The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-21

straw hat loaned for the occasion by
Barnum s Co., dry goods and clothing
merchants who had used the big straw
lid as sign in front of their place OF
business. was the first and foremost fig
ure following the brass drummer. The
mayor had young saplihg over one
There were over one hundred men. women
and children in line, each carrying tree
to beautify the Capitol square or an i'm
tree already delivered.
There unfortunately was no effort
towards symmetry or unanimfty OF design
to plant a tree. and il possible more than
one. II the trees were planted on public
ground or private, it was urged that all
combine in identifying the state house
square also during the day. and everybody
came out to plant a tree. In the north
east quarter OF the square more trees
were set than in any other part OF the
grounds. In fact the trees were so thick
here that they had to be Trimmed out even
before the library building was erected.
The building OF this structure from the
combined donations OF the Santa Fee and
Union Pacific railways caused another
slaughter of many Of the Arbor Day trees,
but 1t was left to the landscapists that
cent young forest in that corner Of the
square and in other corners
remember that the Commonwealth en-
geometric design and named it for the
proprfetors. 1.-The Baker bower The
Blade. owned by J. Clarke Swayze. and
which afterwards became the State Jour-
nal, was also factor in identifying the
square. Every employee, and the proprie-
tor and his entire family, were in the
parade. and clump of trees, known as
the Blade trees, flOurished for many years
until it was found necessary to remove
them. singly in pairs and finally alto
gether to satisfy the demands of art or
convenience.
Major Anderson's Idea.
To Major Anderson belongs the credit
of putting the tree idea on Topeka's map,
and to this idea is due the splendid shade
the Philadelphia Of the west. Many a
city, including Philadelphia, would gladly
give a million for Topeka's beautiful
shade trees. the major portion of which
were set out the first Arbor Day in
Kansas In 1877.
O. K. SwAYZE.
Sir: You ask for more of the early day
ofrer you a Scrap Of that history
When arrived in Topeka in 1873, the
city had 11,O00 people. and not half that
five lots at Eighth and Locust streets
and planted a good bunch of shade trees
On and about the tract.
Ahortly after that ! bought part OF
the King block at Sixth and Jackson. and
before building a new front, 1 planted,
probably. the LARGEST tree ever plantesda
West Sixth avenue. The tree originally
stood well back on the lot where the
Jones building now stands, close 10 the
Columbian building. So / dug trench
about 40 feet long, II feet wide and Feet
deep, from the tree to the sidewalk, ana
; left several tons of earth on and AROUND
/ the roots of the big cottonwood, which
! was at least two feet in diameter Iittie
! above ground. Then, when the ball OF
earth was tightly frozen to the roots o.
the tree. I tunnelled under 1t: and placed
a runway of planks in the trench. WIN
rollers under supporting planks. ana ses
! a dozen jack-screws behind the tree anu
| pushed it to place in front OF the size,
/ walk. while all the people In town stood
/ around and laughed at me for my roiiy.
! The tree lived, and seemed about as Wig
! orous as before it made the journey, ana
many hot summer afternoon l sat IN
! the s.iade there and laughed back at the
! laughies. who told me 1t could not oe
dole. A few years later. when the ave
| nue. was paved and widened Dill. II was
found that my pet was few feet 700 LAL
/ out and two or three feet too nigh .oi
! the new slope of the street. and the CITY
] fathers cut it down.
!: Then in 1857, bought seven acres on
South Kansas avenue, q mile OUT o.
town, and planted several hundred trees
| on the block where I live now and the
block next south Of it. At that time tne
| whole two blocks were q cornfield. witn
) only two houses and about 20 trees on the
!! whole tract. first planted native trees
elms, walnuts, oaks. ash, cottonwood. exc.
But a little later 1 began experiments
! with many kinds OF foreign trees to IND
out what sorts would thrive here Many
seasons and In from one to I'VE years
El,rf 7 hod Mi