Putnam patriot., 1930-09-18

New England. Council was organized to advertise New England and to promote it's industrial. agricultural, reereational and scenic resources, and that through the efforts of your Recreational Bureau you have help ed in most gratifying way to build up the tourist industry.
 It is a firm conviction of mine that one of the best methods of ad- vertising New England and it's natur al scenic resources is by modern high ways beautifully landscaped. Every one finds it more pleasing to ride over a good road bordered with trees, shrubs, grass, ferns, and wild flow CTS than over the same highway with ugly roadsides.
 New England is, and if we do our part will continue to be, the summer playground of the people of this country It contains the things that tourists admire-the oldest section of our country, rich in historical places and traditions of the early days, with a wonderful summer climate, natural scenic resources com prising seashore and mountains, rivers and valleys, lakes and hills and modern highways. And in addition, it contains a wealth of old colonial architecture. The hilltop towns of New England with old colonial hous- es and the churches with their tall white spires are the admiration of people from all parts of the country.
 It would seem that not only for our own benefit from an aesthetic view point, but for the commercial benefit of our people and the entertainment and pleasure of our visitors, we should work to change our highways from motor slums to beautiful scenic routes and help to restore. to She best of our ability, the charms of the New England roadsides, the heritage our ancestors left us.
 Let us consider for a moment what constitutes roadside Identification and development. In a general way I would say, whatever tends to add to the beauty of our roadsides and gives the public better use of them The work perhaps falls into two dis tinct categories; Creation and Con seryation. Under the former may be classed those activities which involve the preparation of the ground and the planting of trees, shrubs and grass not only on roadside borders but on waste areas such as intersec- tion triangles and island pieces be- tween new strengthened roads and short abandoned curves. the build ing of parking areas, picnic grounds and rest places Under the latter may be classed the maintenance of our shade trees. elimination Of waste growth and saving of all good native saplings, shrubs, ferns and wild flow CTS when growing in location which does not interfere with the sight line or drainage of our highways, open ing of landscape and water vistas pre- servation of milestones, historical and other landmarks
 It may be of interest for you to hear of the status of the Connecticut program on roadside Identification Over a period of several years the public sentiment in Connecticut was ! being created for the better mainten- ance of our older shade trees, the planting of new ones, and better cleanup of the roadsides following new construction and a conservation of all good native growth. In 1925 a law was passed authorizing oui highway commi ssioner to plant shade trees along newly constructed state roads and within two years after their completion. In 1927 law was passed giving our highway commis- | sioner exclusive jurisdiction over trees and other growth along the 1 roadsides and requiring his written consent for cutting and trimming of roadside trees and other growth. The law also provided for agreements with individuals and municipalities ! for the improvement of roadside con- ditions. This gave the highway de- partment a complete program of roadside identification and develop ment. A new division was set up in the highway department, known as the Landscape Division, to carry on this work and it has been my pleas ure during the past three years to have charge of this work. After the formation of this division certain functions which had been carried on by other divisions were transferred to thss. One of these was the locat- ing and issuing permits for the pub lie utility poles; another was the moving of the roadsides, Especial at- tention is given to this workl cut ting waste growth back to property lines, conserving young trees and other good native growth; fostering and allowing to develop ferns and wild flowers.
 Shade Trees
 Our older shade trees are receiving special attention, dangerous and de- fective ones being removed, others planted to take their places. dead limbs removed and considerable amount of bolting and cabling done to preserve, as long as possible, these older shade trees. Particular atten- ton is being given and in some cases agreements made with the abutting property owners to allow the cutting of brush and trimming of new trees to open up landscape views. Follow ing the construction of new highways effort is given to the cleanup of the