Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
CHANCEFORT HELAWNS
In Place of Beauty, Eyesores
Are Prevalent.
GRASS PLOTS IN THIS CITY
Bare and Desolate Instead Of Green
and Attractive.
DUE TO GREAT TREE GROWTH
Judicious Trimming Of the Branches
Said to Be Needed-Setting
for Streets.
GRASS PLOTS IN THIS CITY
UE TO GREAT TREE GROWTH

Some of the details Of municipal house,
keeping in this city. it is stated, need to be
looked after with little more care than
seems to be exercised at present. In gen.
eral it may be said that there is no city,
certainly in this country and probably In
the world. that is well cared for as Is
the case with Washington. There are no
broken curbs or dilapidated pavements, and.
as a rule. the streets in whatever portion
Of the city one may go are in good condi-
ton.
The trees are looked after and kept trim
med, and altogether the municipal house
in these aspects is orderly and well looked
after. The alleys are also cleaned and
do not have a neglected appearance, al
though from some recent accounts of the
city 1t might seem that the slums are a
good deal worse than such places are
usually found to be in other cities. 1t is
not intended to defend conditions which
exist in the alleys where the very poor are
obliged in most cases to find their homes,
as, of course, 1t is the wish OF every one TO
see such places improved.
A Change Taking Place.
At the same time it must be acknowl-
edged that slum life here Is not what It
is in most large cities. But what is meant
to be claimed for this city as matter
of common observation is that in its public
aspect it is a neat and clean and orderly
looking place. Most Of the citizens realize
this and appreciate it, and. what Is more.
they are anxious to have it continued. But
1t Is quite evident change is taking place,
and for the worse.
The city is growing untidy. not because
the white wings are neglecting the sweep
ing Of the pavements. or because the curbs
and the cutters are falling into state
of neglect. or the spaces between the car
tracks are being overlooked by the street
car companies. but almost wholly it Is due
to the circumstance that the lawn spaces
in the front Of the houses are getting into
such state that they are absolutely
blot on the beauty of the city.
Are Actual Eyesores.
Instead of these strips being covered in
season with the freshness of green grass.
they are gradually getting bare of all
verdure. and the water flowing down the
sides of the misunderstanding patches of
ground leaves gullies along which the earth
collects on the sidewalks. In other words.
these strips of ground between the side
walks and the houses. which are regarded
as feature of the city that contributes
largely to its beauty. and certainly to its
distinctive character. are fast becoming
eyesores and a drawback to urban attrac-
tiveness.
the municipality to the individual house
holder yet the condition described is not
the result of the 1atters neglect On the
contrary. the average resident does what
he can and at a large outlay each year
to maintain the parking in front of his
house in a good condition. But his efforts
are defeated by cause over which he has
no control and which lies entirely with the
District officers to correct, and that Is the
increasing shade Of the trees that line
the streets.
Sunlight Wanted for the Grass.
What is needed to change to large de-
gree the present unfavorable surroundings
for the growth of grass on the public park
ings is that the limbs of the trees be
trimmed SO that they do not hang as low
as at present. When that is done the SUM-
that lies about the base of l.le trees and
in consequence there will be a more -four
fishing growth.
Grass is a hard crop to raise in this lati-
tude under the most favorable circum
stances, and it Is not surprising that 1t re-
fuses to prosper when deprived OF the SUM-
light. The trees flourish here with wonder
full iuxuriance when 1t Is considered that
of city life, and the cause Of the present
condition of the grass reservations along
the street Is due to that very gratifying
state of the trees.
Both Grass and Foliage.
There Is no reason, it Is believed, why
the city should not have both the beauty
of the foliage Of the trees and that of the
lawns. The former would not be injured
II the lower limbs were trimmed of. and
certainly 1t seems that the grass would be
improved II some of the sunlight was per-
mitted to reach 1t.
At any rate. it would not cost much to
., frfo A fy-fvv tvNry nff
trees would be q good move for those who
have the city In their care, and then per-
haps it would be possible to have again, as
was formerly the case, both foliage and
grass as unique and charming setting for
the streets Of the city.