32 SHADE TREES. 



In the latter case a tree may be killed as by a lightning bolt. 

 But injuries of this kind are too rare to require special con- 

 sideration. Moreover, the management of no electric com- 

 pany will long neglect a contact that means a loss of energy 

 in its lines. 



It w iH ^ e admitted that overhead wires are 

 objectionable in any organized community and 

 where should be put underground wherever it is prac- 



ticable. Let every effort be made to extend the territory 

 within which all wires must be carried out of sight, but at 

 the same time let the facts as they affect most tree interests 

 be not forgotten. These are that electric service is indis- 

 pensable, that the electric companies have certain denned 

 rights in many streets, that private, municipal and corporate 

 interests are more often served by agreement and compromise 

 HOW to imr- than by contest. And it is always easier to ad- 

 Hn^wlrinl? J ust a matter of this kind before a franchise is 

 interest^. granted, or before work is begun, than after an 



installation is in place. The following suggestions may help 

 to resolve various difficulties in connection with shade trees : 



1. If wires are to be extended to a street not previously 

 served, seek by agreement to have the poles set behind the 

 houses rather than in front. This is often difficult, as where 

 the street lights are on a high tension circuit 

 while the houses are served from a low tension, 



or it may be impracticable for other reasons. 

 Nevertheless it can be accomplished in some cases, especially 

 if the property owners are reasonable with respecr to allowing 

 linemen free access to the poles, and provision is made for 



crossing intersecting streets. 



2. If wires are to be run on a shaded street where they 

 have not been before, try to have the poles set on one side or 

 the other of the tree line, preferably next the curb. (See 

 Fig. 14.) 



