The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-19
OH. SPARE THE TREES.
The ChoppIng Down of Shade
Trees Gone Far Enough.
IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE



For Sidewalks and Trees TO Get Along
Peacefully TOsethcr-The Getting
Down TO Grade- Nuisance.
The street commissioners force still
has the grading to do for 400 lots before
which new sidewalks will be laid. This
will require about three weeks time and
before it is completed no one can tell
how many beautiful shade trees will be
destroyed IN order to 'sget down to grade. 2
The Wholesale destruction of shade
trees by the street force meets with a
protest from every one who is interested
in the beauty Of Topeka. Nearly all the
trees which are cut down seem TO be de-
stroyed in a wild desire of some one to
have the sidewalks put on grade
lake an instance: A man came to To
peka % years ago. He bought a place
for his home and proceeded TO beautify
1t with the pride that anyone feels in a
place he can call Hhome.7 He planted
shade trees in the parking in front of his
house which not only added to the beauty
of his home but as they grew afforded a
shade for passing pedestrians.
But on an evil day a man known as the
city engineer came around He placed
his transit at one end of the block and
gazed through it for long time and then
announced that the sidewalk was four
feet above grade. The deadly uncom-
promising city ordinance comes in which
says all sidewalks must be laid ION
grade" The owner of the trees pro-
tested but that made no difference and
the axes Of the street force soon brought
down the shade trees in the park and the
men graded down all the parks and walks
There was broad expanse of fiat dirt, but
the work of twenty-five years was de-
stroyed
This is what has happened in many
parts Of Topeka this summer There is
M "a on FFwr4a -
trees were destroyed and the park put to
grade ten years ago. The owner planted
more trees and now he has found that he
is several feet above grade once more
and his park must come down and the
ten-year-old trees viii come with It It
is enough to discourage AL future tree
p lanting in that ReighborhoOd-
Mr.. kingman said just before he re-
signed that the trees are spared when
it is possible and if no one in a block OBJ
jects the walks may be left above grade,
but when anyone does object then the
provisions of the ordinance must be car
ried out
On lower Harrison street where the
sidewalks are four feet above grade, and
where there are many beautiful trees.
the powers that be didn't dare to cut
down the trees The people along there
who are well-tO-do wouldn't stand it If
the grade can be kept as it Is on Harri-
son street. why can't it be kept up on the
OLuCE 6tE00Iot O4 Lincoln street a wear
or two ago the grading vaudals came
along and informed ali the people be-
tween Sixth and Fifth streets that their
parkings must come down and their
trees must 60. All Dzeekly surrendered
except one man on the corner. Now his
home u embowered in beautiful trees
while the other people bake in the cum
all summer long.
At the southeast corner Of Lincoln
street and Sixth avenue few weeks ago
stood handsome elm 1t was 50 shady
under It that scores Of people stood there
every day to wait for street cars. The
brick sidewalk people came along and
decided that because It stood in the edge
of the walk It should be cut dovn.
Friends Of the tree appealed for its pre-
servation- They said that the sidewalk
could be built around it; but no, it had to
60, and lot Of other big shady cotton
woods with it. Now, that entire corner
Of the block il exposed TO the sum These
outraGeB cry aloud for astoppeI. The
friends Of the trees should rally and drive
the vandals out If all the sidewalks
west Of Topeka avenue are to-be brought