Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-08
MANY MILES OF TREES
Superintendent Lanham Re-
ports Net Increase.
PAINTINGS THE PAST YEAR
Recommends the Adoption of Syca-
mores for Shade.
MAKES OTHER SUGGESTIONS
Addition to Clerical Force and
Change in Designation of the
Tree Department.

Mileage of tree-adorned streets in the
National Capital was increased by 6.I6
miles during the fiscal year ended June
30, according to the annual report OF
Truman Lanham. superintendent of trees
and parking, submitted to the Commits
sioners today, bringing the total up to
| 5292 6 miles.
During the year 39ss trees were planted
| by the park commiss on. making the total
number of trees on streets, in parkngs,
sidewalks and school yards at the close
of the year 96,075
The adoption of sycamore trees for fu-
ture paintings on the streets of the Ma
tional Capital. they being in the front
rank of desirable shade varieties; the pro-
vision of an automobile truck for the
use of the workmen in charge Of the re-
moval of dead or uprooted trees and OF
the trimming and general care Of the
| trees, on the ground that four times more
| work can be done by an automobile
truck than by a horse-drawn wagon; an
Increase in the office force of the superln-
| tendent of trees and parkings'and a change
in the official designation of the division
| from parking commission dts present
ttle) to trees and parkings division, those
are the chief recommendations OF Supt
Lanham in his report
vaT1eL1eS 11duIcu.
Among the 3,9SS young trees set out
| on the streets Of the city during the year
were the following varieties: Ash. 80; elm,
G28; gingke, ia; linden, l5o; Norway ma
Pile, S25: pin oak. 316: pyramidal oak, 3;
silver maple, 495; sugar maple. 273 syca-
more 97S: red oak Ga. At the nurseries
the report says, 1913 seedlings we're
transplanted from beds to nursery rows
including $3.50 elms. 1920 pin oaks, 2.0s9
silver NAPLES and 6,514 sycamores.
1T will be noted" says the superintehd-
ent that the greatest number of seed
lings tranSplanted We're sycamoreS, and
I would here call attention to the ex-
treme desirability of the sycamore as a
street tree. This kind, which is rapidly
coming to the front rank of desirable
shades varieties, Is quite as popular now
as the silver maple once was, and has
reason to be much more so. for 1T far
surpa sSes it in desirable qualities. The
streets of this city planted with syca-
nores are among the best shaded and
these trees require less care than many |
of the other varieties. in which respect |
they are like the pin, red oak and Nor |
way maple. |,
Auto Truck Needed.
Urging the provision of an automobile |
truck for the tree division, Supt Lanham |
says:
Trimming of street trees involved |
total expenditure of 81. 5000, and but |
little systematic work was undertaken. |
The silver naples being in such bad con-
dition generally, blocks of these in va
rious sections had to be headed back" |
and much trimming Of individual trees, |
on request and otherwise, was accom-
plished The miscellaneous trimming and |
repair force, an emergency party which |
works all over the city, has been I'M
should say, than at any time during the |
past fifteen years. Owing to the fact |
that this emergency work is widely scat |
teredS> and inasmuch as it demands |
prompt attention at all times. 1t is de-
sired to equip this force with an auto
mobile truck. somewhat similar to that
used by the water depa rtment to replace |
the present horse-drawn vehicles.
Would Be Great Aid.
This machine would do four times the |
service Of the present equipment, and !!
would be more satisfactory in every way. |
1t frequently occurs that winds have |
caused the fall of large trees and |
branches in such a way to endanger |
life and obstruct traffic. At such times |
the vehicle requested would be .invalua- |
BILE, to say nothing of its usefulness in |
reaching conveniently such outlying sec |
tons as Tenleytown, Chevy Chase. Brook |
land and Takoma Park, the necessity |
for which is very frequent. l would also |
add that the planting work would be |
greatly facilitated by it's use. An item
is included in my accompanying estimates |
for the purpose of such a track and it's |
favorable consideration is earnestly re- |
quested''
Trees Removed.
Trees removed during the year, the re-
port shows, numbered 1875. The causes
necesstating their removal are listed In
the report as follows: Killed by gas, "a;
killed or made dangerous by horses, 43;
killed by salt. 4; dead. decayed and dan
gerous by unexplained causes, S72; street.
building and other improvements, 743;
storms, IS; inferior specimens. 1854; Excess
sive shade, 81
Tree insects came to the National Capt. |
tai during the year in smaller numbers /
than usua, and by the thorough spraying /
of the trees by water from the street |
hydrants. and by other methods, the trees
were effectually cleared before appre- |
ciable damage was done to the foliage. !