The probable erection in the near future of another High 
School building in this Jackson Park section, now under conside- 
ration by the School Board, gives another reason for the imme- 
diate commencement of the final reclamation of this section of 
the city, and permit its filling and grading for permanent resi- 
dential improvements, sure to follow the completion of the neces- 
sary drainage canal and reservoir embankments. 
THE STREET TREE PROBLEM. 
Pursuing the plans laid out by the Commission, after careful 
consultation with other cities, discussion as to the needs of our 
own city, and looking to the ultimate completion of the planting 
of trees upon all the streets of the city where it was desirable 
that trees should be planted, the Commission has made as rapid 
progress as has been permitted with the appropriations granted. 
Because of the limited amount allowed for office expenses, and 
the contribution of time in managing the active work, the over- 
head charges have been so low that the Commission has been 
enabled to place trees calipering one and a half and one and three- 
quarter inches, six inches from the ground, guarded with a gal- 
vanized iron one-half inch mesh No. 16 wire guard, with a safety 
collar around the neck to prevent tree chafing, staked to the 
vround with a 2 x 2 cypress stake, seven feet long and driven 
into the ground twenty inches, with large openings supplied with 
an abundance of mulch, and carefully planted, at the uniform 
price of two dollars per tree, a price about one-half of the amount 
that the revorts from other cities show that it has cost them. 
Of course this minimum’ overhead charge cannot be much longer 
continued, unless other citizens are willing to contribute their 
time for the advancement of the work, so that allowing a fair 
compensation to those managing the work, and for office ex- 
penses, this minimum price should doubtless be $1.00 greater, 
or $3.00 per tree, staked and guarded. 
As will be seen by the ordinances printed in this report, 
provision was made for planting trees at cost for citizens not 
wishing to wait their turn. when in the course of time the 
Commission would be enabled to plant street trees fronting their 
property without cost to them, and who were willing to pay the 
initial cost for such planting, the trees thereafter to come under 
the charge of the Commission to be cultivated, watered, sprayed, 
mulched and looked after by the Commission hastening the 
growth of such trees with every facility at the hands of the 
Commission, and in case of loss of the tree by natural death or 
7 
