The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-07-02
Petitions Being Circulated Over
City To Save Trees From De.
struct onby NeWGrades
WANT ORDINANCES AMENDED
People Claim That the Trees of Keno
sha are More Valuable Than
Sidewalks and want the
Grades Left Alone

The City Council is to be bombarded
with petitions in an effort to save the
shade trees which are now being cut
down in many parts of the city in
order to have walks put in which will
be in keeping with the grade ordinances
of the city. A half aadozen petitions
asking that the Council take some
steps to stop the destruction of the
trees are now in circulation and they
are being signed in all parts of the
city. The women Of the city seem to
be up in arms against the destruction
of the trees and some of the men are
not far behind them. It is claimed
that in some parts. of the city, the
making of arbitrary grades instead of
following the lay Of the land has eaus-
ed the destruction of trees that it will
require half a century to- replace. It
is claimed by the women promoting
the movement to save the trees that in
many of the cities along the Lake Shore
ordinances have been passed making it
"a mlsdemeanor to cut out any trees
along the streets and that even stronger
action has been taken to protect the
trees and promote the planting of
others.
It is not known what attitude the
Common council will take toward the
petitions. The Council declared some
time ago that there would not be any
further changes in grades and if some
Of the trees are to be saved it will be
necessary to make changes in grades
as well as in the lines for the sidewalks
as provided in the ordinance. At the
last meeting of the Council one Of the
best Known of the sidewalk builders
in the city was directed to remove a
tree from walk under the penalty of
losing his license as a sidewalk build
er. The same action is liable to be
taken in all other cases if some change
is not made in the sidewalk ordinance
which will make it possible to save the
trees and at the same time get the
walks in in keeping with the demands
OF the ordinances. The cutlery among
the people is not from any class or
from any single part of the city, but
from all classes and from all wards.
The Third ward has for many months
been a consistent protesting delegation
against the proposed sidewalk ordi-
nance.
The women of the city are pretty
busy just at present with the tree petit
lions and the petition for the park ON
Market Square and it is pretty hard to
turn round without being asked to sign
some of these petitions The Market
Square fight is getting to be a pretty
hot one and it is declared that the
property owners are pretty evenly di-
vlded now that the matter is coming
down to showdown and it is quite
possible that the people in favor of
paving the street it's entire width with
brick will have the better of the ar
gument. It is claimed by the support
ers of this plan that the expense to
the city will be but little greater in
laying the pavement and that it will
cost less to take care of it. An in
teresting session of the Council is prom
lsed at any rate and it Is pretty certain
that the petitions will all be ready for
presentation at that time.