San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-20
VANDALISM.
And They Cut Down a Noble Shade
Tree.

| Communicated
1t is not altogether in the larger af-
fairs of municipal government that a
city administration shows its fitness to
/ take care Of the comfort, health and
prosperity Of the community; the small
things make up the great bulk Of the
business of municipal affairs, and 1t is
in this direction that intelligence, good
sense and warm sympathy with the peo-
pie are requisite for success. A recent
occurrence which came under my eye
convinced me that the present city gov
eminent is not well balanced, and quite
irresponsible in its acts. Ga Thursday
morning the residents of North Flores
street, near the intersection OF Belvin
street, were startled by the appearance
party of city executioners; one carried
keen bladed ak, and the other drove
cart; the cry went up: "They have
come TO cut down that splendid tree ~
and the man with the AK stood cycling
the symmetrical proportions Of q shade
tree that stood at the intersection Of the
two streets, parting the roadway of
North and South Flores street. Families
stood on their thresholds protesting;
passerS-by stopped to comment freely
upon the want0n outrage, and
general expression OF opposition came
from all quarters. The aXman felt his
heart sink as he prepared for the eXecu-
ton, but he SAID lie had no Option-he
must obey his boss the Street Com
! missioner. A resident of the street called
ON the Street Commissioner and asked
upon whose authority this destruction
of the tree was ordered At first he re-
piled he was responsible for 1t. Then,
upon an earnest protest that 1t was an
unnecessary destruction of line shade
tree, he remarked that Mayor Callaghan
had ordered all the trees interfering
with the gas lights to be cut down, and
that tree had to go. The two execu-
TONERS were visited by the Street Com
missioner's foreman" and the people
who stood about were informed that the
order was to cut Ii down and take 1t TO
the bat cave" The work ofdestruCtion
was completed. This splendid tree, one
of the finest on this sylvan shaded street,
had stood for quarter OF a century or
more, a blessing and a pleasure to the
world; its mighty arms had played with
athOusand storms; its graceful shade had
been sought by man and brute through
| out many summers; it was the fayorite
| resting spot for the tired teamster, while
hundreds of children had lOitered be-
meath it daily; it gave pleasant and
comfortable look to the surrounding
cottages; but it stood in the way Of the
CITY administration, and His Honor, the
Mayor, gave a magnificent wave OF his
hand to his burly Street Commissioner
to cut down the trees, and the Street
Commissioner waved TO his foreman"
and the foreman" In turn ordered the
tree to be cut down and hauled like a
malefactOr to the bat cave"
at is the first time such thing has
been done without action Of the City
Council" remarked one citizen. Have
we City Council?" asked another citi-
zen. Well, Of course, we have legal
quorum OF that body, but with what
contempt would they entertain a COM
plant about the cutting down of shade
tree. The magnificent gentleman who
represents Flores street il too much &C.
cupied with his success in proving to
the public that his management Of
the city finances in taking the trust
funds TO pay of current expenses
was a brilliant bit of management,
which his successor seems to be unable
to comprehend il WAS evidently mis-
not placed in Cleveland's grab bag for a
big place in the Treasury Department.
What would he care for the Flores street
blackberry? And the ambitious gentle
man from the Third Ward for instance,
who has always had his eve on the
Mayors seat, would regard the falling of
q fly into a toddy he happened to be
| stirring greater misfortune than the
telling of the Flores street blackberry.
Then how little sympathy can we ex-
| pect from that wise .and ambitious
body, the City Council.
| Upon business streets ii has become
necessary in large cities TO compel the
removal of all hanging signs in order TO
| prevent the miscellaneous obstruction of
the highway, but upon residence streets
the planting of trees has become a part
| of the city work. How is il in our city !?
| Our business streets are INSTRUCTED from
| sidewalk to roofs with all manner of
stands and signs-eyen signs are swing
| ing across the streets our squares are
made the nightly scene Of the rudest
and most unsightly cooking and eating
business tolerated in any civilized city.
Our city officials can find plenty to do in
removing street distractions in the bust
ness part Of the city instead of making
| firewOod Of the shade trees in our resi-
| dence streets.
Mayor Callaghsn and his Street Com
missioner have cut deep scar in the
SKY on North Flores street which will
not be obliterated very soon. Druid.
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