The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-09-15
ADVOCATES PLANTING OF
TREES ALONG HIGHWAYS

There has developed in recent
years a strong sentiment in favor Of
making the public highways more at
tractive oy the planting and growth
of shade trees. Some states have
enacted laws authorizing such work:
but in most eases it is left to the mi
tiative OF the local communities. Tn
der the circumstances ittle in the
way of systematic work has been
done.
There is a demand for shade trees
along the improved highways to make
travel more comfortable and the
roadsides more attractive in appear
ance. What is needed now is syste-
matte tree planting along the road
sides, where grades and road lines
are permanently established.
If highways are to be of most ben
eff to>the public, they must be de-
signed to meet the three require
ments of service, safety and attrac-
tive appearance.
While service is the main purpose
in the construction of road and
provisions for safety in its use are
paramount to other considerations,
there is no reason why beauty can
not be combined with utility and
safety.
The architects Of old built beauty
into their great cathedrals and other
structures, and the great engineers
and architects of today are produc-
ing works of beauty as well as utility.
Modern bridges, dams, railroad sta
tions, banks and Office buildings are
being made attractive by their beau
ty without any sacrifices of their
utility. The sentiment in favor OF
combining beauty with utility By
providing shade trees along our high
ways is widespread even if to some
extent latent.
Intelligent Direction
To become desirable actually
the practice of planting the trees
needs intelligent direction. The
kinds of trees suitable for the vari-
GUS localities and their proper posi-
tions relative to the road lines are
important factors in the undertaking
While pleasing grades, ample width
of road surface, well constructed
shoulders, slopes and ditches have
much to do with the appearance OF
the highway, the greatest opportun-
ity- for Improvement and the addition
of beauty is in that part Of the right
of way outside the bitches. 1t IS here
that the trees must be situated, and
often poles for telegraph, telephone
ard power lines are erected IN TINS
space. 1t IS recommended that nel-
ther trees nor poles be placed mid
way between the edge of the ditch
and the edge of the right of way. II
either trees or poles are so placed,
with the usual right of way, there
viii not be sufficient room for the
other. Whether the trees or poles
should have the outside position will
depend upon local conditions, From
the standpoint of appearance the out
side position of the trees. IS favored
although the reverse position has
some advantages. As a general rule
the trees should not be nearer than
s25 feet from the center sof the sur
faced roadway.
While existing trees have eonsld-
cradle to do, with the location OF
poles, It is important to have regard
for the requirements Of the future,
so that in time it viii be possible
to have orderly highways with
trees growing where they should be
and the poles IN the place reserved
for them.
Proper Trees To Plant.
The farmers sometimes object to
the planting of trees adjacent 70
their fields because of TIE effect OF
the trees in shading the greund and
in extracting moisture and soil fer
tility from the surface under arc
near to the trees. While this IS true
of MANY varieties of trees, there
are Others such as the locust, wal
nut, persin.mon and coffee trees,
which interfere with cultivated
crops to a very small extent only
if at all. The proper selection OF
trees for the different contlti'ns
and localities would, it is believed,
overcome this objection.
While in a few years Their: rlay' oe
noticeable improvement in the ap-