Evening star., 1943-11-21
Important Street
MI

city streets are planted in special propa-
CATION beds. The seedlings are con-
stantly cultivated, the beds weeded, and
At about 18 inches, the saplings are
transplanted into long rows, feet wide
and feet apart Here they are skillfully
pruned and trained and given an opti-
mum Of fertilizer and irrigation to insure
vigorous growth. 1t is thus possible to
years; Norway maple in to 7 years.
The Poplar Point Nursery was estab-
lished by Act of Congress about Is years
ago. The smaller Fort Dupont site of
16 acres is a more recent acquisition and
is located on National Capital Parks
grounds. For over decade prior to, and
up until the World War, the principal
nursery was located near Georgia avenue
and Upshur street NV. An even earlier
location was at the site of Gallinger
Washington's first leper, John Early was
isolated and lived for several years in a
house built on the site of this nursery.
The operation of it's two nurseries is
only one of the major activities of the
Department of Trees and Parking. In
an average year, from 5000 to 1000 trees
are planted on the city streets These
include both new paintings and replace
ments for removed trees. During the
1923 season less than 1000 were
planted, while the current season S
planting will be negligible.
The curtailment of these activities
is due to the loss Of skilled labor, the
lack of gasoline, and the inability to
obtain lumber, wire, and other ma
terials for tree boxes.
In addition to planting, the Depart
ment must trim and spray the huge
tree population under its care, remove
fallen and dead trees, and save out
standing trees from decay through
tree surgery. All of this work is car
ried out on an appropriation which
averages about sl25,oO year and is
derived from the gasoline tax.
The Department of Trees and Park
ing is under the able administration
Of Clifford Lanham, who has been with
the department for So years and its
superintendent since 1916. He sue
ceeded his father, the late Trueman
Lanham, who was appointed in 1885
and served in that department for IS
years. Thus the Lanham family has
been identified with this department
continuously for So years.
The Lanham Family.
The Lanham family has long been
identified with the history of Washing
ton and nearby Maryland. Mr.. Lam
ham, who was born at Lanham, Md
has resided for the past quarter CEN
tury in the 1O0-year- home south
of Fort Dupont. This house was origi-
nally built and owned by the Brown
family. Mr.. Lanham's grandfather, q
prominent Prince Georges County
planter and STAKEHOLDER, founded the
town. He gave the Pennsylvania Rail-
road deed to the right of way through
his property in return for their agree.
ment to establish the Lanham Sta.
ton near his home. That station is ir
use to this day.
Mr.. Lanham came to Washington ir
his early youth and obtained his frs
job at Is as water boy for the District
of Columbia Government at the munifi.
cent salary of so cents day. He ap
piled himself well, however, to ever,
task he was given and was finally mad,
assistant to his father, succeeding hin
upon his death in 1916.
Tracing back to the history Of the de
partment and Of municipal tree-plant
ing activities, we find that LEnfant'
original plans for the city included tn,
setting out Of trees along all streets