Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
DOOMED FOR THE Ak
COMMISSIONERS TO COMPLY
WITH PRESIDENTS WISH.
Report Made by Clifford Pinchot, Chief
Of Bureau of Forestry, on
the Subject.

quest of President Roosevelt, will cooper
ate with the government officers In remov-
ing certain small trees and underbrush
from Lafayette Square. From present IN
dicatfons thirty-four trees of various spe-
cies growing in different parts of the square
will fall under the ak. All the large shade
trees however. will be spared. The pur-
pose of this proposed removal of trees. it is
stated, is to aid the growth Of the larger
trees and also to improve the appearance
Of the park.
From the correspondence on the matter
now before the Commissioners it appears
that Prof. Clifford Pinchot of the bureau Of
forestry. at the request of President Roose-
welt. conducted an examination of the trees
IN and about Lafayette Square. AS a result
OF his examination Mr.. Pinchot reported as
follows:
Beginning at the Lafayette statue and
going north on the square side Of the
street. l find that the following cutting
neeos to be done: One catalpha to be Tut;
one maple under an ash to be trimmed;
one Eastwood under an ash to be cut or
severely trimmed; one elm under an ash
TO be cut or severely trimmed; one small
elm to be cut.
ION H street from east TO west. Two
naples to be cut back around the third
elm inside the park line; one maple to
De cut under the fourth elm: one maple
Just west OF 10Th street to be cut back;
one maple and three small elms to be
cut.
Going south from the corner Of H street
and Jackson place: Three gingkos to be
cut under an elm: two gingkos to be cut
under soft maple; two gngkos to be cut
under an elm.
On the Pennsylvania avenue side. be-
ginning at the west end: Two English
pruned; an elm to be cut under an ash;
three elms to be cut under elms: one I'M
der an ash and two English elms possibly
to be cut.
which should be taken out under elms on
the corner by the bureau Of American re-
publtcs, and one small elm just south of
the Lafayette Square Theater, on the same
side OF the street, to be cut or severely
trimmed
Under District Commission.
The recommendations made by Mr. Pin
chOt were referred to Col. Bromwell, in
charge of public buildings and grounds.
He reported that but two of the trees re-
ferred to are within the limits of the
square. and that the remaining thirty-two
trees are on the street sidewalks and are in
charge Of the parking commission, under
the District Commissioners.
Acting Secretary Barnes in referring the
letter of Mr.. Pinchot to the Commission
ers, states that he does so at the direction
of the President. Continuing, the letter
says: THE President wishes you would
communicate with Mr.. Pinchot and follow
his recommendations in reference to trees
In the different city squares that come
within the Jurisdiction of the District park
ing commission.
Mr.. T. Lanham. superintendent of park
ing, to whom the matter was referred by
the Commissioners, reports that in COM
pany with Mr.. Richards he made a careful
examination of the trees referred to under
control of the Commissioners, and he rec
ommendS that the suggestions of Mr.. Pin
chot in regard to the removal and trim
ming Of the trees be carried out.
Col. Biddle's Opinion.
Commissioners Biddle and Mcfarland
have approved the recommendation of Mr..
Lanham.
Col. Biddle, in speaking of the matter to-
day, said to a reporter for The Star that
he Is a great lover of trees, as Is also Mr..
Pinchot, and that he does not believe in
cutting any down where they can be MAIN
tanned to advantage. In reference to the
removal of the trees in Lafayette Square,
he said that from reports of Mr.. Lam
ham the trees the removal of which is sug-
gested are all completely Overshadowed
by larger Ones mostly elms. in the park,
and the small trees are consequently rem
sides interfere with the growth of the
larger trees and the appearance or the
park.
In order to preserve the beauty of the
park and assist the growth Of the larger
shade trees, he deems 1t advisable under the
circumstances to eliminate such trees and
shrubbery as are detrimental and useless.