Ornamental and Shade Trees 



A Department for the Advice and Instruction of Members of the American Forestry Association 



Edited by J. J. Levison, B.A., M.F. 



ECONOMIC VALUE OF SHADE TREES 



By William W. Colton, B.S. 



HOW are we to determine the value of our indi- 

 vidual shade tree? 

 It is generally admitted that shade trees are 

 valuable not only from an economic standpoint, but also 

 from their aesthetic, historic 

 and physical properties, but 

 as my purpose is to show 

 that there must be some 

 definite method of deter- 

 mining their value, I am 

 going to consider only the 

 economic value. 



The development of a 

 street requires the removal 

 of a tree at a certain point. 

 Mr. A. says he wouldn't 

 have that tree removed for 

 $1,000. Would it damage 

 his property to that extent ? 

 Would he pay that amount 

 for replacing it? On what 

 does he base his estimate of 

 value ? 



A private corporation or 

 individual damages a tree 

 in such a manner that it 

 dies. Mr. B. brings suit 

 and claims damages of $500 

 or $1,000. The court allows 

 him perhaps ( ?) $150. 



A city or town has a row 

 of trees killed by gas. The 

 gas company is sued, and 

 here again the court awards 

 an arbitrary figure of per- 

 haps $100 per tree, doubt- 

 less altogether regardless of 

 size, species, or condition. 

 What method is used in de- 

 termining these valuations ? 

 Up to the present time there 

 have been a number of 

 methods used. 



First, the arbitrary method ; as for instance, in Massa- 

 chusetts, where a State law formerly gave the court the 

 privilege of placing a fine of not less than $5, nor more 

 than $150, on a person found guilty of destroying a tree. 

 This left it optional with the judge as to how much it 

 should be. In New York State the court has established 



a record by handing down a verdict of $500 apiece for 

 the destruction of a row of trees by a construction com- 

 pany. In some cases an arbitrary value has been placed 

 on the tree by means of its diameter, as for instance, 



$2.00 per inch ; that is, a 

 tree 18 inches in diameter 

 would be worth $36.00. 



.Second, the replacement 

 value, under which would 

 come such cases as are 

 settled on a basis of the 

 cost of replacement. 



Third, is the method of 

 placing an arbitrary value 

 per square inch of basal 

 area taken at breast height, 

 or y 2 feet from the 

 ground. The usual figure 

 used in this case is $1.00. 

 This is used principally be- 

 cause it is easy to figure 

 with. In this case a tree 18 

 inches in diameter having a 

 basal area of 254.47 square 

 inches, would be considered 

 worth $254.47. This is 

 rather different from the 

 first example and obviously 

 quite as much too large, for 

 an average case, as the first 

 is too small. 



The fourth, called Park- 

 er's method, is a variation 

 of the above. In this case 

 $1.00 per square inch of 

 basal area is allowed, but a 

 reduction is made for po- 

 sition, species, truck condi- 

 tion, top condition, and 

 general desirability, scenic 

 value, etc. Twenty per 

 cent is allowed for each of 

 five heads when perfect. An optional reduction is made 

 for defects and the resultant figures added together and 

 multiplied into the basal area valuation. This is by far 

 the best of any system that has yet been advocated. It, 

 however, has certain defects, as it tends to give too high 

 a value to certain species. 



For a number of years I have given much attention 



107 



VALUE DEPRECIATED $830.01 



This beautiful American elm would, if perfect, be worth $323.27, accord- 

 ing to the calculations of City Forester W. W. Colton, but it has been 

 so badly damaged by the ravages of the Leopard Moth that under the 

 Deduction Factor System its value is only $02.36. 



