The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-13

,'AfGm: IN To3R0oSo 70 your re-
\ sssGt Tor . letter relating to the
49, moth, must first stats that
\ nake no claims 70 being an au-
\ sherify. g you imply. I am not m
satomologist, Just : plain business
\ ~
A Yoar fellow citizen, John Pass
-. . gardener. can tell You more
\ Amt this pest than ! can. In his
\ ilf1fime care Of plants and trees he
- learned more than ! ever can
!. l6afn.
n Indeed, It was through him that
~ first knowledge OF this pest was
\ mined, when several years ago.
ihfough the columns Of your paper,
\ 4 took II upon myself to call the
\ sublic attention to this menace.
A AZ q result OF the publicity given
men by The Argus many citizens
took warning, banded their trees
vtth bulk tanglefoot and destroyed
~ deposited usually on the un-
\ 1es,ide Of fat projections Of build
!, inss or fences. Hand spraying ap-
psratus, wherever available, was
used. These remedies accomplished
much good locally.
Need City Campaign.
However, rs was then urged, an
organized CITY campaign with
power sprayer. furnishes the only
solution. Many cities in the east
have saved their trees by purchas-
ins and operating municipal spray
sI, - the army Of invaders In its
march westward has approached
their boundaries.
At the time your first articles ap-
psared, this invading army had
reached Ohio and only tho advance
guard had given warning to ILL
nots.
The city authorities took no steps
Whatever to make Q municipal fight
which alone would insure immunity,
bat left the contest entirely in the
hands of q few patriotic citizens.
The city fathers seemed to con-
elude that 1t was q matter of selfish
Individual interest that was threat
\ sned; that no public menace was at
hand. Public authority fights cpl
denies and fires which threaten the
lives and the property of individu-
ais Why not follow the same prin-
! ciple in saving the trees?
Certainly my shade trees are of
more benefit to the public than to
myself. The beauty and the CRATE
ful shade Of my trees concern the
city and its people more than does
my dwelling.
City authorities heed The Argus
{ calls for increased fire equipment
which protects my individual home
IN which the public has so slight an
interest. My loss by fire can be
measured by dollars: it may be re-
placed by Insurance.
\ The loss of trees cannot be bal
anced by dollars; their loss is ir-
retrievable. This loss is not only
I private loss, but to a far greater
extent public loss.
Urges Official Action.
Permit me therefore to suggest
l that II the appeal Of The Argus,
4 which has been so effective in Sc
curing costly fire engines, to the
great benefit Of foreign insurance
companies, were pointedly directed
to inspire our city authorities to
perform their plain duties in re-
sisting the destruction of the city's
tres, results would be obtained be-
lore It is too late. A like campaign
% inspire our civic societies to lend
metr efforts to the campaign, in
nal service. rather than In self
hadation, would also be helpful.
All citizens should be aroused to
No preservation of Rock Island s
browning glory-its trees.
e. H. GUYER.
c1he Argus has no apologies to Offer
connection with its efforts on behalf
o. better fire department. Nobody en-.
~ monopoly of the BENEFITS of fire
mosecsion. which safeguards the lives and
- property Of the humble ~ well a.
NJ rch. and really saves money fos
WW-EGtors note.)