City Forestry in Chicago 



By J. H. Prost. Supt. of 



Before the fire of 1871, the residence streets of Chi- 

 cago were so well planted with trees as to suggest the 

 civic motto, "Urbs in Horto" — A City Set in a Garden. 



The fire destroyed a large majority of these mag- 

 nificent trees, which were never properly replaced. 

 Chicago, in its rapid commercial and industrial devel- 

 opment, sought to supply its aesthetic needs and up- 

 hold this civic motto by establishing elaborate play- 

 grounds, beautiful parks and extensive boulevard sys- 

 tems ; and while these are necessary and beautiful 

 features of which we may well feel proud, yet in ac- 

 complishing all this we have thoughtlessly neglected 

 what may be considered the back yard or living por- 

 tion of the city, overlooking those features of the 

 "City Beautiful" wliich become a joy and comfort to 

 the masses. 



Trees planted in front of every home in the city cost 

 but a mere trifle, and the benefits derived therefrom 

 are inestimable, when compared to the cost and bene- 

 fits of the parks, playgrounds and boulevards, and 

 every city, as many have, could well aft'ord to make 

 this its first endeavor toward a "City Beautiful." 



By making trees a part of the daily life of our citi- 

 zens, we are not only beautifying the cit}-, bettering 

 its health conditions, increasing the value of real 

 estate ; but we are also educating our people to better 

 appreciate, respect and enjoy our parks. 



The home and school are the greatest educational 

 factors of a community, and whatever is for the per- 

 manent good of the city should begin at home and in 

 the school. 



In Chicago we have some fifty or more civic im- 

 provement organizations, covering all parts of the 

 city, and these are again affiliated, forming a league 

 of improveinent associations. 



These associations have long realized that the street 

 tree is an indispensable factor in making the city more 

 habitable and essential to an ideal residence street. 



In 1904 a Chicago "Tree Planting Society" was or- 

 ganized to promote the planting and care of street 

 trees. It published and distributed a circular setting 

 forth the reasons why trees should be planted. 



But definite results were not obtained until Janu- 

 ary, 1909, when the Chicago Woman's Club put forth 

 determined efforts to establish an office for the mu- 

 nicipal control of street trees ; by calling a meeting at 

 which there was appointed the Chicago Tree Commit- 

 tee, made up of thirty citizens representing many 

 prominent clubs and societies, with Franklin Mac- 

 Veagh, former Secretary of the Treasury, as chair- 

 man. This body proposed to ex-Mayor Bussee, the 

 adoption of an ordinance concerning trees and shrub- 

 bery in the streets of the city. The proposition was 

 approved by the Mayor and on his recommendation 

 the City Council, March 21, unanimously adopted an 

 ordinance as drafted by the Tree Committee. 



It was agreed by the Mayor and citizens interested 

 that the work ought to be placed in charge of the 

 Special Park Commission, as its work for small parks 

 and playgrounds already extended over the entire 

 city, besides possessing the necessary facilities and ex- 

 perience in the subject. 



The ordinance accordingly gives control of the 

 trees in the streets to the Special Park Commission, 

 authorizes it to appoint a City Forester, who is to di- 

 rect, assist and advise persons wishing to plant trees, 



Parks and City Forester. 



and to have general charge of the care of the trees in 

 the streets. 



The ordinance further provides that the City For- 

 ester shall superintend, regulate and encourage the 

 preservation, culture and planting of shade and orna- 

 mental trees and shrubbery in the parkways of the 

 city of Chicago. 



It shall be the duty of owners of lots within whose 

 lot lines trees are growing to keep them trimmed, so 

 that they shall not interfere with the passage of light 

 from the street lamps, and that dead or living limbs 

 shall not overhaul the street or sidewalk so as to in- 

 terfere with the proper use of the same. 



Before planting trees in the parkways of the city's 

 streets a written permit must be obtained from the 

 City Forester, this being for the purpose of control- 

 ling the variety, size and character of tree planted. 

 Trees must not be planted nearer together than twen- 

 ty-five feet in any case. 



Gas companies, upon notice, must repair any leak 

 in their gas pipes that may endanger the trees in the 

 parkways. 



No stone, cement or other material shall be per- 

 mitted in the parkways which may endanger the life 

 of trees in such parkways. An open space not less 

 than two feet in width must be left around any tree 

 planted in the sidewalk space. 



Persons carrying on building operations must pro- 

 tect exposed trees in the streets with guards so that 

 they shall not be injured. 



X'iolations of the ordinance are punishable by a fine 

 of not less than $5, nor more tlian $100, for each 

 offense. 



U]jon assuming the duties of the office in May, 1909, 

 it was found that the Special Park Commission, by tlu 

 passing of this ordinance, had added to its supervision 

 about 1,486 miles of parkway lying along improved 

 streets, and 1,370 miles of parkway lying along unim- 

 proved streets and 1,415 miles of alley. 



Eighty thousand (80,000) would be a fair guess as 

 to the number of trees growing in the parkways of 

 Chicago. 



The department was immediately called upon to give 

 advice to citizens planning the planting of trees and 

 shrubbery in the parkways, to consult with neighbor- 

 hood and street improvement associations who de- 

 sired advice on planting, and these clubs also arranged 

 for meetings of property owners, where an outline of 

 the purpose and activities of the office were given in 

 addition to information on street tree planting. Our 

 eiiforts were next directed toward informing citizens, 

 police department and public utility corporations of 

 the passage, purpose and contents of the ordinance, 

 and to arouse an appreciation of the services this new 

 department could render our citizens. 



Realizing the vast importance of this work, the ex- 

 tent of territory covered, and the unlimited possibili- 

 ties, I was determined to fortify the office with as 

 much available information on city tree work as could 

 be gathered. To this end the foresters of a number of 

 cities courteously gave me invaluable information 

 and suggestions. 



W^ashington, of course, affords the best op]iortuni- 

 ties for the study of city street tree work, and the se- 

 cret of their success lies in the fact that they have had 

 the money, the nursery and the man. 



