The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-09
TO PRESERVE THE ELM TREES
VALUABLE REPORT MADE OCH4M-
BER OF COMMERCE..

ter to the Court of Common Council.
The Chamber of Commerce held
regular meeting last night, about fif-
teen members being present. That
| section of President Ford's annual ad-
dress in reference to the care of elm
trees in the city having been referred
to the committee on town and city i'm
provements, Henry T. Blake of that
committee reported on the matter last
night. He said that in 1884 the mat
committee of the chamber. That COM
mittee presented it's report which was
lodged on file and never received fur
| Their attention. He said that this re-
port embodied the views of the present
committee and presented the report in
full. President Ford appointed COM
mittee consisting of Henry L. Blake,
Eli Whitney, Albert B. Hill, Henry f.
English, Henry w. Farnam, A. Nice.
Matthewson and Joseph Porter to pre-
sent this report through the mayor to
| IhC SOQLt VI COllllllOl SouilSiis
In accordance with a vote taken by
1.-the Chamber of Commerce at its last
meeting President Ford appointed the
following delegation Of three members
to represent the chamber on the gener-
al committee in charge of the Fourth
of July celebration, F. II. Sperry, S. P.
Craft and w. E. Chandler.
During the meeting a discussion
arose as to the widening of Grand ave-
nue. at it's junction with State street.
Edward MCGOWAN opened the discus
sion by calling attention to the urgent
need of this improvement and was
followed by John c. Gallagher, who
also spoke strongly in favor of the
widening of the street. Mayor Farms
worth, who was present advised that
the gentlemen send petition to the
4 court of common council asking that
the proposed change be ordered. The
report on elm trees presented by Henry
r. Blake and referred to above is print
ed below in full.
ABOUT SHADE TREES.
To the Chamber Of Commerce:
| The undersigned committee on town
and city governments to whom was
referred that part of the recent annual
address of President Sperry, which re-
lates to the shade trees in this city,
respectfully report as follows:
Your committee has given the sub
ject careful consideration and cordially
concur in the views of President Sper-
ry as respects the beauty of the elms
and the propriety Of recognizing it as
the shade tree of New Haven. Some
diversity of opinion existed In the com
mittee with regard to the expediency of
a general city ordinance requiring it's
exclusive use for that purpose, but
your committee unanimously recon-
mended that the city authorities be re-
specially requested to make provi-
sion for the immediate replacement of
dead trees. and of those so mutilated
| as to be useless or unsightly: also for
the more careful oversight of the larg-
er elms to prevent the accumulation of
soil and vegetable growth between the
branches where decay usually begins.
They would especially call attention to
the ancient elms on the lower green
and in the streets adjacent thereto,
nearly all Of which are showing signs
OF decay, and some Of which have been
so injured by storms as to be a serious
Disagreement to the public square.
These last should at once be removed
and their places supplied by young
trees, as as soon as possible. 1t is prob
able that within twenty years few, if
any, of the trees now on the lower
green and in Temple street will be re-
| manning and new trees ought to be
now growing to take their places.
Your committee believe that the city
authorities and especially the commit
tee of the common council on public
squares appreciate the Importance of
these and similar suggestions, and are
ready to act so far as the means to do
so are provided. We believe that the
members of the court of common coun-
Gil, like all the rest of our citizens,
are proud of the reputation for beauty
which our city enjoys, largely through
the presence of it's roble elms, and will
warmly support all efforts to protect
and perpetuate them.
Among the special suggestions which
were developed in the consideration of
this subject are the following which
are unanimously approved by your
committee:
The beauty and attractiveness of
New Haven depends so largely upon its
shade trees as to make it highly desir-
able that they should be placed under
the general care of an expert in fores-
try. at least during the season for
planting and trimming; and, that a rea-
sonable sum should be appropriated
, annually by the city for the purchase
, planting and trimming of trees under
the forester's direction. Property own
ers desiring to set out trees in the
streets should be required to obtain the
, approval of the city forester, both as
| respects the kind and location of trees
, In many streets of the city the trees
are placed to near together, and the
proper width, which is about fifty feet
should be established by city ordi-
nance. Another fault, especially in
streets planted with naples, is that the
| lower branches are not sufficiently cut
out and trimmed to admit free cir
| culation of light and air. One great
: | merit of the elm as a shade tree is
| that it's branches are all high above
the ground, which not only adds to the
, | beauty of the street, but while supply
, ing abundant shade, keeps the sol
| from undue dampness and the air from
| becoming stagnant and unWholesome