2 SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



supposed there would come a time when we should be in 

 danger of losing our natural heritage. When cities were 

 built there was no attempt, in most cases, to set aside certain 

 areas for park purposes or to conserve portions of the natu 

 ral forests as playgrounds for the people. The cities of to 

 day show the lack of foresight of the original builders. At 

 a meeting for the discussion of tree-planting, held in Fuller- 

 ton Hall, Chicago, on January 31, 1909, Mr. Franklin Mac- 

 Veagh, who presided, said that when he first saw Chicago it 

 was a tree city. The trees were many and fine. Splendid 

 trees were cut down over large areas where the city now 

 stands. This statement would apply equally as well not 

 only to Chicago but to a great many other cities. 



With the development of society, acquisition of wealth, 

 and increased culture through education and travel, there 

 has come the recognition that cities must not only be the 

 sites of manufacture and commerce, but attractive places 

 in which one would enjoy to live. This spirit for better 

 ment is finding expression in a great many ways. There 

 are efforts to secure clean streets, to inaugurate sanitary 

 reforms, to build better dwellings, and to improve trans 

 portation facilities. The acquirement of land for parks and 

 playgrounds is becoming a necessity, and the importance 

 of comprehensive city planning is being felt. 



One of the material aids to the health and attractiveness 

 of cities and towns is trees, and the increasing interest in 

 shade-trees in practically all of the cities of the country is a 

 proof that their value is being recognized. The cultivation 

 of trees in cities is beneficial in many ways. In the realiza 

 tion of the City Beautiful shade-trees play a very important 

 part. No city in America possesses such avenues of fine 

 shade-trees as the city of Washington. While visitors ad- 



