The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-11-30
NEWARK'S TREE COMMISSION.
It's Activities May Have Lesson for
Morristown.

-o%NSM ANA@A@ ~'~@'@AAF ~
It's Activities MAY Have Lesson for
Morristown.
Newark's shade tree commission is
an active body and the following re-
garding its work may be of interest to
Morristonians
The shade tree commission of the
city of Newark, which consists of
three freeholders who. serve with
out compensation, is invested by
statute with exclusive and absolute
control and power to plant, set out,
maintain. protect and care for shade
trees in any OF the public highways "
of the city of Newark; and with "ex-
elusive conUrol OF the public parks be-
longing to or under control of 1.-THE
city of Newark or any department in
the government thereof, with full
power and authority to improve, re-
pair, manage, maintain and control
the same"
What follows undertakes to present
in compact form an outline of the sew
eral activities conducted by the COM
mission under warrant of these statu-
tory provisions.
Eeach spring and fall it sets out
shade trees. AS required by law, the
streets to be thus planted are deter
mined by conference of the commits
sioners after they have given public
notice in the city newspapers of their
intention TO plant such and such
streets, or portions of streets, and
after they have given hearing to all
persons who appear in relation to such
contemplated improvements " thus
publicly announced. Though not re-
quired by law, further effort to elicit
public expression is made as follows =
The particular spots to be planted are
determined by measurement d
marked with green paint on the curb.
Notices are then served on abutterS
so far as these can be reached by rea
sonable effort, calling attention to the
green marks as indicating spots fol-
proposed planting, and inviting ex
pressions of objection Gf any and sug
gestions. The commissioners carefully
weigh every objection and suggestion
offered. The planting so conducted
under these provisions of law may fol
=
convenience be here distinguished al
statutory planting. The cost is de
frayed by assessing the real estate IL
front of which the trees are set out
Only the actual cost of the tree, guard
stake and labor is assessed. The aver
age assessment per tree, last year, wa
81. 40.
In addition to this statutory
planting, the commission plants else
where than on streets advertised anC
determined as above but this only OF
request of the property owner and a
his expense. Once more for convent
ence, this latter may be called "pri
vate planting. The cost is collected
not by assessment but by bill
OF the trees set out under its "stat
utory planting, the commission take:
systematic annual care. That is, il
mulches, trims, sprays and water;
these trees and replaces those which
die.
At the recurrence of each trimming
season the commission maps out sec
tion of the city and, within the limits
of that section, trims the older tree:
without charge to the abutter. Out
side the section thus mapped out the
commission does not trim, except fol
special reasons and then at the ex
pense of the abutter.
On the same principle, and in the
appropriate season, the commission
maps out sections for destruction Of
insect enemies of trees. Within these
sections it conducts a course of sys-
tematic spraying of all affected Oh
threatened trees. Other insect work
consists in the destruction of cocoons
egg-masses, borers, etc.
The commission prohibits by ordin-
ance the removal or trimming of any
street tree unless and until the writ
ten permit of the shade tree commits
sion for such removal or trimming il
obtained. The commission does moi
do the work of removing dead street
trees. The responsibility for and ex
pense of such work deyolyes upon the
abutter.
The commission maintains, repairs
and improves the city parks and from
time to time develops new tracts TX
be added to the city park system.