Evening star., 1937-03-14
DC. TREE PLANTING
THREATENS To LAG
4O-Hour Week for District
laborers Cuts Possible
Work Next Year.

Unless appropriations are increased
the District will fall farther behind
the growth Of the city in its tree
planting program, according to sur
vev of conditions made yesterday.
There has been no change in the
appropriation for two years. The sig
nificant current point, however, is
that adoption of a 40-hour week for
District per diem mechanics and la
borers Will reduce the amount Of work
which may be performed next fiscal
year by the Department of Trees and
Parkings.
1t Is estimated there are now no
less than 10000 trees which should
be replaced This figure represents
for the most part trees of undesirable
or unsuitable types which should be
replaced, but it also includes an es-
innate of 5000 trees which have been
removed or which have died, which
should be replaced.
For the past two years. the de-
partment has received total appro-
priation of $l26,600. Clifford Lam
ham, head Of the department, last
Fall asked for a modest increase OF
$4,000 in the proposed 1888 budget,
but because of the citys financial
stress the Commissioners cut out the
increase.
Labor Cost Up $500.
Recent adoption of the 40-hOur week
for District laborers means that no
work is done on Saturdays. This pro-
gram adds about $1,000 to the District S
labor cost for trees and parkings per
year and with the granting of IN
creased annual and stick leave to per
diem employees, the costs of the de-
partment have increased some $4,000
year.
Il am not complaining, this depart
ment must take its proper place along
with the rest said Lanham. But
could use lot more money. 1t should
be remembered that the trees of the
District have been called the glory
OF the National Capital"
Automobiles and requirements of
traffic, Lanham disclosed, take heavy
toll Of the Districts trees. Last year
there was the amazing total of 4.4O0
tree boxes about young trees along
the curbs which were broken by auto
mobiles.
That figure, he explained. does not
include the damage done to mature
trees from being hit by cars. And that
IS not near all of the toll taken bv
mechanical forces. Many a tree dies
because its roots are severed as work.
men dig trenches in connection with
the laying of sewer and water mains
and electric conduitS, or in the WIDEN
Ing OF streets, Lanham said
121,600 Curb Line Trees.
To get a proper picture of the prob
lem Of the department 1t should be
remembered that there are now l2l.-
500 Curb-Lne trees in the District.
Merely to spray these trees to keep
insects from killing most of the lot
It takes a gang of workmen three
months to cover the whole route.
Each year, also, the department
must trim Curb-lIne trees Lanham
states his department is fortunate if
he Is able TO allot enough of his work.
Ing funds to permit the trimming
OF as many as 10000 of these trees a
year With one gang of workmen
on this job it would take II years
to cover the entire city.
During the past Winter the District
was able to plant some 2,4OO trees
along curb lines. The year before the
total was 300. The high peak was
reached two years ago, when nearly
1000 were planted, but that was made
possible only through the additional
help provided by the w P. A.