The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-12-18
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TREES GO WITH GOOD ROADS
Washington School Teacher Contrib
utss Striking Appeal In Federal
1uiIetln-Of Much Aid.

Good roads and their relation to
the welfare OF humanity, and the re-
lation Of trees to good roads, are the
subjects with which Miss Susan B.
Sfpe, a teacher in the James Ormond
Wilson Normal school and at the
head Of the school garden work, deals
in a pamphlet just issued by the Uni
ted States bureau of education. The
bulletin 10 entitled Good Road Arbor
Day and advocates the planting Of
trees In connection with good roads.
Miss Stpe points out that often
trees are disliked along the sides OF
bad roads because they prevent the
mud from drying quickly after a rain.
This forms no objection when the
roads are good. however. 1t is point
ed out.
Reasons for planting trees by the
roadside are given by Miss Sipe:
"One has only to pass from the
glare Of the dust and heat Of the long
stretch of unshaded road on a hot sum
mer day to the relief afforded by trees
to know the value Of roadside plant
ing. This same physical comfort
comes to horses as well as to a
"The effect of trees on the road It.
self Is seldom thought Of, except to
the disadvantage Of the trees. They
keep the roads from drying out after
wet weather. is the usual charge. On
a poorly built road this ia true. They
are an aid on a we'll built one, If not
planted too close. Roots constantly
taking in water assist in drainage.
That which is a protection from the
sun is also a shelter from rain. The
tree tops break the force of driving
rains, thus preventing washes In the
road. This more than counterbalances
the occasional drip marks that are
seen.
THE most important use Of trees
by the roadside is the prevention OF
dust. Dust Is the cementing material
In macadam roads, and II 1t is loosened
and blown away, the road suffers.
Properly planted, they form wind
breaks and prevent ~snowdrifts. They
make the road cooler by day and
warmer by night and serve at night
to mark the road"
DR.. Philander P. Ciaxton, United
States commissioner of education, has
the following to say by way Of intro
duction to the book In his letter OF
transmittal:
Zone Of the greatest needs OF our
oo,,+r, tc o0ol nrhIin rnodc Tho
reason we do not have them wherever
needed is not primarily because Of the
cost of building them, for in the last
quarter Of a century we nave spent
more money for other things than
would be required to pay for the
building of good roads to and through
every place having any considerable
population. Our annual mud tax Is
greater than would be the tax neces-
sary to pay the interest on bonds to
build good roads.
The roads are not built because
value nor comprehend how much
beauty they would contribute to the
country and how much pleasure to
life. 1t is largely 6 matter Of senti-
ment and ideals. These r most a 8
lily created in childhood . What one
would have in the state Of tomorrow
must be put into the schools Of today.
Not only should we build good roads,
we should also make them attractive
and comfortable to travel ver In
many European countries this Is done
by planting the roadside with rows
Of trees.
"On some Of the broader and more
important public highways there are
double rows Of trees on either side.
The eye follows the road across coun-
try not as a broad white band, with
heat shimmering above it II dust
lowering owe it, but by rows of state
ly trees covered with foliage in the
summer, their bare branches sill
houetted against the sky in winter.
On many of the roads fruit trees are
planted. These add to the fruit sup
ply of the people and to the resources
of the state for the upkeep of the
roads. This tree planting by the road.
side has not yet become common in
this country, as 1t should"