New-York tribune., 1902-04-28
CITY CARE OF TREES.
PLANTING ASSOCIATION FOR THE BEAU
Trying OF NEW-YORK STREETS.

| To the Editor of The Tribune.
| Sir The story recently told by your Paris cor
| respondent of the planting and of public
! trees in that beautiful city interesting, in
structive and. for us. timely. The apparent lack
of appreciation by the authorities in the past OF
the resources of systematic planting and care Of
| trees for beautifying our avenues and streets
/ might we'll be regarded a reproach, and until
| 1t is appreciated dissertations the city and
| block beautiful and invocations to civic pride
| will avail but little. Flower boxes and trailing
vines viii have the gantlet of many viciss-
tudes. but trees. If properly selected and planted
and Systematically cared for. will grow and thrive
| in many parts OF the city: in the newer and un-
developed portions the field is unlimited and in
viting
The practical way 20 bring this about is through
the agency OF of the organized depart
ments-the Park Department preferably-of the
city. Aside from the decorative value of trees in
streets and avenues. wherever they may be con-
sistently planted their influence in conserving
moisture and in tenpering the circumjacent at
mosphere In hot weather is far greater than seems
to be generally known. DR.. Stephen Smith.
acknowledged authority sanitation. has briefly
outlined in his letter to The Tribune OF the
resources Of for serving the public health in
reducing mortality IN cities in hot weather. and
especially among children.
In the late legislative session Assemblyman
Seymour introduced Bill No. 1850. to empower the
Park Board to plant and care for trees in our
streets. etc. This bill was heartily supported and
approved by the Mayor and the president of the
Park Department, Mr. Wilcox. and 1t was signed
by Governor Odel. who expressed his personal
qualification IN being able to make 1t a law. and
thus for the first time 1t happens that we have
the opportunity for systema ticaly regulating and
encouraging officially the planting of trees in the
streets and avenues throughout all the boroughs
of this great city and Of practically developing a
class OF improvements beneficial to al-''nfinite in
variety" which custom will not stale DR.. Smith
Is the author of this BILL and it will prove last
Ing monument to his foresight and perseverance
It was strongly urged by the Tree Planting ,- Asso,
citation, it was also by many eminent citizens
interested in its purpose. -
the greater city where new streets and avenues
TO be carried forward, the opportunity will
its cost in the general construction as should be
cd dSnH The IN e wor os and y to
whim of the individual property owner. who may
willow and a maple tuxtaposition and perhaps
no more than ten or fifteen feet apart The pts
will be formed of suitable size and properly soiled
and the trees will be selected and planted as the
&c f6rm an nr IN
outline. and regularity will develop a most
Other opportunities for doing good are offered in
this bill Whole rows of mature and beautiful 1l
destroyed for want Of authority and timely notice
tt re F tn the If Sf dsd ay BE
served by some slight modification of line at the
and eTectual ordinances will give them some pro
lection from the careless and the vandal we
Many object trees owing to the presence OF
noxious insects disagreeable in themselves and
destructive of vegetation. But care will obviate
cause for this objection, is evidenced by the
improved condition of the trees in our small parks,
which for few years have had attention at the
prorer season 1t will thus be seen that au.
thority is ample for inaugurating at modest cost
reform and improvement in a desirable direc-
tion, and If the work is undertaken in an earnest
and intelligent way doubt not it Will be, it viii
be but few years before many portions of the
city bare, glaring and not altogether invit-
ing may be subjected to class of improvements
which will by most simple form of adornment;
add the attractiOn and value residential
neighborhoods of manv sections Of our city.
work. April q. 1902. JOHN y. CULVER