New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19
TREES FOR THE CITY.
A PLAN TO MAKE NETWORK A BEAUTIFUL
PLACE TO LIVE IN.

A PLAN TO MAKE NETWORK A BEAUTIFUL
PLACE TO LIVE IN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: To any one comparing the successfui street
tree planting In Washington with the lack or street
trees In the residence portion of upper Ncw-f ork,
the advice OF sir Walter Scott appeals with special
for o; AVE be pIantin' tree. Sandy. ma man;
it'll be CROWN when you're sleep!n.
Had this practical suggestion been adopted IN the
onening OF tho city streets. what marked con-
trast to the present barren and shadcless condion
OF the city would now obtain.
That intelligent and we.drected effort can over
come the various obstacles TO the growth OF trees
I'm the streets OF great cities has been corclusivey
demonstrated not only In Washington. but In Lon
don Paris Vienna and other cities, where the I'M
mediate surroundings have been az unfavoraDie 10
the llfe and development OF trees rs occur IN
the avenues and streets OF New-fork Inc
beautiful effect produced by the lines Of Oriental
planes Plantanus Orientalis) on the Thames En-
bankment London is a case In point
The pooi soil pavements, gases and aruhcal
heat incident 10 city streets all deleterous ana
detrimental conditions for normal tree develop
ment: but there are few locations where these
dfic,iIties cannot he sufficiently overcome to in
sure successful growth. The wonderful success OF
the seventy thousand street trees In Wasnlngton
pa lted in almost every conceivaoe ocaom , as ~
r. 10 trun that owing TO lack of legislative author
ity no comprehensive plan Of street, planting I'M
proyements such as have been successful in
Washington Mnneap polls and other cities can be
40 vet inaugurated in New-York, but the com
mendabe efforts of the Tree Plantng Associaiioh
mark a step in the right direction. Individual
nftnrt and nublic agitation In this in other mat
tiers must be the initiative of better things ana I'M
proved conditions to follow. The haphaZard way
in which much OF municipal improvement Is under
taken grows out OF a lack or attention 70 I'M.
portant conditions when the plans are maze am
executed There is apparently no good v oth
the residential streets In this city ana every 9'"'
DIV sbould NOT have been properly planted or
should not now be planted concurrehty WIN III"
carving out OF other improvements 80.
when a street or any public thoroughfare IL laid
out appropriate trees should become part OF 'nr
Improvement undertaken the same as prooddScm r -
In this way should have pertect streets olts "
az well useful and the contrast with me pres
ent treeess condition of most OF our city streets
you'd no so great as 10 cause wonder why so
simple and inexpensive a method OF treatment nah
nroved sanitary conditions Of our modern cities
compared with some OF the cities or the Old Noru
appreciated by comparison. and more fully appie-
In some OF the States the desired result Of better
street-planting conditions have been sought 9 y
minnesota. authority is vested in the Muncipa
Park Commission to plan; trees on any street az
assess tho cost OF the same abutting property
owners In New-.Ierscy law has been enacted 20,
comforting ,pon a commission TO be appointed by
the local authorities the power to plant and care
for street trees In New-York no attempt 10 reg
ulate these important matters by legiSIaTye enac,
plan for the proper planting and intelligent care OF
the streets ~ the greater city Would oe OF IT,, ines,
mahle benefit and advantage 10 the whole city car
hardly be open to quest -,
| Until however public opinion crystallizes thiS
sentiment and our @ oo sncb agence
az the Tree Planting Associations, that nave az
ready accomplished so much good IN Do,h Man Nan
practical DEVELOPMENT Of this important municipa
! Improvement. Yours truly r,t-,, VI. vrrsrv
| New York CITY November II 1898