Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-17
SUBMITS HIS REPORT
VIEWS OF DISTRICTS sUPERIN-
TENDENT OF PARKING.
Thinks That More Money Should Be
Appropriated for Care Of
Shade Trees.

| commissioners Tor the year en0eQ June oN
last together with the estimates of the ex-
| penses of his office for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, $685. Trueman Lanham, super
| intendent Of parking of the District of CO.
lumbia, not only shows that more work was
done by himself and by his men during the
| old year than ever before In similar Pc
| Rod, but he asks for an increased force
| and for increase of pay, to go into effect
| with the beginning of the next year The
| annual report shows that total of {, 232
| trees were set out on the streets and ave-
| nues of the capital in the planting season
| of the year 19O5-O6, that being an increase
| Of ATT over the number planted during the
preceding twelve months. Except in cases
| where varieties which experience has proven
are unsuitable for street planting. were re-
quired to fill gaps In existing rows of such
| trees. the planting last year was confined
entirely to nine varieties of trees, namely,
American elms, gingko, American linden,
Norway maple soft maple. sugar maple,
European sycamore, pin oak and red oak.
Superintendent Lanham declares that each
of these varieties has an established repu-
tation for street planting.
Altogether, at the end of the fiscal year.
there were 81, 243 trees on the streets in
the District Of Columbia, that number rep
resenting an increase OF almost 1900 over
the corresponding time last year. The re-
port shows that there were s9,337 trees
on the streets June 80. 1906, the increase
represented In the planting of 1882 trees
being partially balanced by the loss Of
down by storms, some removed by virtue of
Official orders Of the Commissioners, and
others being destroyed to make way for
street extensions and other necessary mu-
nicipal improvements.
"Paris Of America"
Superintendent Lanham calls attention to
the frequent characterization of Washing
ton by different writer's as 1.-THE Paris of
America" In that connection he says:
While this may be just comparison
from beauty standpoint, Washington can
hardly be said to approach Paris in a COM
parison of the respective appropriations
for tree culture. I am advised that the
$4,000 trees in that city receive an annual
allowance Of about $4,000. this fund not
being drawn upon for extension OF the
service, but only for the care OF existing
trees. Last year Washington had for its
general care Of trees (also about 10000 in
number), the sum Of $4,000. After de-
Quoting from that amount about $4,000
for labor and materials incidental to
planting, but 90 per cent or $12, 600 remains
for the work Of trimming, removing. wir-
Ing, care of street parkings, nurseries, etc.
Such sum is ridiculously small. yet there
ara some who complain Of the management
OF things when each tree Is not kept in q
perfect state. Although the Office would
like to bring about such condition, 1t
simply cannot do 1t with the funds al
lotted. It seems to me that the shade
tree question is one of the most important
OF municipal subjects and in line with the
city beautiful idea 1t is not clear why the
trees, SO important to that end, receive
such scant consideration in the way Of
appropriations"
Total Of Estimates.
The grand total Of Superintendent Lam
hams estimates for the conduct Of his de-
partment next year is $46,150. as compared
with $35. the amount of the appropria-
ton under which his office is working dur
ing the current year. OF the $3.50 in
crease thus projected $1,000 is requested
for salaries and the addition Of two subor-
spector at 81, $50 per annum and the other
a clerk at 81 900. For himself Mr.. Lanham
asks an increase Of salary from 81, 300 to
$1,000; for his assistant, J. w. Langdale,
each Of his foremen an increase Of $780, as
follows: Clifford Lanham, $1,000 to $1,150;
Clarence Wallace, from 5000 to 81 900; John
Dunn. 5000 to 81 600: William Lines. 5000
for +. Lanham, jr., clerk, similar ad-
vance, from $3.50 to $3.50. The remainder Of
the requested increased appropriation is
distributed in more liberal appointments
for tree planting, tree trimming, removal of
trees. cultivation, etc.
The superintendent Of parking deprecates
the fact that the Commissioners have been
entofned from narrowing streets in their
discretion, for, he says, this one privilege
has been the means in past years Of saving
q large number Of shade-givers. Under the
decision Of the court this injunction, Mr..
Lanham explains in his report, has the eff
streets by the few inches which would
mean the saving Of trees by setting the
new and wider curbing in use at the pres
ent time on new. instead Of old, lines.