Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-30
oUR PURAlo ROaDs.
An Improvement Thereto That wiII Make
Driving Delightful.


Driving Delightful.
Nature is awake. She has rubbed
hor ,es and cleared her throat and is
now beheld as she gradually and grace
fully assumes the garb of snring. 1t is
at this season of the year, when the
trees are bursting into bud and leaf
that tho man who owns trotter or the
man or woman who owns bicycle
feels desire to hie into the country.
To carry out that desire it becomes
necessary-in the absence of aerial
means of navigation-to use the roads
that leave tho city at various points;
and that observation permits the intro
duction Of tho subject of the planting
of trees along the highways.
First good roads, and then have them
shaicd, if possible--that is propos-
tion that every horseman and every
wheelman would certainly endorse.
Not only might many more trees be
planted along the turnpikes which lead
from tho city, but even within the city
thero is none too much of shade. Ii is
the shady place along tho street that
appeals most to tho man whose busi-
ness calls him to outside work in such
hot weather US this city has recently
gone through.
George A. Elliott, ex-city solicitor,
is one of those who are Interested in
tho subject Of more trees. 81 think" ="
he said in a conversation on the mat
Ter, that the attention that other
towns are paying to the care of trees
and the planting of troes should arouse
more interest here than il does. In
quite number Of cities the municipal
government has taken charge of the
planting and caro- OF trees and the hun
dreds and townships have taken charge
or encourage the planting Of trees along
the roadside. Arbor day seems to be
observed very generally in Pennsylvania
and great many OF the Middle and
Western Statcg.
Our public roads outside Of the city
are OF ample width TO allow of rows Of
shade trees. The road from Whining
ton Ia New Castle, from Wilmington to
liare's Corner, the Kennett road, the
Concord ruud and the Philadelphia
road might all he greatly improved and
made delightful places for summon
driving or wheeling il properly shaded.
The cost of planting the trees would
bo very little and all that is needed is
concurrent action on the part Of the
people living along one Of these roads /;
and when start has once bcen made
the advantages of the movement would
cause others 10 carry the Spod work ON.
An Improvement of this Kind in
any section would not only be attrac
tive TO The people who drive or wheel
III the summer but adds to the value
OF country property. Ono of tho first
things asked by prospective buyers of
frN 20 To, -
Have you plenty of shade?' or Is the
place well-shaded!' ana it almost in
variably adds to the selling value of a
country property. In those days when
| almost half the town wheels into the
country at every opportunity tho dosir.
ability and attractivencss of shady
ruadways becomes more apparent than
over
"Ono OF the delightful features of
Delaware avenue il the shaded side
walks, and Pennsylvania avenue which
ls now Il sun -scurchel street on a sum.
NOR day, could at very little cost after
few years attention be made lust as
desirable. There are many other streets
on which trees should he planted at
once, il not by the property owners
then by tho city acting with them or for
| them. Gilpin avenue ia successful
lnstance of what municipal tree plant
ing will do On an EXTENDED scale.
Nearly every one likes 10 have trees
in front Of their homes or along their
sidewalks, hut there arc SO few people
not one in "a hundred who know how
to plant OF properly protect them aftor
planting. That's just where tho adj.
vantage of the Street and Sewer De,
partmcnt taking charge of tho work
would come in."
In Mr.. Elliott's opinion people along
the residence portion Of the city should
10 encouraged 10 plant tgcea aud where
the trees uie to replaut Many people
would pay the first coe Of trees If the
city would sec tina. they were planted
and properly cared
Letters of a1mir 'Etrntinn nm the