Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21
BY SWEAT OF BROW
Vice President Sherman Earns
Right to Tree Name.
PLANTED IN CAPITOL PARK
Scheme of Having New Growths
Christened for Senate and
House Members.
PLANTED IN CAPITOL PARK

Few Of the hundreds o. visitors flock
ing around the Capitol yesterday enjoyef
the unusual, If not unique sight OF the
vice PRESIDENT OF the United States busilv
engaged in shoveling dirt to cover up tho
roots of small tree which was being
planted In the Capitol grounds at tn,
head of the north drive, near the corner
of Delaware avenue and street north
east
1t is the plan OF Supt. Elliott Woods,
superintendent OF the Capitol building
and grounds. and his assistants to replace
some of the big trees in the grounds than
are dying with new trees and to have
for the new growths. Vice President
the grounds yesterday to assume respon.
sibility for the first OF the new ones
The tree Is known among the common
users OF the parks as a purple beech, and
to horticulturists as Fagus sylvanica war;
purpurea. Its habitat is northern New
York, from which Vice President Sher-
man was drafted into the public service
about eight feet tall and with q trunks
about an inch in diameter. placed in a big
hole in the ground. and was handed a
small shovel-the kind. the children use
~ OiAC cCtbSHOIc-Wltu WHICH 10 Sprluhl0
some dirt over the trees roots.
Prefers the Real Article.
"Oh. give me real shovel" snapped
the Vice President. throwing down the
little shovel. He reached toward a
workman nearby and took his big shovel
from him. Then he went in earnest to
an attack upon the dirt pile beside the
excavation. He put in Ave or six shovel.
fuls and stopped.
I'll have to take of my coat for
this work" he remarked, and he start
ed to slip out Of the dignified. neatly
we don't expect you to fill in the
entire amount of dirt" remarked
supt: Woods. with a smile. and he
and three feet deep. The Vice Presi-
dent took the hint and kept on his coat
but he put in considerably more of the
dirt.
Third With Distinguished Name.
This will make the third Of the trees
in the Capitol grounds TO bear the
names Of distinguished men Of the
nation. There is the washington
Elm" SO named because of the legend
that the first President once ate his
AuASh uh0Ci II. IiChiCc were pOpuldF
in his day. Then there is the Cam
eron Tree" 1t Is named for Senator
Solomon Cameron Of Pennsylvania.
The tree was in the line of one Of the
walks of the grounds, and it had been
decided to cut 1t down. Senator Cam
eron. however, put through Congress
a resolution with "Woodman. Spare
that Tree" provision, and the tree still
casts its shade on the Capitol lawn
and affords shelter to tourists from the
warm summer sun.
Many more of the prominent men OF
Congress will soon stand sponsor for
trees in the Capitol grounds. Speaker
Clark will be asked to aid In planting
one. and others to follow suit will in
clude Senators Cullom, Lodge, Crane,
Martin, Bacon and Tillman, former
Speaker Cannon and Minority header
Includes Many Varieties.
Many varieties of trees are to be
planted. AS a tree with a habitat in
the section Of the country from which
he comes was selected for Vice Presi-
dent Sherman, SO will trees identified
with the home states Of the others be
selected.
Especially will an effort be made to
plant pecan. walnut and hickory trees
the Capitol grounds must be provided
with food.
There was no ceremony connected with
the planting of the Sherman BEECH
Supt. Woods and his assistant, David
Lynn, accompanied the Vice President to
the spot where the tree is to grow and
looked on while Mr.. Sherman shoveled.