Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-08-06
WASHINGT0N'S TREES.
A MIGHTY FOREST GROWING WITHIN
THE CAPITAL CITY.
Splendid scheme for Providing Shads
Trees and Beautifying the Streets slc-
eessfully Carried out-How the
Work l. Doae.

Washington Cor New York Timesl
Standing upon the dome OF the capital at
this season OF the year one overlOoSs a vast
labyrinth Of leadng trees probably une-
qualed in extent, variety and symmetry IN
any other city In the world In few
years our capital viii become pre-eminently
the forest city of the nation. Trees all
around you, in platoOns, in columns, IN
ranks, single, double, and quadruple they
shade and ornament with their luxuriant
foliage not only the magnificent avenues
where fashion takes its daily airing, but
equally the squalid and unimpioved streets,
inhabited by the very poor. There are trees
Of many varieties-the stately plume
crowned elm; symmetrical. tender-leaved
Carolina poplars; sprawling much bsbut-
toned sycamores, in livertes Of white; rare
and distinguished looking ginkgos. lifting
their spare trunks heavenward, like lofty
church spires; soft, green umbrageous ma
/ ples-the peoples fayorite-and generous,
\ broad leaved liudens and catalpaS
There is no more striking sight la Wash
ington than may be seen by standing in th.
I center Of one of the small parks, called cir
I cles, situated at the intersection of Sometimes
, eight or ten streets aud avenues, and then
l letting the eve range along the rows OF
7 growing trees Of many species. q similar
height and beautiful aspect, which radiste
/ from you for miles in all directions, like
/ spokes from the hub of wheel. And one
needs only 70 notice some not August day
the pede. trians doiging from tree 10 tree 10
escape the bliStering sun, the horses packing
their way where the trees shade the street
and little children continuing their play at
noontide beneath their grateful sneiter, to
be convin 'ei that they have an important
bearing upon public health and comfort
These facts led your correspondent 10 hunt
up one Of the originators Of this great inn
provement Mr.. William Saunders >uperin-
tendent Of the propagating garden, depart
ment of agriculture, for informa tion, and
Mr. Saunders impaired these facts:
There are about 6O,00O trees IN the streets
Of Washington Onr streets are provided
with - miles of shade. exclusive Of parks
and pubic gardens We intend that every
graded ,treet, whether inhabited or not,
shall have at least two rows OF vigorous
growing shade trees, and many OF the wider
avenue, contain four Set out in single file,
twenty y-fve feet apart, our trees would e&-
tend from. here 70 New York city. Planted
i'm a grove. allowing only twenty y-four feet
space between the trees. they would
form a forest covering so acres. Our
naples alone probably number 2!sO0-a
pretty sugar orchard with which 70 sweeten
the public temper Probably no other city
in the world has provided 80 muniicently
and systematically for it, citizens IN the
matter Of shade. This city is the pioneer
and most successful example OF the applica-
ton OF arboriculture to the Improvement
and ornamentation Of public streets.
when carrying out the extensive scheme
fhsa
great complaint was made because of the
destruction Of shade trees ia the process Of
street grading II was suggested to the au-
thorites that the c''v'> parking should be
put into the hands % a skilled commission,
who should plant quick growing trees %
supply the pisces Of those removed, and
thus quiet public discomfort. The suggestion
was acted upon, and a parking commission
was appo nted, who should act as an adj
visory board u plan for and superintend
,he setting out of suitable shade tree. These
gentlemen were practical nurserymen. The
annual expertiture for this department has
been $4,000 The parking commission has
not had the handling OF the money, their
duties being wholly advisory and superin-
tending. During the first few years of our
administration the principal outlay was for
purchasing and setting out trees. As soon
as practicable two nurseries were started
and planted with the seeds Of approved
varieties OF shade trees, and by this means
Of late wears we have been able 20 secure
our stock at minimum price and little loss
AS the number of trees under our charge
Increased il was found that the boxing and
proper care II those already planted ab
sorbed the funds TO such an extent that only
1000 or 5000 new trees could be planted an
Z uually Our tree boxes cost Us - cent
apiece. ami by their peculiar construction
serve not only % protect the trees iron
outside violence, but also afford adequate
support To- the young trees against the hlgi
winds which often prevail in this section
and To which, from their isolated position
they are peculiarly exposed. Unler favor
able conditions tree box will last SIX o.
eight years The employment Of six %
: eight men with three horses is required
throughout the working season, TO renew
and repair the tree boxes alone.
at i amazing how many enemies a prop
n srlv planted tree has TO contend with in IL
laudible efforts in behalf OF public comfort
Fvarv runaway horse j. sure 10 fetch "a
AGAINST a tree box. 70 their mutual hur
Z, and destruction. Drunken men fn
d them n safer and far more convenien
resting place than the proverbial smp-pos'
Rain and wind storms in connection wit
excessive growth produce a large annus
crop of accidents. Two thousand trees wer
: prostrated in a single summer storm fe'
wears ago. Besides no tree Is exempt from !
haradtary foes in the way OF bugs. beatle'
and worms The police report daily
mishaps 20 trees and boxes. and we keep
team busy throughout the growing seaso
repairing damages, such as removing broke
limbs and worms nests. lt requires larg
aggregate Of labor to simply cars Tor tor
est Of 30 600 trees, for such IL really Il Dd
ing the planting season. of courss' a hue
larger force i temporarily employed
-. r,trd and Sparrows.