Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-23

muCh-prized survivors of the time so
long passed away, when this part of
the country was one vast forest.
He gave us credit for having many
desirable things, among others beau
tiful park, fine lawns and pretty homes.
He noted with approval the absence
of congestion and mentioned as desir-
able and healthful the fact that many
of our homes are entirely surrounded
by their own lawns. There are few
unsightly fences and many handsome
ly kept lawns, hedges and flower gar
dens, and then, to keep our pride with
in proper bounds, he said that we
have too many trees in some places
and that quite generally they show ut
ter neglect. He asked if we had no
regulations on this subject, whether
any effort was made to doctor the sick
trees and preserve the we'll ones, and
particularly whether there was an ord
nance regulating the trimming of
trees. 1t is particularly noticeable in
two or three important streets that the
trees are too close together and have
been allowed TO grow without let or
hindrance. The branches are fire.
quently so low as to make carrying an
umbrella attended with much discom-
! fort and annoyance. Without doubt it
| is disturbing to find your umbrella
entangled in the low-hanging branches
of even a. beautiful tree, and nearly
every resident of this city has had the
uncomfortable experience of catching
| his umbrella in one of these and re-
ceiving the drenching that follows,
! One not only receives the full force
of the storm, but an exaggerated show
er from the shaken branch.
Our friendly critic spoke of a city
in Indiana not much larger than this
in which marked improvement in the
appearance and health of the trees
has been brought about by the estab-
lishment of municipal tree doctor,
who is an expert landscape gardener
and is ready at all times to advise
property owners and others interest
ed, in the proper care of flowers, gar
dens and trees. His department up,
on request will trim and doctor the
sidewalk trees as the case may re
quire and the whole cost is assessed
against the property owners. 1t is
said the improvement is vast and the
expense per capita so low as to cause
no comment.
This is a matter to be taken up by
!. the Civic department of the Woman's
} club of Rock Island and for their sup
port and encouragement we quote the
. following ordinance, which perchancC
} some of us may have foTgottenY
) Section SO, chapter "a, Revised Or
} dinances of the City of Rock Island
1910:
1T shall be necessary for every per
son having in charge any tree upoI
any street or avenue in the city o
Rock Island, or any tree which eX
tends over on any street or avenue
to remove all branches which are les
than u feet from the ground, ant
further that all trees shall be trimmet
so as not to obscure or obstruct tn
} city lights along the streets and ave
] nues of said city"
: Section "a of the same chapter pre-
t vides the penalty for violation of tn
9 above ordinance as follows:
( Whoever violates any of the pre-
2 visions of this chapter, where a pen
! atty is not specifically provided here
in, for such violation, shall be subjec
I to a fine of not less than SO, or NOR
] than S25 for each offense."
J., The Civic department of the Won
+ ans club, cooperating with the mayo