Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-26
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS
Daily Tails Hh Thinking Phladelphims Subjects They
knoU Best

injurious effects of smoke. This garden
was laid out by John Bartranl, the Quaker
botanSt, and many of the trees in it had
reached notable proportions and. with proper
care, might have lasted a decade or two
moro. But the clouds of smoke from the
manufacturing plants which line both banks
of the Schuylkill especially when an east
wind was blowing. furnished the destructive
material for Fastening the deaths of these
historic trees.
'Such trees as the big cypress, the hem
locks tho white pines, the ycllowwoods and
some oi the tine shrubbcry have entirely dis
appeared since the garden became surrounded
by manufactures Of all kinds.
Value Of Trees to n City
Trees and shrubbcry are important TO
a city and to all civilized areas, for that
matter. for Il number Of reasons. First. on
account of their csthctc beauty. which re-
li"v"S the dull monotOny Of solid rows Of
brick houses and paved streets. Many Il
bad nieco of architecture is redeemed by the
graceful form of some beautiful tree.
In the second place. trees render CRATE
tui shade on the hot dusty streets of cities
during I'll" summer months. whom n ,pitiicSs
sun beats down, to be absorbed by the
asphalt. unshaded brick walls and lin roofs.
to be given off later. when the ,Ol Of the
evening should come. As hot blast.
Ihrd trees purify the atmosphere by
taking up the carbOnic acid gas given off by
''Il'A'h'S anu IulliH ItlHRH, TINS tiTDDIl III
oxide being combined into the tissues Of the
plant with the evolution Of the life giving
oxygen.
"Fourth. tr"cS are useful also in that
th"y are Hn "Sthetic factor in the incrca sed
vaiIe Of property. In this respect trees have
an actual financial value. The courts have
recognized in number of cases that trees
nave Il monetary value.
Big Verdict for Tree
n ,ln -,
awarded verdict Of $500 for the killing
of four fine maple trees in front of his house
OE the escape OF Illuminating gas from a
nearby gas main. Some time ago n West
Phl!adelphin club bought II property for n
clubhouse consisting Of four old and dilapi-
dated buildings. with four large yards in the
rear. Ihe buildings We're renovated and the
lots, which had been formerly used for the
dcpoSiting Of ashes, brickbats. tin cans and
"thcr RUBBISH, were made into an attractive
garden Dy the planting Of beautiful trees,
shruObery and Towering plants. The prop
elty was bought by the club for about $4,000
aud the improvements which were put upon
it cost about $1,000 more.
Recently the Executive Committee Of the
club was offered $50 900 for the property
IAe value has thus nearly doubled within
Two years. and most OF the increase was
represented by what the trees aud shrubhery
mad accomplished III the appearance of the
place. This is only one Of many similar
eases which might be mentioned.
In the htth place. many invalids and
persons confined indoors BY sickness or phys.
ical disability find untold pleasure in noting
the budding. the LEAKAGE, tue towering and
the assumption Of the autumual tints Of
those trees and shrubs which are visible
from their windows.
Thus it is readily seen that trees have
far more than sentimental value to city.
There Is every reason why they should be
preserved; there is none for allowing them
to he killed.