Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-11-20
TREES GO WITH GOOD ROADS
Washington School Teacher Contrib
utes Striking Appeal In Federal
BuiIetin-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.
Sipe, 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 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 drying quickly after 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:
Zone has only to pass from the
glare of the dust and heat Of the long
stretch of unshaded road on 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 man.
1.-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 is true. They
are an aid on a well built one, II not
planted too close. Roots constantly
taking in water assist in drainage
That which is a protection from the
sun is also d shelter from rain. The
tree tops break the force Of driving
rains, thus preventing washes in the
road. This more than counterbalance'
the occasional drip marks that arr
seen.
"The most important use of tree
by the roadside is the prevention o
dust Dust is the cementing materia
in macadam roads, and II 1t is loosene'
and blown away, the road suffers
Properly planted, they form wind
breaks and prevent snowdrifts. The,
make the road cooler by day an
warmer by night and serve at nigh
to mark the road"
DR.. Philander P. Claxton, Unite
States commissioner of education, ha
the following to say by way of intro
duction to the book in his letter @
, transmittal:
: "One Of the greatest needs of GU
country is good public roads. TIL
reason we do not have them whereve
needed is not primarily because Of tn
cost of building them, for in the las
quarter OF a century we have speI
more money for other things tina
would be required to pay for tn
building OF good roads to and throug
, every place having any considerabl
n population. Our annual mud tax
greater than would be the tax nece
= sary to pay the interest on bonds
build good roads.
"The roads are not built becaui
Z the people do not understand the
e value nor comprehend how muC
beauty they would contribute to II
country and how much pleasure
u life. 1t is largely matter OF sent
ment and ideals. These are most ca
lily created in childhood What OF
would have in the state OF tomorro
! must be put into the schools Of toda
e Not only should we build good road
we should also make them attracti'
and comfortable to travel over.
many European countries this is do
= by planting the roadside with ROY
d OF trees.
J "On some OF the broader and mo
T. important public highways there a
ID double rows OF trees on either sic
IS The eye follows the road across COZ
y try not as a broad white band, wi
IN heat shimmering above II or du
Of lowering over It, but by rows OF sta
ly trees covered with foliage in I
ID summer, their bare branches {
~ houetted against the sky in whit
m On many of the roads fruit trees q
Of planted. These add to the fruit 81
Is ply of the people and to the resourC
I'd OF the state for the upkeep OF I
IN roads. This tree planting by the rot
side has not yet become common
e' this country, as It should"