The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-07


pr. Felix l.. oswald a scientist Of note
has an interesting paper on the value 81
shade trees IN recent edition Of Health
culture Trees are regarded by him as
being OF such Importance 20 the o. ospcri'y
and health Of human beings that he won
ders that no religion has pronounced tn
emphatic terms against their wanton de-
struction. Ancient spain. in the glory Of
her woodlands. was the garden spot Of
Southern Europe. treeiess spain has he-
come a Gchenna of poverty and disease
Forest shaded Sicily "begat athletes and
philosoph hers. heroes ana merchant princes;
Sicily al present IN its sun-biistcred con-
dItion evolves chiefly bandits. hoggars and
vcrmin" Practically the entire coast OF
the Mediterranean has been denuded Of
lie forest growth. with tho result Of los
ing four-nfths OF its former population,
and al least nlne-tenths OF It's former pro
Effectiveness" what has been said Of
spain and sicily. Or. Oswald says. IS ap-
pucable largely also 20 Southern France
Portugal. Asia Minor. Mesopoiamia' Ar
menia. Persia and Hindustan.
some years ago Or Dio Lewis formulat-
81 and propagated the theory that sun
light. being a germ destroyer should be
,.t in everywhere. lie would have all
trees removed from about habitations. aud
thousands and thousands OF them were
destroyed rs a consequence OF his agiia-
ton. 1T might hc questioned says Or
Oswald. II oil human foilies and crimes
taken together have caused as mum per
manent mischief as the insane destruction
Of natures safeguards against life-blight-
ing droughts" In response 60 the Lewis
theory OF sunshine destroying disease
germs. Or Oswald points out that the
butsonlc plague nourishe1 most in those
sections which are without shade trees
on tho Adriatlc the hroiling. beating sun
shine has not served TO prevent or 10
check the development Of malaria and ty-
phold germs.
Or. oswald asserts with positivencss
that among the sanitary equipments Of a
model dwelling house shade trees should
rank with the best plumbers conirivanccs
and that a house IN a grove Is worth
side. Making a reference OF special local
interest. he says Leaves gcnerate OK
ygen and absorb noxioua gases. In towns
like savannah. ia. with its four rows Of
stately forest trees shading every princi-
pal street. sunstrolcs are Tar less frequent
than IN the sun-scor,hcd Though more
elevated settlements OF the prairie
a.. Ia 10
diseases OF the eye are Jess frequent where
there IL an abundance OF shade from
trees than iu places where shade trees are
lacking For the foregoing and other
reasons DR. Oswald pleads FOR the preserv-
zion and reproduction OF forest growth
savannah's srees. while comparatively
numerous and quite beautiful. are not a.
numerous as they should be- There T.
room FOR. and the need OF thousands more
u them. 10 take tho places OF those de-
stroycd hy storing. and TO hli blank spaces
Ia the newer parts OF the city. on some
OF the principal streets. too. the rows OF
trees present rather Struggling appear
ance The rows along the sidewalks are
far from complete. Property owners have
b,en negligent IN tho matter Of replacing
trees ruined hy the storms and the city
authorities have not required such re-
| requirements Something should be done
With respect 20 the matter. Every resi-
dent knows that Savannah e. one Of the
pleasantcst cities tn the country in sum
mer as well as one OF the healthiest and
hsndsomcst, and q large part of the credit