Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-09-28
GIVE THE BALL A KICK.

Thore Is no time Of the year that muni-
There are many improvements that could
bo advantageously and inexponsively
made in Walhalla-on tho streets and
sidewalks especially.
Main street could once boast of arrow
of shade trees in tho centre and ON either
aide through its entire iongth. Ono is
pleasantly reminded Of this fact by many
bp!sndid OAKS stiii doing duty along tho
sidewalks in portions of tho town and q
few horo and there in the centre of the
street; but thore arc unpleasant re-
mindors rs woll-the gnarlvd and twisted,
forlorn-looking old black locusts (poor
excuses for shade trees at thoir bost)
that here and there forco their unsightly
forms on the vision of ovcIy ono who
pat."es by, and bow and sway with every
breeze, as though apologizing for their
unwolcomo presence and asking to DO
retired from q service in which they have
long since ceased to be moro Than an
enoumbrance.
Why not romovo these old and useless
young, vigorous oaks that would servo
to help make Main street what it is capa-
bio of being-one of tho prctticst streets
Of any town in South Carolina? With n
good row of sorviccable shade trees in
tho contrc of tho street and a row at tho
edge of either sidewalk, wo would have
street to compare favorably with tho
streets in the residence portions of
Columbia, S. c., and Charlotte, N. G.
Tho streets thus laid off in these two
cities arc by far tho protticst and most
pleasant thoy possess. Whom tho tree
less, sun-baked streets there arc deserted
and Stunned by eyery one, tho shade of
the triple rows of trees in other parts
invite hundreds out TO enjoy the refresh
ing breozes under tho spreading bows of
tho largo oaks.
Main street in Walhalla, with it's width
of $50 feet, neods good shade, and can
have it if We will mako tho proper effort.
The triple row of trees will give it, and
will provo as beneficial to this place as it
has proven to Columbia, Charlotte and
other cities. 1t need not cost us much
to mako the change. The"o is not a resi-
dent propcrty-owner or hrTncss man, VIC
believe, who would not be willing to give
n day or two of his time, or LIS cQuiya-
lent, to tho work of setting out trees to
tako tho place of tho old stumps and
barron spots we how have.
Lot tho City Council and Mayor give
the ball kick, and we believe the citi-
zens will keep it rolling. At their noxt
meeting it would bo well for them to
give the matter their earnest considera-
tion and ask the support of the citizens,
80 that when tho proper time arrives to
transplant trees they may 10 prepared
for the work, call on the people for
assistance, and do the work thoroughly
and systematically.
1t is, Of course, desirable to havo shade
trees as soon as possible. In order to do
this. and at the same time lay tho foun-
would suggest as practical means of
securing both these ends, the alternating
of two yareties-say the locust and the
oak. The locust grows fast ard gives n
fair shade in about three years from the
time of transplanting, and remains rca-
sonably useful ard presentablo for from
fc"r &c SIX years longer. The oak how
over, requires a longer period to develop
into shade tree, and it would be six
years before It would be of much service
as such. Thus by planting alternately
locust and an oak, we could have the
bonoflt of the shade Of tho locusts in
about three years from tho time of plant
ing, and from four to six years after
. wards; while tho oaks are maturing.
When tho oaks become of service tho
locusts can bo cut down and their places
filled by planting mother SGT of oaks
After six years, thon, VIC can have well
shaded and beautiful stroet
Let us all work for this end, and if
Council will do its part first, and the
citizens give them tic proper support
afterwards, it will bo done, and no one
will ovor have cause TO regret that he
GXerted hmSolf to accomplish the end