78 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



arrangements may be made in a given case. Similar assistance 

 will be given individuals or corporations, and correspondence 

 regarding their needs is invited, but they will be required to pay 

 the actual expenses of the visiting forester, or arborist, while 

 away from Trenton. Justification for this policy is found in the 

 many appeals that now come to the Forest Commission, and in 

 the Commission's belief that the object of its creation will be 

 served by taking advantage of every opportunity to help conserve 

 any body of trees in the State through co-operation with those 

 in interest. 



TREES INJURED BY GAS. 



This co-operative idea has recently been applied to the adjust- 

 ment of differences between owners of shade trees claimed to 

 have been killed or injured by illuminating gas and the gas com- 

 panies. In all such cases the sole aim of the Forest Commission 

 is to establish the facts, and no case is considered except at the 

 joint request, and in the presence of representatives, of both 

 parties. 



In four instances during the year the request for an examina- 

 tion has been made by, or at the instance of, a gas company. 

 Every case, so far as we know, has been amicably settled on the 

 basis of the opinion rendered, and both tree owners and gas 

 superintendents have acknowledged the value of suggestions 

 made regarding the avoidance of such difficulties. 



STREET IMPROVEMENTS. 



In one direction the Forest Commission has found it difficult 

 to satisfy some shade tree interests. In a number of instances 

 the State Forester has been called upon to prevent the destruc- 

 tion of trees by street improvements. With every disposition to 

 be helpful it has been necessary to say that neither he nor the 

 Forest Commission has the least power in such cases and can 

 only make suggestions. Unfortunately difficulties of this kind 

 are rarely thought of until the changes are actually under way 



