Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-27
HISTORICAL TREES.
The Conflict that EHaS Been Waged in
the Capitol Grounds.

HOW WORK IN THE GROUNDS HAS BEEN OP-
POSED BY sENTIMENT-THE CAMERON TREE
NOW MORIBUND-THE FATE OF THE SUMNER
TREE TO WHICH 1T Is SUPPOSED JEFFERSON
TIED HIS HORSE-A TALK WITH ARCHITECT
CLARKE.
Its days are numbered; it will run its life
out in short time now, and sentiment won't
save it, said Mr.. Clarke. the architect of the
Capitol. as he pointed out to a STAR man the
dropping elm tree which clings with grim
tenacity to the slope of the terrace Just few
yards south OF the Capitol. - 1t is right in the
way there, and ought to have been removed for
the terrace Improvement. But sentiment has
preserved it. We now call it the Cameron tree.
because long time ago, when it was condemned
to removal Simon Cameron saved it and had
the terrace built around it, and some of the
members have agreed that it shall not be re-
moved as long as the old Senator lives.
That's always the way though: there can
never tree be removed from the Capitol
grounds but some sentiment springs up to save
it. and there is a fight on hand. Why don't
you know when the new wings were built on
the Capitol the extension on the House side
was INSTRUCTED by tree. The tree was one
planted by Jackson, and they wanted to build
the House around it, or not build it at ALL ANY
thing TO save the tree But it had to go. And
this one Will 90. too. Everything has been done
to save it. The tree-doctors have been after
it; they have felt its pulse looked at its tongue
and diagnosed the case thoroughly. They have
dOctOred it all they can. but physic will do it
no more good. and they have pronounced it
beyond hope. That was the way with the Sum-
ner tree; like this, it stood on high. hard ground
where the rain all ran Off and it could get no
moisture. They dug it up and buried it DEEPER
and did everything to save it, but it died 1t was
a beech that loves water
''Are there any memorial trees left?" asked
The STAR.
This is the only one, I believe. There have
been great many trees removed and cut down.
you know. There used to be long rows or cot
ton poplar that formed a screen around the
Capitol, and they had to be cut away. But the
popular idea that they were large forest trees Is
erroneous. They were all cotton trees short
lived and good for nothing. They were origin
ally planted to give temporary shade, and they
had about lived their time out when taken
away. All the forest trees. or nearly all. were
preserved. About hundred Of them We're dug
up and transpanted to different parts of the
grounds Only two OF these died as a result of
their removal. When this removal and the grad
ing of the grounds were made. q howl of indig-
nation went up from the sentimentalist. There
was proposition to move the building hum
dred yards or east to save the grade What
do you think of that? To move the Capitol
building There was a ridge of high ground In
the lawn just in front of the east door of the
Capitol which hid all the streets east Standing
at the foot Of the Capitol steps you could not
see that there was any city to the east it looked
as if the Capitol grounds ended there in a bluff
When it was proposed to cut this down they
cried out No! preserve the grade. Move the
Capitol little forward 1t was three or four
years before Congress could be induced to have
the grounds graded"
where's the tree that Jefferson tied his
horse to-" asked THE STAR.
THAT has been cut down, think would
not swear to it, but think have piece Of it,
And he went into his private office and brought
piece of the heartwood of o tree, In which
was driven a staple attached to a few links OF
wrought iron chain.
This" he said. az think is a piece of the
tree Jefferson tied his horse to when he rode to
the Capitol to take the oath of Office as Presi-
dent I'll tell you the history of it, and let you
judge for yourself if the evidence Is not suf-
hcient to establish 1t as a fact. When the trees
were cut down at the west front OF the Capitol
some were sent to the sawmill to be cut up into
lumber to be used about the carpenter shops
here. Among them was a very large cotton
poplar which stood just at the head of the av-
enue. When they were cutting it in two the saw
struck this chain way in the middle of the log.
They chopped the chunk out and brought it to
me. You see it's near the heart of the tree and
1t was grown over by many superficial layers Of
wood. so it could not be seen until the log was
cut open. There. you see, is the staple with two
horse chains fastened to 1t. and from the po-
sition of the tree L should Judge it was used as
hitehing post many years ago. 1t must have
been so used when Jefferson tied his horse. 1t
took many years for this chain to be so COM
pletely grown up inside of the tree"
The chain was one of the old fashioned twisted
wrOught-ir0n concerns used on hitching-pOstss