Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-06
STUDY WIDE TREE
PLAN FOR CAPITAL
Importance of Shade Is
Stressed at Meeting of Gar
den Club Committee.


vestigation of the whole question of the
relation of trees to the architecture and
growth of the National Capital, a dis
tinguished gathering at the home of
Mrs. Frank B. Noyes, 1899 Vermont
avenue. yesterday afternoon discussed
ways and means of developing a pro-
gram of wide scope and long-range
vision, to be supported by more liberal
appropriations.
The Importance of beautiful trees to
the Capital City was stressed by several
speakers, including Mrs. Noyes, who is
chairman of the Committee of the Ma
tional Capital of the Garden Club of
America; Maj. George G. Gotwals, Com
missioner OF the District of Columbia !;
Clifford Lanham, superintendent of trees
and parking: DR.. John G. Merriam,
president OF the Carnegie Institution of
washington, and DR.. Frederick v. CO.
vile, acting director of the National
Arboretum, Department of Agriculture,
who discussed the progress of the
arboretum.
DR.. Charles Moore. chairman of the
Commission of Fine Arts, who is en-
outstanding member of the Advisory
Council of the Committee of the Ma
ttonal Capital of the Garden Club of
America, was present, and is much in
terested in tEo development of trees in
washington to provide appropriate set
S@~ASS AL Pub4AO
Later Increase Desired.
Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, director
Of the ONCE of Public Buildings and
Public Parks of the National Capital,
who was unable to be present will be
conferred with in regard to a proposed
study OF the whole question.
In the meantime, it was agreed that
no efforts should be made to increase
the present estimates for trees and park
ing In the budget before Congress for
the year 1882, but to begin q general
program OF education designed to i'm
prove appreciation on the part of the
public for the trees and to build conse-
quent stronger support for increased
appropriations in the year 1888.
Commissioner Gotwals said the Blu
reau of the Budget had been so "ex-
tremely fair" with the District of Co.
lumbia estimates this year that he per-
sonally thought it unwise to attempt at
TINS stage to make any change in the
1882 estimate for trees, but recommend
ed that 1t was not too early to lay the
groundwork for a program to get this
item increased in the budget for the
year 1888.
Undesirables Counted.
Expressing appreciation for trees
themselves, Maj. Gotwals said that the
times to cut them down. but that he
realized good trees could not be replaced
simply by money. The time element. he
said, was a vitality important factor.
Trees, he said, were an element of CITY
beauty We wish to retain. We cannot"
ne added, always enforce our ideals.
But we do attempt to save our trees and
70 guard ourselves from being too utili-
tartan at times"
Mr.. Lanham pointed out that WASH
ngton today has more trees than ever
before, their number totaling 1I2374
as OF July /. Included in this number
however, he said, were some % 600 "un.
oesraDies" which should be removed
ana were being removed gradually.
some qulck-growing trees which were
planted IN the early program of the
city, when speed of growth was more
CONSIDERED than quality of trees, Mr..
Lannam said. were beginning to dete-
rlorate rapidly. Silver NAPLES. Ion.
oardy poplars and other soft trees. he
salo, were thus disappearing. but the
CITY was now planting hard NAPLES.
NolWay naples, pin oaks, elms and
osner trees OF long life and quality.
49,. 1851 % tne olo silver naples, he said,
~ Varieties on Streets.
among the new trees which are being
culuvated, he said, was the American
elm, which now Is being raised in the
CITY nurseries in three years from seed
70 % . SIZE large enough to plant along
With % varieties of trees now nm III.
streets, Mr.. Lanham said, I'VE have
plenty OF trees in our nurseries to take
care OF all planting" But he said the
nlgnWay division was proceeding so
rapidly with opening Of new streets
ana extension Of new curbs that fire
Only way the appropriations can be
srn es = 70 Keep up with tree plant
ing u py neglecting the old trees Iast
year, ne said, only about 5000 were
1mmeo. AS contrasted to the appro-
Prlatlon In Paris, France, of SI25 Don
LOT only $4,000 trees of that CITY. he
saio this city has an appropriat ion If
SIi2,5Oo for $4,000 trees, and out If
tns rund must be used funds to NOW
Ss.. asS ano weeds on the public parking.
when should be kept I'D instead bv
aousting property owners.
o.. We don't get enough appropriations
Tor trees" he said.
Real Study Recommended.
Dr.. Merriam painted an attractive
Io picture OF the beauty and glory
OF trees and their Importance to a great
city. He suggested that a conpreher.
sNe investigation and study should be
mace OF the entire problem as relates
20 the development of the National
capital and its trees. He proposed
sucn questions as whether the build
lnss OF the city are more irnpor-
sant or the trees, whether the trees are
70 disappear from the parking along
the curb and be relegated to long fins
ger.nke parks extending deep into the
VARIOUS sections OF the city, and numer-
GUS otners. Such study should extend
over TWO years, DR.. Merriam suggested
Trees give US elements Of extraor-
binary beauty" he declared. They let
tnrougn the yellow light in Summer.
ana Cneir bare branches help us to en-.
JOY the sky in Winter The speaker
stressed the cultural influence of trees"
ana raised the question of whether. In
Sne long run. Washington ever would
become such city as New York. yher1
demands for automobiles, wide roads
ana sidewalks crowd the space and
leave no ground for trees.
Trees Gaining Support.
What Is going to happen to WASH
tngton?" he asked.
DR.. Merriam thought it might be
generally problem in the first place
OF nndtng trees which would properly
accommodate themselves to the condi-
lions and, second. to accommodate the
engineering OF city to the trees. This
ne thought, would be 'give-and- take"
proposition. What we need is light