The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-21

will be necessary to save them, but
after dangerous branches are re-
| moved they may grow and flour
ish without other care for many
wears. This census gives the mum
Der Of trees in each class and rs
an invalua BILE working basis.
One of the most important prob
| lens in the surrey, and ultimately
| is the location of the lines Of poles
and overhead wires on which are
carried the telephone, telegraph,
electric light and FIRE alarm SER
( vices. On these w:res depends the
citvs welfare and the companies
consider that they have absolute
right of way. Where possible all
wires should be placed under
ground.
The future Of the shade trees Is
inseparably associated with these
lines of wires and there must be
cooperation between municipal Of
feers and these service companies.
Absolute municipal control is nec-
essary to protect present and fu-
ture growth The key TO, the relief
of the whole situation and abuses
isSfo have some one person as rec
ognized authority Then notify the
light and telephone companies
they are the worst ofYenders-that
no poles are to -be set for new
wires, net twig or branch is to
Z y~1lr,
ming .of new lines or the changing
of old ones, without consultation
with this authority, be 1T city man
ager, tree and park commissioner.
city landscape architect, or one Of
the members of the city council,
who has agreed to serve in the ca
pacity Of tree warder.>
If a linen1an INJURIES tree by
climbing with his spurs. thus max
ing often fifty or more bark wounds,
he must pay the bill for repair
the damage is irreparable-but ac-
tual cost for labor can be collected
and one bill for this fault usually
corrects it. Very soon the linenen
learn how to take off branches
without injuring the tree, to make
clean cut, and to paint the
wounds-ehey have to- know that
they are being watched. however.
They are willing to do the right
thing but since nobody has cared
and nobody has told them not to,
how can they be blamed? For
each mans work is first with him,
or should be- But, oh, the destruc-
ton of trees these companies have
left in their wake! You see it in
every town and city along every
country road.
Other resources should be listed
also and these finished We are ready
to plan for street changes where
necessary for either service or
beauty. Some streets may have to
be closed, others opened. New
lines of streets must be planned
with adequate room for sidewalks,
parkways wide enough in which to
plant shade trees, readways wide
enough 10 carry the traffic. and if
there are trees in the line of the
right of way, parking places
should oe pfaned so as to preserve
them. Paving construction COM
panies are as ruthless In cutting
dowr. trees as the overhead wire
people are in cutting eff branches
and several fights may be necessary
TO SO control the situation as 10
save the trees and. force the city
to make a parked space With one
tree or line Of trees set IN lawn
plot for beauty spot instead Of
smooth, unLrokeR speedway-a
temptation to racing rl1otorists-of
concrete or asphalt pavement.
PaIataka, Florida, and Washing
ton, North Carolina, arc.twe south
ern towns which have been strong
enough to conserve their trees IN
this way. They have the most be-
witching curves in a few places IN
their beautiful streets. A giant
eak, with emerald turf, framing it,
enclosed in a concrete curb while
the lines of the drive eqcircle It,
against a Background Of blue sky
and bluer water makes an oasis of
lovelineS long to be remembered.
The location and condition OF
parks and Fairgrounds, If there are
any, the reservation or acquisition
OF open spots to serve as breath
ing spaces, If future growth de-
mands, is q most vital feature Of
any city plan. It is not hard to Sc
cure cooperation if definite plans
have been formulated and arc pre-
sented to the people on working
basis. The railroad companies at
the stations, the county commits
sioners at the court house. the
board of education in charge Of
school grounds Will spend money
for landscape development = If
public sentiment calls for it. The
people usually get what they want
If they want it hard enough.
Not only these places should be
planted. but every building owned
by the city. every spot under their
control should become municipal
beauty spot Corporations should
be called upon to do their part
and usually they are more than
willing. In. many places they arc
leading. - Ilinssport, Tennessee.
Grani.evillc, S. G.. the Erlanger and
Dacotah Cotton Mills. Lexington.
\. c., are places that occur to me
where landscape work on a large
scale is being DONE,
Notable attempts at bcautifyins
their stations and railroad shop