The Van Buren press., 1897-02-06
ELECTRIC LIGHT KILLS TREES
Destroying Branches That Are Near Then
Trees Need Sleep.

Electric light IS killing the trees Of
Chicago. This IS the discovery which
has been made recently BY men inter
ested in botany and forestry, and "a
examination has convinced the skeptL
cal of the truth Of the statement.
Since the city was lighted by The
big are lights, which are placed at the
corners Of the principal streets and III
the middle OF some OF the long blocks
many of the trees have been gradually
dying. TIE decay has been slow, but
that is has been sure is perfectly true
in the opinion of those who study trees
with care and can note the changes
IN their physical health day by day
Just as a physician can notice the slow
growth OF disease in the human being
OF late the decay has become marked
so that IT may be noticed by the laymaa
as we'll as the trained scientist. Dead
branches may be noticed on many trees
in various parts of the city near electric
arc lights. Most OF the trees. withiE
Is feet of are lights, which have been
placed in their present position more
than a year or two ago. are dying rap
idly, md are nearly stripped 10 their
lowest branches. And then on the
other branches the leaves have not
been as plentiful as in the past.
The nearer the tree is to the light
the greater the damage and the faster
they decay under the influence of the
electric light, but even those within
hundred feet of the arc lights feel Their
influence, although TO a modified eS
tent.
A stroll around the city shows the
same condition of affairs everywhere,
and those who have Investigated the
matter have convinced themselves be-
yond the possibility of mistake that
the electric light is responsible for the
injury, and it Is not, as some might
suggest. due to the smoke and noxion
atmosphere of the great city.
A scientist interested in the matter
has been corresponding with botanisis
in other cities, and he finds that the
same decay of trees placed near electro
lights is noticed in every city. 1t u
especially evident in Montreal and PHI
adelphia, the two best lighted cities OF
the American continent.
The trees begin to lose their leave
and the branches to gradually deca!
on top or on the side facing the light
and gradually losing them downward
The theory of botanists is that tn
injury is due to the fact that the ligh
has the same effect that it would hav
on a human being who was compelle
to live constantly within its glare. Tn
trees are unable to sleep at nigh
When they, like the rest of nature. nee
sleep the great glazing electric light
prevent it. Trees are unable to live /
almost eternal day. They are like tn
rest of nature, whether animals 0
plants and demand rest.
1t is the theory of some wise scientif
men that the electric light is not onl
responsible for injury to plant life Il
its immediate vicinity, but that it ha
an injurious effect on man. They ar
said by some to be responsible for hu
man sight defects and nervousness ant
insomnia. The glare Of the lights in
jures the eyes and makes increased
nervousness. The lights themselve!
often interfere to some extent with tltt
sleep of those who are in their immed!
ate vicinity.-Chicago Herald.