Evening star., 1927-10-19
DEATH OF TREES
is TRACED TO GAS
Average of rs Poisoned Year
Iy, Lanham Announces
After Survey.

Illuminating gas escaping from
undersurface mains poisons and kills
on an average of rs of Washington
beautiful shade trees every year, II
was revealed today by Clifford l.. Ian
ham, superintendent of trees and
parkings OF the District.
The tree fatality list for the fiscal
wear 1926-1927. which Mr.. Lanham
has prepared with painstaking accu.
racy. shows that SO fine specimens fell
victims in this 12-month PERIOD 10
poisonous gas which leaked from
shallow, sunken mains and SLOWLY
sapped their vitality. The death toll
from this cause in the 30odd years
in which Mr.. Lanhom has guided the
destinies Of the street shade trees,
however. has mounted into the thou
sands. he estimates.
Illuminating gas is extremely poi
sonouS and is fatal to any tree the
roots of which are exposed to it for
a sufficient length of time. Mr.. Ian
ham points out. It is one of the hard
ships to which city trees are exposed,
he said, that is not always easy to
prevent or foresee, as frequently trees
are killed before the leak is dfscov-
cred.
Cites Causes of Breaks.
"While poor construction of mains
is sometimes responsible for gas
leaks he declared, breaks in mains
occur from a great many causes.
Street cars, steam rollers and other
heavy traffic on highways frequently
cause loosening of joints and even
breaking of gas pipes and the result
ing leaks sometimes kill row of trees
ill an entire block.
"A very small leak does not satu-
rate the soil at once, and may not
be the cause of the immediate death
of tree It's effect is bound to tell
in time. however. The tree will as
sumo an unhealthy look, the foliage
will become yellow and thin at the
top and there will appear a large
amount of dead wood that will not
be accounted for in any other way.
The symptoms of gas poisoning
are characteristic. The effect of a
large leak upon a tree is very pro-
lfounced. The foliage turns yellow,
wits and falls from the tree. There
is no mistaking the cause. The eff
feet of a small leak is yellowing of
The foliage, followed by greater or
$7Ess defoliation of the three. according
to the degree of poisoning
Poisoned Soil Turns Darker.
Limbs here and there die, the bark
becomes loosened in places, and
fungous growths make their appear
ance on the trunk Of the main
branches. The poisoned soil generally
becomes darker than its natural color.
The roots and the sapwood Of the
lower trunk become discolored blue,
~snd have a very offensive odor."
Mr.. Lanham explained that the
Washington and Georgetown Gas
Light Companies are cooperating
with him and doing everything that
is humanity possible to prevent the
destruction of trees by leaking mains.
But in a majority of cases. he said,
tree roots have been killed before a
leak is discovered.
Illuminating gas, however. is not
the only enemy of Washington's
shade trees, according to Mr.. Lanham.
Salt used in freezing ice cream, which
is carelessly dropped sometimes near
the trees, is dissolved by rains and
carried to the roots when it becomes
Eery injurious. Oil dripping from
Automobile crankcases, which seeps
Into the soil through small cracks in
street and gutter surfaces, also
reaches the roots and eventually re-
suits in the death of the tree, he
pointed out, while the automobiles
+4emSelves in collision with trees
have killed number.
In fact, Mr.. Lanham's tree fatality
list for the last fiscal year shows that
52 were destroyed by automobile, 81
by salt water and IL by oil drippings
frc.n motor vehicles.