394 On the Construction of Highways with reference to 



priates several hundred dollars, which are expended in level- 

 ling this beautiful eminence. The road is made shorter and 

 straighter, but this agreeable curve, and the shade afforded by 

 the trees and shrubs that nodded over the precipice, are de- 

 stroyed. This is a very doubtful economy. Had the same 

 money been spent for planting shade trees along this road, to 

 protect men and horses from the heat of the sun, they would 

 have preferred a little longer distance, with such advantages, 

 to a shorter one without them. There seems but little wis- 

 dom in straightening an old road for the sake of saving dis- 

 tance, at an expense which it would be thought extravagant 

 to lay out on the same length of new road. Yet this is fre- 

 quently done by men who would refuse an appropriation for 

 planting a row of beautiful trees. 



In two preceding essays, I have treated of the beauties and 

 advantages of trees. As embellishments of the prospect, and 

 as sources of comfort to the traveller, too much cannot be 

 said in their commendation. Had our predecessors valued 

 them as they are valued by the present generation, we should 

 now see them in perfection on each side of every old road. 

 But the planting of trees has usually been performed by in- 

 dividuals at private expense. They have never been consid- 

 ered of sufficient importance to be planted at the expense of 

 the public. Yet, when we consider with how much greater 

 ease and comfort both men and beasts can travel in hot 

 weather, when passing under the shade of trees, than when 

 exposed to the rays of the sun, the providing of such protec- 

 tion cannot be thought of less importance than the smooth- 

 ness and hardness of the road. Who would not prefer the 

 labor of walking one mile and a half over a road well shaded 

 by trees, when such shelter was needed, to that of walking 

 one mile only over one that is unprotected ? One travels not 

 only with less fatigue, but his pleasure is increased by the 

 greater pleasantness of the journey. A row of trees by the 

 wayside, while it adds a great deal of beauty to the route, 

 cannot, like a wood, interfere essentially with prospect. It 

 ought, therefore, to be made a part of the bargain with the 

 contractor, whenever a new road is to be built, that he shall 

 plant trees on each side, along its whole extent. 



