Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-22


made In the grading and curb lines of
the streets so that the great majority
of old historical trees were sacrificed
ones. A parking commission was es-
tablished, and new species of shade
trees were selected as substitutes for
the old ones but these. although beau
tiful, were not hardy. and have since
also been replaced by others.
Hence. the number Of ancient and
historical trees left standing In Wash
ington today Is comparatively small.
There Is a large elm at the south side
Of the capitol which was there when
that part Of the grounds was a fire
engine house. where many noted
statesmen used to foregather and ex-
change political gossip. Then there
are manv very old trees in Rock Creek
park which sheltered the tribe Of AL
gonauins when they made their annual
pilgrimaees to gather flint for arrow
heads. Flint was to be found here In
great quantities. and even today ram
blers through this section of the park
often come upon an Indian arrow head
But the most interesting OF all the
old trees in the capital is the huge old
elm which stands at the corner OF
Pennsylvania avenue and Fourteenth
street In front Of what used to be the
old Willard hotel. Many years ago
this was the popular resort Of the ma
tons statesmen. who were wont to
assemble beneath it's shade. tilt their
chairs against it's trunk and spin manv
historic yarns. Dunctuated by we'll
al, - ~ {,,S1a
also came the newspaper correspond
ents from Newspaper Row. lust above
the hotel on Fourteenth street. and
heard the latest political achievements,
discussed with careless informalttv.
One dav when the tree was shelter.
ing an unusually large assembly OF
notables. a familiar figure Joined them
and asked them to congratulate him
on his good luck. He had succeeded.
he said. in inventing an instrument nv
which people could talk from Baltimore
to Washingt ......
It is to be regretted that our learned
American statesmen and newspaper
men received the statement as huge
Joke and suggested that th" only way
the amiahle inventor could retrieve
his reputa ton for sanity was to treat
them all to drinks. It was not until
a few weeks later when congress made
an appropriation for DR.. Samuel F. g.
Morse TO continue his work on te'e
aDh line from Baltimore to Wash
ington that tho tree Ratherers learned
their error and the fact that thew had
entertained A genius unawares. Since
that time the tree has been known as
the Morse Elm
The trees that have been planted in
the place of the old ones. however.
have made np in heantv and hardi-
hood what thew lack in age and his.
torv. The mrniciral mark commission
TODAY. under the direction of Truman
Lanham who has been in charge Of
the work for the last thirtv-one years.
ia teaching the rest Of the country
many valuable lessons in the systema.
tic planting Of street trees. They
were the first. for example. to demon
strate the value Of the oak az street
tree. and now these trees are nroving
successful In many cities whereas be.
fore the nursuries refused to grow
them. believing them to be unfit for
this use. Pennsylvania avenue from the
capital southwest to the Anacostia
river Is planted in red and min oak
and Is considered BY tree authorities
to be the most beautiful street In the
world. The street itself Is not par
ticu1arly attractive. being lined with
small residences and shops Of one
kind and another which are clean and
neat, but certainly not pretentious.
Yet for miles along this street as far
as the eve can reach. four rows of oak
trees arch their massive branches,
throwing dense shade on the pave.
ment and forming one of the most at
trective street vistas ina ENABLE.
Thus it is due to Washington's
Landscape gardeners and tree experts,
as much as to the capitol and Wash
ington monument that it is universally
counted one of the most beautiful
capitals in the world.