Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-11-03
ASK PROTECTION
FOR THE Trees
PERMIT WILL BE NEEDED TO
TRIM TREES ON THE STATE
HIGHWAYS.

legislature ldSl spring law was
passed entitled "An Act to provide
for the protection and care of certain
trees and shrubs within the limits of
the public highways within the state
of Michigan and for the planting Of
trees and shrubs AZ part of the
maintenance of the road i'm certain
cases" The law reads as follows:
Section 1t shall be unlawful to
cut, destroy, on otherwise injure any
shade or ornamental tree on shrub
growing within the limits of any sub
lie highway within the state of Mich
igan without the consent of the au-
thorities having jurisdiction over
such road IN the case Of a trunk line
or federal aided road, the State High
way Commissioner shall be deemed TO
have such jurisdiction i'm all cases. 1t
shall also be unlawful 10 aftiX TO any
tree or shrub any picture, announce
ment, notice or advertisement, or to
negligenty permit any animal to
break down or injure the same. Any
person violating any Of the provisions
Of this act shall be deemed to be gull
ty of a misdemeanor and ON conyic-
tion thereof shall be punished by a
fine Of not more than one hundred
dollras or by imprisonment in the
county Jail for a period Of not exceed
ing 80 days, or By both such fine and
Imprisonment within the discretion of
the court.
Section 2-The State Highway
Commission is hereby authorized and
empowered as a part Of the mainten-
ance of trunk line and federal aided
roads to protect trees and shrubs set
out along and within the limits Of
such roads, and to set out such trees
and shrubs as may be furnished to
him by the Michigan Agricultural
College, the Department of C0nscrva-
ton, or by any other state depart
ment or institution, OF obtained from
neighboring lands without cost, for
the use and benefit Of the public The
care of such trees shall lie deemed TO
be part of the road maintenance
work. Boards Of county road COM
missioners and township highway au-
thorities shall likewise have power to
set out and maintain such trees along
and within the limits Of, roads under
their respective Jurisdictions
In writing to the Barry county road
commissioners, State Highway Com
missioner Rogers CONSTITUTES this law
as applying not only to telegraph,
telephone, electric light and other
corporations, but also to the owner of
the abutting property as well. And
he adds that consent of town and
county highway authorities must not
be construed as permitting telephone,
telegraph or power companies TO cut
or injure trees without considering
the abutting property owners, whose
consent should also be obtained
Commissioner Rogers urges the CO.
operation Of highway authorities
abutting property owners and public
service corporations so that service
lines may be properly located without
sacrificing existing roadside trees OF
future roadside development.
The following policy has beer
adopted particularly to apply to state
trunk line and federal aided roads in
carrying out the letter and spirit Of
the law:
CD Blank forms for application
for "Tree Trimming Permit anc
"Tree Cutting Permit" should be
available for distribution to corpora.
tions and individuals desiring same.
(2) All persons or corporation.
desiring to trim or cut trees SHOULD
apply (a) to State Highway Commits
sioner on all trunk line and fedora
aided road; OBJ on county roads tC
the county road commissioners; Gel
on township roads to the township
board; CD on city or village street.
to the city or village authorities.
CD All proposed work should be
Investigated. Separate permits shoulC
be issued for free trimming and tire,
cutting, revokable if not properly
done. Whenever practicable request.
for tree cutting on trimming on trunl
line or federal aided roads will b,
submitted to counties for apbrova
before issuing permits.
"a No trees should be permitted
to be cut or injured unless absolutely
necessary, and trimming or cutting
must be done in accordance with tn,
practice Of tree experts and instruc
tons by the State Highway Depart
ment.
(5) In general roadside worl
should be done under charge Of SOM
one in county employ who under
stands proper tree pruning.
60 On state trunk line and FEEDER
al aided roads, young trees growinl
in clumps should generally be thinne,
out to single stems and trimmed up
Such desirable shrubs as Thornapple
Witch Hazel, Dogwood, Niburnum
Sumac, Elder, Hardhack, Hucklcber
ry, Sweet Fern and Wild Rose, an,
such vines as Bittersweet, vii,
Grape, Clematis and Woodbne Shout,
be preserved and properly cared 70
by trimming out the dead wood an,