Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-08-03
4 ashiu9toa Standard
OLYMPIA. WASH.
FRIDAY NGHN!NG. AUGUST 8. 1906.
Spare the Trees.

At last the andal hand 81 80 called
Progress has been let loose upon the
fine old Maple trees which line the
north side Of sixth street, opposite
Capitol park. While it is true that
forty years ago, when they were plant
ed, sidewalks were verv narrow, and
boundary lines not clearly dt tine !, 20
that they are very nearly III the mid
die OF the now wider passage way for
pedestrians, nobody has ever heard Of
\ congestod state of travel, even on
public holidays, when that part OF the
city is thronged with people. In TACT
the cool, iuvigorating shade is ample
compensation even for those
Whose eyes al most
scarce serve to guard their masters Sainst q
port"
And il is much owing to this distinc-
tive feature of our town that has given
it the title OF the "City Beautiful.
1t is the subject Of frequent comment
of visitors from all over the State, and
of other States, that our naples are a
feature OF surprising loveliness that is
enhanced by the fact of its rarity.
Aside from this so-called sentiment
tai view of the matter, that it possesses
one of practical utility has been DEM
onstrated, time and again, by the thick
foliage constituting an impenetrable
safeguard against fire. Many years
ago, the Pacific House, Young's Hotel,
and indeed all the buildings on block
Il and the north-end OF town-then
devoted more to business interests
than nowhere saved by the luxur.
ious growth OF maple trees on Third
street. The fire originated in stable,
on the site now occupied by Capital
City Creamery, and spread on Main as
far south as Fifth street, the only
building saved being the brick bank
of Geo. A. Barnes, the first structure
erected in this place of fire proof ma
terial. The dense foliage on the north
side of Third street, constituted an
impossible barrier to flame, cinders
and heat. Several times the fire
leaped across Main street, but the ex-
cellent service of GOD Reliable" Co.
lumbia No. y was sufficient to cope
with that danger, after the shade.trees
had demonstrated their utility in pre-.
venting . spread northward.
II has been urged in justification o
the removal of the trees on Skill
street that the property owners ada
cent were DESTROYS of placing con
crete sidewalk to supplant the wooder
one now needing renewal. II 90, tina
is tenable reason for the sacrilegiou
act, but while concrete costs more and
appears more city-like, if any bod,
pauses long enough to give the matte
due consideration, it must be admitted
that the wooden passage way impartl
the slighter jar to pedestrians and are
less slippery when wet, and therefore
less liable to cause fall in frosty OF
damp weather.
It may be we'll 10 discard provincial
IDEAS and utilities when there is some
necessity for putting on city airs; but
we hold that the chief claim we can
establish for remaining the capital city
is to::retain, maintain and improve the
natural beauties that have matured
with time.
It is said that the splendid trees on
Washington street, between Fifth and
Sixth, are likewise marked for destruc.
ton. There is no necessity for it for
many years yet, and it is hoped that
the city executive and legislative off,
GERS will at least consider the protests
Of many who feel like George P. Morris
when he penned that beautifully heart.
stirring poem, Woodman, Spare That
Tree"
In response to an inquiry. from the
Prosecuting Attorney Of Clarke county
the Attorney General OF this State has
advised that, under the laws of 1890
Ballinger's Code, Section 1869, tele.
graph and telephone companies may
legally place their poles along public
roads outside OF the limits of municipal
corporations without first procuring q
franchise from the Board of County
Commissioners; but that, according tc
the. weight of authority, if the placing
poles in the highway creates an add.
tional burden upon the adjacent prop
erty owner, the company is liable in
damages, as the constitution OF this
State provides private property cannot
be taken or damaged without compen.
sation, citing Elliott on Roads aud
Streets, I'd edition, Sec. FOG.
A CHICAGO woman admits thai
many women wear socks in hot wealth.
er, because they are comfortable. DC.
casionally we find man wearing 9
shirt.waist, these hot days, doubles.
for the same reason. But why any
man should wear corset or padding
is beyond ordinary comprehension, and
we doubt whether their wearers car
give anything better than woman'i
reason" because"
In the matter of the ferry license
fee, for operating boats. across: the
Columbia river, at Vancouver, the At
torney General says such fee is lega
and proper. 1t is not tax on any
agency of the Federal government, un