148 



SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



How to Protect Branches.— A limb may be effectively 

 protected from abrasion by an electric light or trolley-feed 

 wire in contact with it by a strip of wood fastened to it by 

 means of two nails, one at each end. 

 The strip should not be nailed against 

 the limb, but should be separated from 

 it by two pieces of insulating fiber, half 

 an inch thick, as shown in Fig. 28. 



In no case should the cutting of limbs 

 of shade-trees for the purpose of making 

 way for wires be permitted; but should 

 an exceptional case arise, where cutting 

 of limbs is necessary, the work should 

 be done under the supervision of some 

 city official. 



There is one case of the evil of over- 

 head wires that cannot be overcome 

 except by their removal, and that is 

 where young trees grow under a web of 

 wires. The young shoots cannot force 

 themselves between the wires, but be- 

 come stunted, and the result is an ab- 

 normally shaped, fiat-headed tree. The 

 most horrible butchery occurs when 

 a large, wedge-shaped space is taken 

 out of the centre of beautiful trees to 

 allow the passage of wires. The damage 

 is beyond repair, and it would be better 

 to cut the trees down entirely than to leave permanent eye- 

 sores. See Plate 31, Fig. 5. 



Damages for Injuries. — Many cases are on record in 

 which damages have been awarded by courts for injury to 



Fig. 28.— Method of 

 protecting a branch 

 from abrasion by wire 

 ■cable. A, Branch. 

 B, Strip of wood 

 about 12 inches long, 

 2J inches wide. C, 

 Piece of insulating 

 fiber, 2 inches square, 

 J inch thick. D, 

 Nail. E, Section of 

 cable. 



