Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-04-23
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1913.
WoODMEN, SPARE THE TREES

Walhalla is, of course, o the only
ton Of the beautiful in Nature at
times becomes painfully apparent.
We quote from a recent editorial in
the Anderson Daily Mail extracts
that point clearly to the light in
which useless and ruthless destruc-
ton Of trees is regarded:
Last year when Anderson cut
down a number Of shade trees in
order to lay street paving, one OF the
distinctive eatureS of this city was
destroyed. This may have beef I'M
~avOidablc, but the fact remains that
trees which some cities would have
adored, were cut down. Now
that street paving is contemplated on
a wholesale plan in Anderson this is
one matter which should be looked
into. Our trees must be protected.
Instead of removing trees, it should
be the policy of the government to
foster the planting of trees, for the
general good hat they do. = " 1t
should be definitely stipulated that
the Civic Association should have the
right to say what trees, if any, may
be destroyed. = If we had ever
had doubts of the possibility of saw
ing the trees, these doubts have been
dissipated after a talk with II. e.
Sanders, a civil engineer who has
varied experience and has travelled
widely. In numerous cities the
trees are saved and the paving is
prevented from being impaired by
removing some Of the lateral roots
near the surface. The tree gets it's
principal source Of nourishment from
the tap root, which goes directly into
the soil. 1t e not injure the tree
to remove some of the laterals, and
this protects the paving. Of
course trees should not be permitted
to block progress, but we see no rea-
son why trees that delight the eye
and do much 10 protect the health
should be needlessly hewn down"
1t is true that for a number of
years the central row OF trees in
Main street in Walhalla have been
sadly and shamefully neglected, but
there is a remedy for this, and that
is to replace those that have died
with new trees, and to care for those
still standing.
But what happens? Last week, in
a few short hours. two blocks on
Main street were denuded of the
central row Of shade trees that it
had taken fifty years to produce! In
that act those responsible for the de-
struction erected to themselves a
monument of Shame-a monument
that will last until the ruthless act
shall have been effaced b. the re-
placing of the trees, and rltil Time
shall have worked its wonders
through the unseen hand of Nature.
The Daily Mails suggestion that
the trees OF the municipality should
be under the control and supervis-
ion OF a civic association is a wise
one, Had such been the case in Wal
haila those landmarks-those dis
tlnctive features" of Main street
some OF them SCARED and gnarled,
and all neglected, but each a living
tribute to the far-sightedness and
wisdom OF the citizens of long ago
would still be standing.
We have such an association here,
and but a few short months since a
movement was inauguTated not only
to preserve the trees hat stood, but
TO plant new ones and to beautifv
the street by ~reServing a strip in the
center about sixteen feet in width,
and this to be soddcd. And to ac-
eompliSh this the association was
ready to deplete its treasury and to
work for more funds that the whole
length Of the main artery of the
town might in time be beautiful. But
they have been foiled-their hoped
for work robbed Of it's full fruition
by forty years at least!
We hope that the Give League
viii appeal TO the City Council to
spare the trees that still stand; and
the citizens OF the town will do we'll,
we think, to start a mo ,ement now
to have the highest authority in the
mater of preservation, protection
and promotion of one OF Natures
greatest and most beautiful gifts
our trees-(truly one of Walhalla's
"distinctivo features")-placed in
the hands OF the civic association.