Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-06-23
|RVNGTON URGED
TO ADOPT SHADE
TREE COMMISSION
Benefits of Plan Are Told at
Public Meeting of Trade
Board.

Interesting dat n instructive
st~ereopticon views showing the benefits
of a shade tree commission for Irving
ton were given last night at a public
meeting III Masonic Hall, town centre.
under the auspices of h Irvington
Board of Trade, The speakers were
James A. Berry and Carl Bannwart,
president and secretary Of the Shade
Tree Commission of this city. and Will
lam S~olotaroff. secretary and superin-
tendent OF the East Orange Shade Tree
Commission. The arrangement COM
~Iaittee was composed Of Gilbert c.
Highly, chairman; School Commissioner
DIR. Albion c. Christian. former Tax
Collector Thomas S. Osborne, Thomas
X. Buchan n George jennings.
Mr. Highly. who presided, told of the
rapid growth of the town and urged
the community to give proper attention
to the important question of the plant
ing and care of trees On the highways
and in the public parks.
MIR. Berry traced the history Of the
Shade Tree Commission work since the
legislative enactment in 1908. He urged
upon the citizens of the own that they
Try q shade tree commission for one
year, and IL at the expiration of that
time its work was found to be unsat-
isfactory the Town Council could tight
en its purse-sttings and by refusing
the commission the necessary financial
support dispose of 1t. Mr.. Bannwart
stated that since the enactment of the
act by the Legislature shade tree COM
missions had been created In twenty
three municipalities of the State. The
commissions being clothed with au-
thority can select what streets shall
be planted with trees. Such a commits
sion. he said, will naturally have the
necessary knowledge of what is re-
CURED and will apply not only it's
knowledge but good common sense 1t
Will give protection as we'll as dignity
to the trees, which are not only USE
ful but identifying to a municipality.
Mr.. Solotaroff declared that while
the sentiment of a community might be
In favor of stately and beautiful trees
not every n Is fitted to procure tho
best results. When streets are to be
laid out engineers are selected to
snperintend the work In order to pro-
cure the best results, and the same
principle applies to public shade trees.
He explained the necessity of similarity
IL: trees in the different thoroughflr, IS
end cited Washington, which, under
municipal supervision, has cultivated
beautiful trees in a proportionate man
ner. 4sa
He gave many Illustrated views of
streets In East Orange. where trees had
been planted by the Shade Tree Com
mission with such excellent results, and
dwelt upon the splendid work such a
commission can economically accom-
plish In the matter Of spraying and
treating trees.
After the speakers mad concluded Mr..
Highly called fol general remarks or
criticisms uron the value of these COM
missions. He regretted that none If
the members OF the Town Council were
present, especially in view OF the in
vftation which had been extended to
them.
Alfred T. S~orgenfree was asked to
speak. He stated that he had found
many Of the people. as we'll as some Of
the councilmen. opposed to the pro-
posed commission, particularly as they
felt that while they would be taxed to
maintain the work and expenses Of the
committee the State would have the
real Jurisdiction. The people also feal.
he said. that the commission would be
able to WELD such a degree of arbi-
trary power as would be Inconsistent
with home rule. He also stated that
he understood arrangements would 10
made soon for a public meeting which
would be pledged neither for nor
against such a commission. and that
the matter would then be fully and inn
partially discussed.
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