Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-02
TREES ARE URGED
WITH GOOD ROADS
Miss Susan B. Sipe Con-
tributes Striking Appeal in
Federal Bulletin.
PLANTING BY ROADSIDE
SHOWN TO BE HELPFUL
Normal School Teacher Portrays
Beauty and Comfort of Alternat-
ing Shade and Sunlight.

Good roads and their relation to the
trees to good roads. are the subjects
with which Miss Susan B. Sipe. teacher
in the James Ormond Wilson Normal
School and at the head of the school gar
den work here. deals in a pamphlet just
issued by the United States bureau Of ed
ucation. The bulletin is entitled Good
Road Arbor Day" and advocates the
planting of trees in connection with good
roads.
Miss Sipe points out that often trees
are disliked along the sides of bad roads
because they prevent the mud from dry
ing quickly after a rain. This forms no
objection when the roads are good, how
ever, it is pointed out.
Reasons for planting trees by the road
side are given by Miss Sipe:
Zone has only to pass from the glare
Of the dust and heat of the long stretch
Of unshaded road on a hot summer day
to the relief afforded by trees to know
the value Of roadside planting. This
same physical comfort comes to horses
as well as to man.
Effect Of Trees Along Highways.
1.-THE effect Of trees on the road itself is
seldom thought of, except to the disad-
vantage Of the trees. They keep the
roads from drying out after wet weather.
Is the usual charge. On a poorly built
road this is true. They are an aid on a
well built one, if not planted too close.
Roots constantly taking in water assist
in drainage. That which is a protec-
ton from the sun is also shelter from
rain. The tree tops break the force of
l,rsv, fy,v fvnc fhy,, too 0rlA d,
the road. This more than counterbalances
the occasional drip marks that are seen.
1.-The most important use Of trees by
the roadside is the prevention of dust.
Dust Is the cementing material in mac
adam roads, and If it is lOosened and
blown away. the road suffers. Properly
planted, they form windbreaks and pre-
vent snowdrifts. They make the road
cooler by day and warmer by night and
serve at night to mark the road"
DR.. Philander p. Claxton, United States
commissioner of education. has the fol-
lowing to say by way of introduction to
the book in his letter of transmittal:
'One Of the greatest needs Of our coun-
try is good public roads. The reason we
do not have them wherever needed is not
ing them, for in the last quarter Of a
century we have spent more money for
other things not half SO valuable or half
SO much needed than would be required
and through every place having any con-
siderable population. Our annual mud
tax is greater than would be the tax
necessary to pay the interest on bonds to
build good roads.
Value Not Understood.
1.-THE roads are not built because the
people do not understand their value
nor comprehend how much beauty thew
would contribute to the country and how
much pleasure to life. 1t is largely a
matter of sentiment and ideals. These
are most easily 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 at
tractive and comfortable to travel over
In many European countries this is done
by planting the roadside with rows Of
trees.
ION some of the broader and more i'm
portant public highways there are double
rows Of trees on either side. The eve
follows the road across country not as
a broad white band, with heat SHIN
mering above it or dust lowering over
1t, but by rows of stately trees covered
with foliage in the summer, their bare
branches silhouetted against the sky in
| winter. On many of the roads fruit
| trees are planted. These add to the fruit
Of the state for the upkeep of the roads.
This tree planting by the roadside has
not vet become common In this country.
as it |hould."
New Meaning Of Arbor Day.
"The meaning of Arbor day was
scarcely understood before 1t became
Arbor and Bird day In many states. .
says Miss Sipe. by way of explanation
at the beginning Of her pamphlet
"Now the roads, neglected in location.
poorly built and bare of shade, clamor
to share the name, and 1t becomes Good
Roads Arbor day. The forests will have
no less attention by the change; the
birds will have more fruit trees to feed
upon; the children. to whom the world
belongs will so learn to mend their
ways as to relieve our country OF this
stigma of having the worst roads of all
civilized nations.
"A good road Is beautiful in all sea-
sons, for it is properly built There il no