Evening star., 1895-08-07
The Parking Superintendent Makes
His Annual Report.
TAKING Care OF TEE TREES
More Money is Necessary to Do
the Work Properly.
TIMELY SUGGESTIONS

Tho annual report of Mr.. Truman Ian
ham. superintendent of parking. to the
parking commission, was transmitted by
the latter body to the District Commission
ers today. The report shows that 1,640
trees were planted on the streets during
the year. the larger portion of which was
done in the eastern section of the city. This
was an increase of $50 over the number
planted last year.
About 1000 seedlings were set out in the
nursery, namely: Oriental planes, caks,
elms, ginckos, ]indens, poplars, Norway,
sugar and silver naples. These are in ex-
cellcnt condition, with the exception of
those which were removed from the ground
taken for the smallpox hospital; the re-
moval Of which checked their growth con-
siderably. There is an abundant supply of
trees in the nursery of the proper size for
planting on the streets, n number of which
will have become overgrown If not used in
the near future.
Trimming the Trees.
In addition to trimming Individual trees
and rows of trees In various places which
needed special attention, this branch of
the work was resumed where 1t was stop
ped tho previous year. NJ street north
west at Connecticut avenue, and all that
part of the northwest section north of M
street, was taken systematically and the
trees trimmed Northeast Washington be-
tween East Capitol and c streets, inclusive
was also taken, thus leaving the larger
portion of the northeast, all Of the south
east and southwest sections to be gone over
IN order to finish the work to the place
M Mnere II was begun two years ago, on
North B street. If this latter named point
can be reached during the year 1896, it will
nave taken three years for the trees OF the
city to be trimmed in this way
rbn
me nrst trees planted by the parking
commission are getting large and need at
'tention yearly. in the way of trimming and
removing the dead wood. also paving
around the tree spaces. Unless the appro-
.ne number of trees. it will be impossible
10 keep the trees in gooG condition.
More Money Needed.
The entire number of trees should re.
ceive some attention yearly, which is I'M
possible with the limited annual appropria.
tions. With en- appropriation of SIS, 900 and
!ooOO trees, only twcuty cents could be ex-
pended on each tree, which would not trim
them and keep the ground around their
roots IN good condition. to say nothing of
the removal of trees, the planting of more
trees, paving and purchasing of lumber for
boxes. stakes and wire netting all costly
ana absolutely necessary items for .the
work.
The usual care was bestowed upon the
cultivation of young trees, which was very
necessary on account of the dry weather
at the beginning of the year.
Trees That Should BE Removed.
There are a number of trees which
crowd each other at the corners Of inter-
secting streets. and others which stand
so close to street lamps as to seriously
interfere with the dissemination of light;
these could we'll be spared, and 1 think
should be removed as soon as possible
suggests Mr.. Lanham. 'In this connec-
ton l would recommend the removal of
every box elder tree from the streets and
the replacing of them by different va
riety Of trees. Those on L, N and S
streets northwest should be removed first
as they are the most inferior of their kind
and sufficient amount of money has been
spent upon them In the last eight or ten
years in clearing them of caterpillars alone
to have replaced them. They are also
very unsatisfactory to people who reside
on the streets where they are planted as
they are annually infested with worms"
Five thousand two hundred and seventy
six trees were wired. All the trees
in the northwest section of the city be-
tween North Capitol and 18th streets are
row protected, except those in uneXposed
places and some box elders. which were not
considered worth the cost There are yet
many thousands Of trees which require this
wire protection. These trees have cost
money to bring them to their present con-
dition, and unless protected, are liable to
gested that if 5000 could be obtained for
this purpose, with the reduced price of wire
netting, very large portion of the trees
now unwired could be placed out of danger
Eighteen hundred new tree boxes We're
made and used.
Caterpillnrs and Beetles.
Caterpillars appeared on the trees in
large numbers, but have been removed
without leaving any visible trace except on
some of the most inferior negundos. These
pests usually appear during the month of
June. at time when the funds of the
parking commission are about exhausted.
Several times nave they done considerable
damage before they could be successfully
attacked, for want of money. The elm
beetles frequently attack the elm trees dur
ing the month of May, and, while they dis
figure the foliage for a time, do no lasting
damage.
The two last named matters occurring at
a time SO near the end of the year, and
from the fact thai it cannot be definitely
told whether or not they VIII appear, it is
not considered wise to defer the expenditure
of SO large sum would be required for
ta.nty of their appearance, and the money
is always needed for other purposes at
the end of the year. AS a remedy for
these. and the removal of broken limbs,
blown down trees, &C., the result of storms
which are liable to occur at any time, it is
recommended that sun of $500 be
ASAeu, 10 De appropriated as an emergency
fund for the parking commission, to be
used only for these purposes, if required.
Some Interesting Figures.
The report for the year 1894 showed the
number of trees on the streets to be T4,oi3;
planted during the year, 1,640; number of
trees removed, $50; number of trees now on
streets, 1923.
Number of trees wired at close of 1894,
1853; wired during the year, 5,27G; total
number wired, 81, T:i9.
The appropriation for 1895 was $751;
There was expended for labor. supervision
of work, cart hire, &C., s12,I6n0S, and for
purchase Of materials, repairs to tools, &C.,
s., 5S5.G, making a total of s14396, and
leaving balance unexrended Of 81.
Four forc.nen were temporarily employed
during the year at $3.50 per day each. The
average each man received from, the ap-
preparation for parking commission was
$423.33 total s1693.55. They also received
$31.S7 from the appropriation for 18th
street exteIded. $50 from the appropriation
for Smallpox Hospital $3.50 from the ap-
preparation for improving street south
east and $15 for aplre pration for assess
ment and permit work, New York avenue
between 9th and 10th streets. The fore
men perform manual labor themselves
when the gangs do not require all their
time in supervision. These. men have been
of