Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-07-21
Republican County Convention.
Trees in City Streets.

Trees in City Streets.
An interesting controversy on the util
ity or otherwise of trees in streets and
open spaces has lately been going on IN
several of the Boston papers. The con-
troversy grew out of recent allusion to
a similar discussion in the International
Hygienic Congress held in that city some
years ago.
1t is commended by those who oppose
trees in streets that they do more harm
than good; that they impede the circula-
ton of fresh air; that 80 far as the shade
they afford, people whe do not like the
sunshine have only to keep the shady
side of the street, and that, instead OF
planting more trees in town, the interest
of hygiene requires the removal OF all
existing trees.
Now, we do not claim any special
knowledge of medicine or hygiene, but
we do contend that our common sense,
coupled with some scientific knowledge,
confirmed by observation and experience,
leads us to exactly the opposite conclu-
sion.
The functions of trees in streets are not
limited to acting as screens for sunshin-
ing wayfarers; they temper the heat and
serve as protection against dust. The
evaporation from their leaves tends to
keep the surrounding air cool and
moist. One of the best means of refresh
ing the air of sick chamber is to place
in it plants and branches and sprinkle
them with water A like effect is
produced by trees. Sunlight is necessary
to health; but trees, if not too thickly
planted, do not intercept sunlight; the
perpetual vibration of their leaves and
swaying of their branches admit the
light every instant, and in sufficient
measure, and serve, moreover, to protect
the eyes from the MONDAY glare So far
from trees impeding the circulation of air,
they help to purify the air; the evapora-
ton from their leaves determines current
from above, and the fresh air thus
brought down helps to drive away the
heated and dust-impregnated gases of
the streets.
Another useful property of foliage is
that, while in hot dry weather it moist
ems the surrounding atmosphere, there
by rendering it filter to breathe, this eff
feet, which is due to evaporation, ceases
in wet weather.
But the action of trees on the air is far
less important than their action on the
soil. Their roots draw up stagnant wa
ters and absorb the organic matter con-
tanned in the filth from which the streets
OF town are never free, and which, after
infiltrating the ground, are a frequent
cause of fever and infection.
Trees, in fact, have the same effect
upon the subsoil of towns as fields have
on the contents of their sewers; they act
as disinfectants.
Taking these facts into consideration,
we beg to differ most strenuously from
the notion that trees are an hygiene det-
riment to towns, and, instead of opposing
tree planting in town and city streets, we
strongly recommend their planting; of
course judiciously -not too close together
er, nor too near buildings. The best va
rieties for streets, parks and squares, are
those which grow to a considerable |
height and spread out their branches |
widely.
Here in Kansas we have made a spe-
cialty of planting trees in our towns and |
cities. This was begun away back in ter
ritorial days and has kept pace with the
growth of our cities, until now all our
cities and smaller towns are noted for
their tree-lined streets. Indeed, some of
our towns remind one of the old New
England villages, where the majestic
trees standing in rows along either side
of the streets, their branches archinp
and interlacing, form canopies-a green
and leafy arch underneath which the
people saunter in delightful freedom from
the scorching heat of summer
Wichita, Lawrence, Topeka, Atchison,
Emporia, and Leavenworth, are distin-
guished for their tree grit streets. A
large number of smaller towns are also
distinguished for this specially.
The planting of trees in the streets and
squares of Kansas towns was at first
prompted simply as means of securing
shade from the sun which, in the long
Kansas summers, shines so fercely.
Later on tree planting in our cities grew
out OF hygienic reasons. Now, to the
hygienic is added the esthetic reason.
and trees for beauty, as well as for
utility, are planted and cultivated; and.
The time is approaching, when every
street in every Kansas town, that is, and
that is to be, in the future development
of the State, viii be adorned with trees
whose majestic proportion will rival the
elms that make famous New Haven.
The soft maple, those worm-enticinp
nuisances. and the cottonwood, those
(lu6y and loose grained relics of a pru-
dential era, will be supplanted by the
broad leafed catalpa, the walnut, the
,ypress, the poplar, the elm; and be-
,eath the kindly shade of these nobIer
,h;ldren of the forest, future Kansas
I'M stroll breathing purer air, rejoicing
: the foresight of their ancestors, and
hsnking God for the ample foliage
sh;ch rnstles in the welcome breeze and
s1nners the rays that would otherwise
49, &heyYf To the earth.