| Show THE OF THE INNOCENTS communicated salt lake city is a source of pride in many respects to its permanent population and it certainly is consi considered derad by the stranger and the tourist as the gem city cit of the rocky mountain region its ts generous streets its flowing streams its ample sidewalks its public buildings s and private residences win the admiration of every visitor but its garden character in combination with its metropolitan magnitude a rude make it a city to love the long tn tines e s of living verdure cosy gardens and grass lawns with a wealth of orchard and greenery make of it in summer as unique as it is beautiful as an oasis in the desert I 1 I 1 I 1 traveling along its streets during the glow of summer every one clates the almost continuous shade from irom the days of the pioneers to plant a tree along the water courses was more than a privilege it was a duty a duty more than personal for every such planter and every such tree was a boon and blessing to the community at large the adjoining canons cantons where the tha primitive nurseries of utah and the earliest threes were mainly the quick growing cottonwood a few of which are found of great magnitude idour in our streets at the present amu the local box elder followed and until the locust and the acacia began to come from seed was really a good and leading tree many of these are arc now of considerable girth and being early in foliage are a decided decided ornament particularly when grown far enough apart the black locust most roost abounds and although not at all attractive in winter is a good street tree late in spring it is true but in leaves and flowers and shade useful and not unsightly in the summer months the acacia or honey locust as it is called is a very fine tree beautiful in leaf smooth and clear in winter and being good timber should be multiplied more abundantly and although it may be slow in maturing it will give satisfaction always to those who are willing to wait late years have given more variety and now the ash the elm the maples red and silver and some others can be seen on nour our streets and more lately many have planted the balsam and lombardy poplar both well enough by way of variety but almost useless and the first one very much given to suckers which is objectionable one of the most symmetrical of trees Is the sycamore or plane tree handsome it is in all seasons season sand and only not near so abundant as it should could be the horse chestnut is also very desirable and needs multiplication in both red and white flowered there are many other desirable trees the alder is pretty the birch would flourish on our dit ditches clies ciles some of the willows notably the wisconsin for corner planting 1 etc etc this feature of our city Ts an attraction but there arc are those who do not plant so that there are breaks here and there there in this direction which are not creditable to proper conceptions of public spirit even the enhanced value which is given to property is not considered si nor is the more homelike appearance pe arance which is given iven to residences ti to say nothing of t the e comfort yield yielded ed to pedestrians in summer or the increased love of beauty which is more or less felt by all and at this season of the year it is grievous to see the treatment which is given to some of the shade trees of our city in which we have each an individual interest they are butchered and mutilated or trimmed as some call it until all symmetry beauty and shade sade is really destroyed and the few gaunt limbs left to show the havoc which has been made are such suell a revelation of ignorance that men of observation look on appalled feeling that an injustice has been beer done to them in doing it to a cherished friend but a few days a ago 0 O on one of our pub public ile ilc streets t the 11 e wr writer iter lter W was vas s surprised to see quite a row of locust trees representing some 15 to 20 years of growth just cut down by some thoughtless supposed owner who did not realize that those trees af although bhough on his sidewalk had really become public property and that eve every man and woman using that sidewalk 17 every boy and girl running to school had a vested interest and claim on the shade and utility of every single tree it appears as if ageg t there should be power in a city to insist upon the filling of every neglected line of trees either by the property owner cr by some authority at his expense and then when trees are thus slanted El planted anted private they should also be e public property owned and kept in good form and condition by intelligent nurserymen nurseryman nursery men men who have studied trees at the public charge this would give order trees blown down or leaning would be made erect trees meant for shade would not be pruned away up into the heavens trimming would be judicious timely and for purposes understood der stood hewing and hacking backing would no longer disgrace and give annoyance and every good tree would be so sacred that to lose one on a small scale be considered a calamity and for one to deliberately hew down a row as noted above would be accounted a crime and visited with penalties of the law increased s appreciation re clation of the value of a tree wonis would come from this official recognition and for sor beauty aswell as well weli as shade for love as well as use around all our public buildings our school houses our churches would they be pl planted antea and in luxuriance minister to refreshment for the eye shade from the heat and sanitary influence and power from the nearer equilibrium of the vegetable and animal kingdom the suggestions made by the governor in his fas message are endorsed not because they are original for the practice of utan utah has been in this direction from the beginning and theory and teaching has always been in advance of the practise but it is a suggestion of necessity of common sense that the people or of utah should plant more trees better trees hardwood trees for themselves and their posterity of ages yet to come the territory and each county of the territory should make appropriations to reward the successful raiser ralser and cultivator of trees and it if there is power there should iso also be generous remission of taxes upon proper proof to the multiplier distributor and planter of trees men engaged in this should be looked upon as special benefactors and receive the benefactors reward quality as aswell well weli as quantity entering into decision as for public good if there are not powers powei already vested in the territorial county and city officers the present legislature should not dissolve without conferring needed powers upon all administrative organizations and the popular verdict will sustain such legislation now and for ever let utah have more and yet MORE TREES I 1 |
