The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
CAPITALA WOODLAND
Washington the ShadieSt
City i'll the World.
HOW TREES ARE NURTURED
Provided by National Government,
They Are Cared For by Commits
Even Front Yards I'm the City Are
Owned by the Government.

Washington is the shadiest city in the
world. and just now II Is a sylvan para
disc
There are more than 100000 trees IN the
streets Of the Capital This number does
not. however. include those I'm the parks,
or any outside Of what Is known as the
boundary that semicircle which sur
rounds the original site Of Washington.
as plotted by Maj. rEnfant the French
engineer who served as aId-de-camp 10
Washington.
Formerly when the spectator looked
down from the Capitol dome upon the
city he saw an area OF gray slate roofs
and red brick walls, and this Is what he
still sees IN winter. But IN summer ali.
but the tallest buildings and spires are
obscured. and they emerge from a mass
OF luNuriant foliage.
Six Hundred Acres Parked.
Within the city limits are about COO
acres Of little parks full OF trees. and they
are scattered at irregular intervals
I throughout the entire area. but within the
city limits. Nearly all the trees we're set
out When the city was laid out there
were a few fine oaks and elms. chiefly
around the White House and the Capitol.
most OF which have been preserved. Early
| IN the nineteenth century President JEFF
terson. who was fond Of trees. planted
rows Of Lombardy poplars along Penn
sylvania avenue, but they did not thrive.
Il was not until Gov Shepherds time. In
ISL. that a serious effort was made 20
beautify the Capital. At that time a park
commission was appointed and money
was appropriated literally, with the re-
suit one now sees.
The trees are provided by the govern
ment. and are cared FOR by a commission
consisting OF the army engineer In charge
OF the public buildings and grounds. the
superintendent Of the Botanic Gardens.
and the botanist OF the Agricultural De-
partment These men have a large stan
under their direction. and are autocrats
so far as the foliage OF the city Is con
cerned No citizen is allowed 70 touch
the trees IN front OF his own house. They
are selected, planted, and cared for by
the commission.
Government owns Front Yards.
II a householder has any complaint TO
make he may file II I'm writing. Sug-
gesuons are politely received. provided
they do not interfere with general plans
and regulations.
In Washington all the front yards be-
long 10 the government. There is a strip
Of lawn IN nearly every street between
the building line and the sidewalk that
/ is called parking, and II exists because.
/ in plotting the city. the streets were made
wider than was necessary, and thus. u
add 10 the beauty and economic in the
/ expenses OF paving, this strip was left
vacant In some OF the streets II is
| forty feet wide. and ii is seldom less
/ than twenty. The owners Of the abut-
/ ting property may fence II in and plant
! IL 10 flowers or turf They are required
/ 10 keep it in good order, but the COM
mission looks after the trees. and follows
q regular system.
Each Street Has It's Variety.
! There were between twenty-five and
thirty different varieties OF trees in the
/ streets Of Washington. not including the
rare varieties that are found in the parks
and public squares. Each street has its
/ own kind of tree on one may be found
naples; on others oaks. elns, lindens. or
other varieties. planted with view TO
| beauty and uniformity. The employees OF
the park commission keep them neatly
/ trimmed. and when they show signs Of
/ decay they are removed and new ones
are substituted.