New-York tribune., 1902-04-14
TREES IN PARIS STREETS
ONE TO A FRACTION MORE THAN THREE
INHABITANTS-THE LUNGS OF
THE CITY
Paris. March 81.

his famous plans for beautifying Paris by open.
Ing new and broad streets and avenues tn.
Empress remarked: ''All that is very we'll b,,
don't you think that there viii be a great in.
crease of dust and that the shade afforded bv
the narrow picturesque little streets will hs
greatly missed by the Parisians?'
"Ah, your majesty, I have already antic,
pated this objection in my scheme, and tbs
remedy is Trees. Trees! Trees. The ideal mod.
city should have it's streets lined on bots
sides with trees. Trees not only lend grace and
attraction to the streets Of city. but awaken js
the spring of the year a certain municina;
sentiment. as it were. Trees soften the eharac
ter of the citizens and make them easier tc
govern 1 have studied the question thoroughIv
your majesty. Trees do not interfere with
healthful sunshine in autumn and winter, when
it is most needed. and afford in summer shade
and keep the air pure and well supplied with
oxygen. Paris ought TO have a tree for every
inha bitant"
The idea of Baron Haussmann has been taker
TO heart by the municipal authorities Of Paris
where no department has been more scfsntif-
cally developed than that Of street trees. which
forms a separate section distinct from the ad-
ministrations intrusted with the care of trees
growing in the Champs Elysees. Bofs de Bou-
logne. Bois de Vncennes. gardens of the
Gardens. Botanical Gardens. Square de CIuny
Parks of Monceau. Buttes Chaumont Mont
souris. besides those planted in some ffteer
other public gardens which have special budgets
of their and which form the great breath
ing places. or the lungs, Of the city.
To give an idea Of the scale upon which these
great lungs of Paris are kept in healthfuI ac-
tion it may be mentioned that the net receipts
derived by the city Of Paris for renting chaleta
and places Of entertainment in the Bois de
BouIogne alone amount to S15OO00 year The
revenue the city annually obtains from similar
sources in the Champs Elysees IS S6000O and
$4,000 is yielded by the BOis de Vincennes
These all put together represent only
small fraction Of what the city annually ex-
pends upon it's lungs. or air reservoirs. The
Paris trees are renovated when necessary by
recruits from the acres OF pepinieres or tres
schools" maintained in the environs OF Paris
Whenever a Partisan tree shows signs OF
decay, a huge truck drawn by four oxen ap.
pears and by most ingenious system Of lever.
age the tree is pulled up roots and all without
injury by means Of a gigantic forceps. Ths
operation is like that performed by dentist in
drawing an eye tooth Another tree is at once
brought from the nearest tree school, and
planted in the place of the invalid tree, which
is taken 20 what is called the tree hospital
where il is replanted and by a course Of re-
newed Ioam and potash undergoes treatment
analogous 70 that prescribed for a citizen Of
Paris who gets wheezy in the lungs rheumatic
or whose liver becomes clogged. and who starts
forth for cure" at Aix-Ies-B -Bains, Bouroouls
or Vichy.
Paris is essentially gray city. This to an
artists eye is one OF it's charms. But the deli
cate soft gray would become monotonous un..
bx-a nj leaves
branches which lend grace to perspectives Of
long. straight streets and bouIevards. The re.
suit is that tree culture has become a sort Of
religious creed with Parisians. and the scisn'
tific care and treatment OF the city trees aforc
food for reflection for the municipal authorities
OF less favored cities
The annual cost of maintaining trees IN ths
streets of Paris, where they alternate in rows
with iron lamp posts. is $4,000 There are
81 693 trees in the city of Paris growing in rows
along the sidewalks exclusive OF the trees con-
tanned in the city parks gardens and squares
a corps of tree inspectors is constantly on ths
alert watching the trees The soil IS frequehuS
renewed Iron "corsets" are placed around
young trees 70 protect them from INJURY. =
circle at least three yards in diameter is kept
free from asphalt or pavement around the oase
Of each tree. This circle is usually covered with
an iron grating to preserve the proper level oi
the sidewalk The trees are watered by tn'
street hose twice day. Excavations are mdu'
around the trees so that the water collects aoou
the base Of the trunk and percolat7s freely +"
the roots.
The variety OF trees planted along the Parl'
sidewalks comprises horse chestnuts' e'Ni0'
acacias Indens sycamores and the japanese
suruac Horse chestnut trees are great taVori'es
with Parisians. because they come so carry !.
leaf The present spring is unusually aoVdnD'1
The horse chestnuts put out their leaves ~
March IL and Notwithstanding the recent Co'
winds and rain the streets Of Paris are 7il'
frirged with delicate green branches
Ever since the Haussmannization Of Paris DC
gan. dftv wears ago. the French Academy u
Science ard the Health Department OF the Guy
have never ceased 10 impress on the Munlcipd.
Council the necessity of maintaining rows "
trees along the main streets The City falA9--
fully appreciate that trees materially llptVe s9.
the health rate of the population IS e..-s,-iDs
noxious gases and ernanatlons, ana oS 49, has
the air breathed by the CltiIeHS' it.T-+j,, Of
within the mural .fortifCatOns pop4-' - ,rks
. 6tiO so inhabitants. II the pun ,ffcrla.
squares and gardens be included IN the ca Ga a. a,
tion II viii he found that in Paris there Is So a.
least one tree for every inha oItant. I1v trsss
statistics however, do not CoiHp' pID-.s - and
planted in public or prlVate Pan Fd ~ Tovrs alons
gardens but only those growing III 'o"S
the sidewalk. O. 600 rrbat is
The number Of these trees is St.o99- IL "a res
10 cav in the streets OF Paris there Is olls .s+.
for Zach 33 inhabirants II might be inteless lso.
ing to ascertain how the SIX most popu-oi - rhis
~ ,h I7ritsd estates compare with Paris IN 'nli
respect New-York with its peptldl.otpo tori,
3431 202 inhabitants in order 70 reSGH n 'I itzans
standard of a tree for each 90 OF ~ ~..-ssts
should have IOf T5S trees planted in its strel
exclusive OF those in public or private P nirs
gardens squares or back yards ChLeaSo, 7Nnar M
its population of 169s.3i9. in order 20 ~ aYions
yy,+b paris should possess rows of trees a9T al9nTs
its sidewalks containing ~. 139 trees PnSav ave
phia with a population of l2sl5 6St snoulu ,.L - a
"a 2,l3 trees in it's streets St Louis WI Wits
popuIation of 575. .23S. ought to have IT'S nsts