumstance which
will always be a source of regret, as il pre-.
vents uniformity OF feature, a point of first
importance in lines OF trees in cities. WASH
ipgton will in the future be known as the
"clty among trees" and with the alteration
OF word, we may adopt the proverbial ex-
preston OF the Italians, 'See Naples and
die.'