The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-08-08
THE ELECTRIFYING TREE.

L am surprised to hear it rumored that
l without warning or permission in the
early dawn of the morning cowardly cut
down beautiful shade trees.
l know how the attachment for tree
grows with it. Especially when you saw
it grow up from small sprout, and how
loath person is to part with it, in case
necessity requires it removed.
Even If had full legal power to re-
move all trees in my way, and had no re-
gard for the feelings and wishes of my
fellow citizens, business policy alone
would be sufficient to tell me that it
never pays to arouse public enmity, and
for these reasons can not understand
that any one could hold me guilty of such
suicidal acts.
Besides this [ have nothing to do with
trees. made a contract with the Edison
Co. to construct an electric light plant
In this city. | furnish the building, power
and poles only, they construct everything
else, set the poles as they deem best for
the successful operation of the plant and
over which have no control. | only in
terfered in the pole line in so far, that
wanted to avoid all causes for complaints,
and gave positive instruction not to
touch tree or limb without consent.
There are trees which although a
beauty In themselves are or have grown
out Of place and create nuisance or a
hlndrance, and therefore would be bet
ter to have removed. This was the case
with certain tree which has created quite
little sensation and i'll feeling the his
tory of which 1 will now give:
The large elm tree in front of the Pilot
office had to be either clipped 25 feet above
ground or removed in order to run the
wires on that side of the street. 1t could
have been left undisturbed by running
the pole line around it going across the
street and back again, but as II was found
to be practically, electrically and system
atloally far more advantageous to re-
move 1T entirely. the writer and Mr.
Choose the manager OF the Electric Co.
saw and the former asked DR.. Pritchard
whether he had any objections to have
the tree removed, In answer to which we
were referred to Mr. John Nagle who in
turn referred us to Mr.. Fellows. Mr..
Fellows said that his interest in the prop
erty was as good assold to John Maggie,
and that any agreement we could make
with him would be satisfactory to him.
so we saw John Maggie again telling him
that be was the only authority over the
tree. Now what shall we do-John ex-
pressed his dislike to lose the tree and
and would prefer to have it clipped, but
IL 1t was necessary 1t should not stand In
our way, and we could remove it.
This is all knew or heard about the
tree till after it was cut, when rumors
reached me that suit for damages would
very likely be instituted. | asked John
Nagle for explanation and was told that
since he gave us the permission he saw
and spoke to Mr.. Cloos and told him to
clip the tree but in no event to cut it at
the butt. Mr.. Cloos claims to have IN
derstood him to have expressed prefer
ence for having the tree clipped, but at
no time that In case this was insufficient
| it must not be entirely removed.
| If | had the least intimation tina John
Maggie had conversed with Mr.. Cloos. as
! he claims, / certainly would not have
| touched the tree even if the pole had to
| be taken out again.
| There is certainly misunderstanding
| between John Nagle and Mr.. Cloos
which l very much regret especially be-
cause In my present position / know that
with my best endeavors more will be dis.
satisfied than [ would like to have.
| JOHN SCaUETvTF