Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-11
TREES IN THE7DISTRICT
ANNUAL REPORT OF sUPERIN-
TENDENT OF PARKING.
Number Planted During Last Fiscal
Year-Systematic Trimming Re
sumed-Present Appearance.

ing the year past 2.310 trees were planted
on the streets of the city and District, dis
tributed among the several sections, as fol-
lows: Northwest. 1872; northeast. 667;
southwest, n; southeast. IA By COMPARE
son with the number Of trees set out the
previous year (2.6OO. the statement shows
a decrease of 290. which. though small, is
accounted for by the excessively wet
weather Of the past spring. which rendered
the soil unfit for handling during the en-
tire months of March and April The
weather during these two months being also
quite warm. caused the trees to leaf so rap
idly and to such an extent that their trans
planting could not be continued with prob
ability of success after the middle Of May.
Continuing the report says:
In nursery rows this spring, 3, 400 seed
lings were set out consisting of 500 Norway
naples. 700 red oaks. 700 American elms
and 800 sycamores. These. added to the
1900 reported for the previous year, minus
the 231O planted on the streets this year,
made total of % $50 now in nursery rows.
When additional ground was designated for
nursery purposes, large quantities OF seed
were sown with a view Of having on hand
much larger stock In case Congress
should appropriate more literally for this
branch of the District work.
Systematic Trimming Of Trees.
"1n addition to performing a vast amount
of trimming at requests Of numerous tnd1-
viduals. as well as work found actually nee
essary and which could not be reached in
the regular order in time to afford needed
relief. the systematic work was resumed at
a point on 18th street. where it had ceased
the previous year. From this place 1t was
continued eastwardly to 9th street north
west. in the vicinity of r street. and all
nue. on the north. and the Mall on the
south. was covered. In the prosecution of
this work hundreds of loads of brush were
carted to the dumps.
Give hundred and thirty-four trees were
removed from the streets, parkings, etc, of
which 2o2 were dead, or so nearly SO that
their removal was advantageous OF the
number dead 66 had undoubtedly been
killed by gas, and it is supposed that about
IS had been killed by street improvements
(resetting of curb, laying of cement side
walks, etc.). OF the 252 dead, 159 stood
in brick sidewalks. 65 In cement sidewalks
and the remaining % were removed from
parkings, etc. From the fact that the great
majority of trees removed had stood in
brick sidewalks, the general belief that
cement sidewalks are very injurious to
street trees would not seem to have been
substantiated Widening of roadways,
changing of grade, ETC., are still causing
large number of removals. among which
from Columbia road between 10th and 18th
streets 20 from Massachusetts, avenue ex-
tended, just east Of Rock creek; 8 from
Tennessee avenue between East Capitol and
b streets 81 from 9th street and Bunker
Hill road. Brookland: from 10th street
between Lansing and Providence streets,
Brookland; Ia from the west side of 10Th
street northeast between F and G. streets,
from east side of I'd street southeast be-
tween M and N streets. and from Nichols
Upt1 tnl, int rfor xryitI !,
electric wires
'Caterpillars appeared during the month
OF June, but with the very frequent heavy
showers. which destroyed their nests to
money allotted from the emergency fund
for their removal. they were kept under
control, and no perceptible destruction Of
foliage resulted
Splendid Appearance.
1.-THE very favorable weather of the past
spring has caused the trees to make prob
ably an unprecedented growth of leaves
and young wood, and at this time they pre-
sent an appearance rarely, If ever, seen
at this season Of the year.
II have watched with much concern the
condition of tgees planted in cement side
walks, In spaces 8 or 31a by feet. where
the roadways are of asphalt and as yet
have discovered no apparent difference be-
tween them and others planted in parking
strips or in brick sidewalks. Under the
conditions named. however, 1t does not
to me seem possible for them to continue
to prosper to the extent they have in the
earlier stages of their existence; yet 1t can
be plainly observed that there are trees
of various kinds situated as above de.
scribed. doing as well as are those growing
under much more favorable conditions in
this District; for example, the elms on
New Hampshire avenue between Pennsyl-
vania avenue and U street, excepting those
between H street and Dupont Circle. some
of which are rather inferior; those on New
Jersey avenue. East Capitol street and 1st
street northeast, southeast and southwest.
which are not excelled by any of like va
riety here. The elms in the market mark
where they should do as well as in their
natural element make growth which does
not exceed that of the ones previously men
toned, and their foliage Is no Rreener
Notwithstanding these facts, however.
would suggest that in future where asphalt
roadways and cement sidewalks are laid
with spaces reserved in the latter for trees
these spaces be left as large as the avail
able area and public comfort will permit"
Rare Furniture.