New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-17

The approach of the tree planting season in
vests with timely interest one OF the features Of
the yearly exhibition of the Municipal Art So
ciety which is now on view in the galleries of
the National Arts Club. This is an exhibit ar
ranged by Colonel John Y. Culyer for the Tree
Planting Association. and it represents design
for the material modification Of one of the old
downtown streets of this city, with the view Of
rehabilitatlng much run down" neighbOrhood
for the sake both Of the tenants and of the prop
erty owners; indeed, of a still wider constit-
uency, since it Contemplates the broadening Of
the street into a much more commodiOus and
useful thoroughfHre in a part Of the city where
such increased facilities for travel and trans
portation are much needed. Briefly described.
the plan widens the present street as to pro-
vide more COmmOdiOus sidewalks, two roadways
and, between the latter, at the centre Of the
whole a broad promenade. There are three
rows Of trees one at each side and one in the
centre, and the whole effect is to transform the
street into a continuous shaded parkway
There can be no doubt OF the attractiveness
of such street or of its effect upon the comfort
and health Of the people, and also, we should
say upon the value of adjacent property. The
example Of Fourth avenue in Brooklyn, which
has been improved on similar plan right
through one CT the very poorest districts Of that
borough, is sufficiently instructive on those
points. If Thompson street, in Manhattan,
We're improved according TO Colonel Culyer's
plan, Fifth avenue would have splendid con-
tinuatIon southwark 10 Canal street 10 the great
advantage OF vehicular traffic and that whole
district Of the city would be immensely ben
Gifted. At present property along that street is
generally in so poor a condition that the ex-
pense Of such widening would not be prohlb-
tive and 1t is not improbable that the increased
valuation consequent upon the Improvements
would considerably outweigh the cost. Another
suggestion in this same exhibition is that OF a
similar Encouragement of 57th street. which
would not need widening for the purpose, since
it is already one of the extra wide streets.
Such schemes have much to commend them as
n means OF making the city moro beautiful and
more agreeable as a place OF residence and re-
sort and would probably prove profitable from
purely pecuniary point OF view. From the
aesthetic point Of view. as well rs that OF COM
fort and health, the city is greatly in need OF
more trees in the streets. But we may accept
it as practically certain that any satisfactory
cultivation Of trees can he effected only on
streets specially planned for the purpose. in
some such way rs that indicated by Colonel
Culyer. On ordinary streets trees will not
thrive, II for TO other reason than that the
waterproof pavement Theoretically sealing the
ground all around them dooms them 10 die Of
drouth--as we'll rs from the effects OF leaking
gas and stray electric currents. But on broad
streets, where there are n few square yards, or
even feet of open soil around each tree TO let
moisture get down 10 the roots trees will flour
sh-as was demonstrated on upper Broadway
before many of the trees were destroyed for
the sake OF tho subway, and other streets In
Manhattan and In Brooklyn still prove. 1t may
well he considered by the municipal authorities
- Io
number OF such thoroughfares in various dis
creetly selected parts of the city than to create
more small parks a parkway a mile or two
long would probably be a greater benefit TO
greater number of people than a park a few
hundred feet square.