The morning times., 1896-03-08
CITY OF shady STREETS
Nations Capital an Example for
Other municipalities.
AVENUES ARE LONG ARBORS
History of the Movement Begun Long
Ago-Favorite Kind, the Plane. Is
Caterpillar Pr0of-There Are 800
Miles of Trees, Twenty-Five Feet
Apart-0ther Varieties Used

No city in the world. certainly no city on
the Western Continent, equals or excels
Washington in the beauty of its parks
and shade trees.
1t Is distinction OF which the residents
OF the city are proud, distinction which
IL shares with the citizens of the nation
in general.
In this respect among the other cities
Of the world it stands out consptcuously,
the most attractive and beautiful of all,
and by those whose extended travel and
intelligent observation qualities them for
! an expression OF opinion on this point Wash
ington in the best planted and best shaded
| city on the continent.
The hundreds of miles Of beautiful shade
trees which line either side of the avenues
| and streets, which radiate from the Capitol
as center, have beenplanted and maintained
| at a great expense TO the country, and their
care is constant anxiety to the officers
in charge.
The planting Of street shade trees was
begun in 1872, under the administration
OF The Shepherd board Of public works"
which Instituted special board, known
as the parking commission" consisting of
MeSsrs. William L. Smith, superintendent
OF the Botanic Garden, chairman; William
Saunders, superintendent of the hortl-
cultural division Of the Department of
Agriculture, and John Saul. 4 prominent
local nurseryman.
CARE IN SELECTION.
The greatest care has been taken by the
! commission in the selection and care of
shade trees with the resultthat the trees on
the streets and avenues of the city are
the best suited for the purpose.
When the commission was appointed the
first obstacle which presented itself was
the lmpossibi!ity to procure the necessary
quantity and kinds OF trees suitable for
| shading. The first step taken to overcome
| this difficulty was to establish nursery
where the kinds of trees necessary could
| be grown.
The nursery was located near the jail
and there since 1872 to the present time
nearly all lie trees used on the streets were
raised from seeds.
Since the establishing of the parking COM
mission an appropriation has been made
| annually TO deiray the expense of rearing,
| planting and caring for the trees. The APP
| propria ton avera ges about $40, 900 a
year, but this is only a trifle when consid-
cred in connection with the millions it
may save in conducting as il does to the
health of the city.
While there is a decided difference of
opinion among advanced sanitarians on
! tiiis subject, still il is generally agreed
that where they are planted in low, wet
| places where they can absorb the moisture,
trees are conducive TO better health.
| The selection of street shade-tre pS has
been more or less experimental, as will be
seen from the statement that more than
fifty varieties have been used. either at the
nursery or on the streets and avenues. OF
all these different kinds more than 10000
were set out with more or less satisfactory
esults.
The trees are planted at a distance O.
about twenty-five feet apart, covering (;