SB 436 .N6 1909 Copy 1 Four-fold W for Trees M- By CARL BANNWART, Secretary •—vi:i'*i:-'::m-if;r,t tm] ?ELI,EV1LI,E ELM NEWARK SHADE TREE COMMISSION 1909 A/£WAV^' D. of D, AUG 15 1916 u- A Four-fold Word for Trees in this day of aesthetic awakening, much is T5till\tV being done to bring alnjut the "City Beauti- ful" The important cities are aU in the ^^^^^ procession. I'ark and Art Commissions. Architects' and indispens- i ..... ^ble Artists' Societies vie with each other m ettorts to achieve civic (k'velopment. It is encouraging to the ])kuiter of trees to note that ah sucli organizations deckire trees to be inchs- pensable elements in the construction of the city Ix-autifuk Trees su])ply a two-fokl lieautw I'.eauty of form and beauty of color. Craceful in outline and decked in Natures green, thev have a double attraction. Wdiether singly, or in mass, there is nothing in a city's streets so charming as bright green trees. The French hold the "Cirand Prix" as the creators of the Paris mo.st beautiftd cit\- — I'aris. It is declared tliat the trees of I'aris with their stately, growing columns, iheir overarching. living, moving, rustling cano])ies of green arc more potent elements of the citv's l)eauly than the C.recian ])il!ars of the Madeline, or the marble facades of the "diotel dc X'ihe." lUtt we have a cons])icuous exanii>le of civic art in our own countrv, viz: Wasb.ington, the nci.ti«>n's cai)ital. Here washingm again, trees are a prominent featu'-''. 'Idieir l)ackgrounil of green enhances the l)eauty of evcr\' statue, and frames NORWAY MAPLE, PIONIHR STREET c\'cr\- i^r'Jal Iniililnij;". The linos of wcil-iilantcl, wcll-kc'i)! trees wind CM-extensiw with the hi iule\;n'(K and hy their variet\' and 1)eant\- ehcit the athniratimi <>1 all heliolders. Ncwsrk Ci\-ic i)atri<)tisni and the desire to excel are atread}' at work l)ringiii^ ahuut in Newark the city heantifnl. These A FOUR-FOLD WORD FOR TREES sentiments liave l)ecn finding expression, for instance, in splendid mnnicipal and ixisiness edifices. All right-minded men recognize the imi)ortance of beautiful ])nblic and pri- vate buildings. Yet all will agree, we think, that the touch of nature too is needed and is even mr)re important. Indeed. it is the uni\-ersal judgment that the attractiveness of a city depends largelx' on the trees planted along its streets. Whether one regard^ the graceful outlines of the leafless trunks and liml)S. the tin)- bud hastening its ])re])aration for Spring, the feather\' foliage as vS])ring bursts out anew, the Always 1 j: L' '111 -^ Beautiful glory 01 bummer, or the sjilendor (.)t autumnal colors when ever}- leaf becomes a tlower. the tree stands forth a miracle of beaut}- and of power. If one healthv tree is a source of pleasure to the observant, long rows of well-kept trees with their graceful arches and nodding plumes, their grateful shade and tlecks of sunshine, conimand attention fri;)m the n-iost careless. They add more, we believe, to the beautv of a street than elaborate architecture — giving a loveliness and grace otherwise unattainable. Thus the street of the poor man may rival that of the rich. Trees, because of their beauty. ])erpetuall\- vield pure j)leasure to the ])eople : and this more and more as the ])eople awake to them. A\diate\-er thus adds to the stock of human jovs has a real usefulness. That an American citv should not be outdone b}- foreign cities in availing itself of this source of contentment seems beyond (|uestion. As President Kliot pu.ts it: "The final aim of government bv the people for the ])eople is to increase the satisfaction and the joys of lite to the highest ])ossible degree for the greatest num1)er of persons — to increase, that is. the iiumber. varietv and intensit}- ot those sensations and en-iotions which gi\'e imiocent ani the air is due [o the presence of trees and tile lack i^i' it to their ahsence. The ;iii' in tlie \'icinit\' of ES, MONTGLAIR AVENUE trees eontains less baeteria and dust-particles than doe-, tlie air outside of tree influence, which again demonstrates that the presence of trees decreases the total id" atmospheric im- purities. It is ])ertineut to note here that a local varnish manufacturer de])ends upon his row of well-kept trees to screen much of the dust from tlie air Ix-fore it enters his windows to injure his ])ro(luct. Streets well j^lanted with trees invite out of door life by day and night, and the ..ut-.lo()r life thus induced in uo small degree thwarts the grim S])ectre of tuljerculosis. now so serious a menace to ever\" invli\ idual in our cities. Trees and Life Outdoors 10 A FOUR-FOLD WORD FOR TREES Courts Atfirm This Trees are among the fir^t tilings which im- l^CGltp i'res> a stranger in fnrnnng judgment as to faints wlietlier a cit\- is. or is not. a good ])lace to live in.. < )ne need not l)e a lover of nature to ap- preciate the realty value of the refre>hing shade of a r(nv of street trees when the sun is l)lazing. Wdiat relief, what rest to v/eary eyes is the \'erdm-e of trees after the glaring pavements ant! shining windows of a bare street — and how desirable then becomes a residence on the verdure covered street. These are eviclent truths, and tliat realt_\' values api)reciate in conse([nence is e(|ually apjiarent. The courts recognize trees a^ an asset to the prnpcrt}' on. or in front of which the_\- stand. 