28 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMISSION. 



reasonable use of their property ; barriers are rarely raised until 

 fires, hackings and other abuses become intolerable. The most 

 highly organized forests of Europe are great playgrounds as 

 well as producers of lumber. Ours should be, and can be, the 

 same. 



SHADE TREE COMMISSIONS. 



The number of these organizations is increasing as the people 

 learn of the effective work that such bodies can do. According 

 to the best information obtainable there are now 52 shade tree 

 commissions, or equivalent organizations, in as many communi- 

 ties, organized under the law of 1893 and its supplements. 

 These are enumerated in the accompanying summary: Table I. 

 It will be observed that five have been created within the year. 

 The appropriations, though aggregating $175,000, are in most 

 cases deemed insufficient for local needs; indeed, the sums 

 allotted in all but two or three of the larger cities seem almost 

 insignificant. Effective work cannot be expected where money 

 in reasonable amount is withheld. 



The value of a commission organized under our State laws 

 is, however, fully established. Apart from the tree planting, 

 doctoring, etc., that is provided for it can, and often does, repre- 

 sent the community interest in some controversy. Thus the 

 Secretary of one commission writes : 



"We have utilized our authority to save three large elms. The trees in ques- 

 tion were about eighteen inches within the curb line as established by the engi- 

 neers preparatory to paving as a County Road. We induced our local engineer 

 to extend the curb out the necessary distance, which preserves the trees for the 

 present. 



"As a growing town we are having a considerable amount of paving and curbing 

 laid at present and we are continually called upon to determine whether trees 

 are to come down or whether street lines are to be deflected to accommodate the 

 trees. So far we have had no trouble with either contractors or engineer, both 

 accept our position as arbitrators." 



Fig. 31 shows an improvement made by a Shade Tree Com- 

 mission at the expense of a local gas company. All this is as 

 it should be. 



Unfortunately, the recognized defects in the laws have not 

 yet been remedied. One enactment contradicts or involves an- 

 other until some communities have actually declined to or- 

 ganize commissions because they could not be sure what one's 