'Idiis real estate value of trees has been cnnrirmed bv numerdUs cuurt decisions. In man\' cases the churls ha\e decided that the destruction of a street sluule tree detracted from the \-alne of the a1)ntler's projiertv ti* the amtimit <.f ."s-'id. $•"''"'. Sbi". In cases where several trees fronting the same- i)r\ trees: — I wo lots on the same street were dfiere.l lur sale. These Ints were essentiall\' siinilar in all resjiects save thai in une case there were four trees, about t\\ent)-live years old. Twn of these trees wei'e in the street and two on the lot inside of the street. In the case of the other lot, the only trees (two of ihem ) were on the street, and these were less than Iialf the age of the others. 'Idie prices asked for the lots were resi)eeti\-el\' S".',.';!Mi and Sl,'>i!0. A inan wishing to build comi)ared tlie two loi^ uml decided in fa\-or of the $"-\.'i(M) one, the lot n;'iinel\' with the four trees — $1, (>(•<> for four trees, or we miglit sav for two trees. This lot had sixt\-six BLACK-, «ALNUT. BROAD STREET . cl, un acnau. ,1k ne, ,n-..fu f.r ,w.n,y-.ve annual ,,:(„,,„„„„„,, chaps have h.™ S-.':.. An,U.aohon,„ 12 A foi;r-fold word for trees woulil !ia\-t' recci\'0(l more care than (lid tlie four trees dnriii;;' t!ie wliole rif tlie iweiity-tive year^. v";^!.'!!!!! u, "$'*.'■> — the contrast is instriict!\'e ! N'et there are t(>-ila_\- ])ers()ns of inteUii^'enee who, in !ool a MTiall ta>k to i)!ant a tree. Idle -^uljsequent atten- Expense ^j^^^^ j^ .^^^4 Uirge. Tlic trccs once started help theniseh'es as scarcelv ;ui\-lhin.t;' else of moment to u,> ever does. The}' i^'row while we -lee]). Thie}- drink the svinshine ;ind coni- ])onnd theii' own lood out of the refuse gases of the air and the water\' solution c>f the soil. ( )ut of these inert, inattrac- ti\e. hareh- reci_),i;'nized snhstances, 1)\- a nuracle of transfonu- ation there comes forth that rhin^' e ami liand-niaiden of patriotism, Xo\\- trees l)eautify. 'I'he l)oy l)rou.i;lit nj) in a countr_\' home- stead, overlinnj; Ijy stately elms, ai)])roached thronyh nv avenue of maples or lindens, and ha\in,^' ;i door\arve of that home, ihiw the old homestead abides in the heart! i low for !o\-c of it will not a man gi\e all that he hath. e\'cn his life! .\nd as with the homestead, so with the home citw Trees I)i';uitif\ tlu- eitw That which l.)eautifies the cil\' of our MAIM.KS. ELEVfcNTH ST AND GOULD AVE. lookiiii- South an Elt-venih Street A FOUR-FOLD WORD FOR TREES 15 home endears tb.at city to us, enlarges and deepens our love for it — (lee[)ens and enlarges, that is to say. civic patriotism. The centurv old oaks and ma'|)les of ( )xf()rd. no less than its graceful towers and scholastic memories, gave the old City of Schools its grip on the love of Cecil Rhodes. The towering elms of Xew I laven and Cambridge hold for ave the hearts of the Men of Vale and of Harvard. The catalpas and maples of Princeton have had their part in inspiring the Sons of Nassau to cheer with such vigor, to [)attle with Mich might, to rememl)er with such love, to EXDi )\\' with such loyalty and liberal it}-. These feelings of pride in and tender affection for one's cit\'. born of long association with and intere:^t in the com- munitw and fostered In' the l)earit}' of the cilys thm^ough- fare< and buildings, are valual)le assets. The wise city will seek to inculcate and conserve such sentiments. If from no other motiw than municijml self-interest, cix'ic patriotism should l)e culti\-ated. The\- who will do most for their city in even material things are the_\' who love their cit\- most. ( )ur i)arks, our lil)raries, our schools, our churches, our hosjMtals, oiu' or])hanages, our ho])ed for wharf fronts — in a word, all public benefactions will be brought in directh' or indirectly b\' men who /.);'<' their cit\'. .As a mere materia! investment, then, if for no higher reason, make Newark beautiful with nol)le buildings and splendid parks and thoroughfares awave with trees. So shall the citizens low her the more, so shall the\' do exploits in her service. In view of the foregoing, it is e\-ident that an enlightened FonrGood interest in the ])romotion of the beautw the health, the realtv values of our city, commends to civic patriotism the main- tenance, protection and increase (-f the trees of Newark. Reasons for Trees LIBRfiRV OF CONGRESS "0 000 925 649 LINCOLN AVENUE BOHDEN. PFIIHTER