12 
EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
THE HURRICANE IN RHODE ISLAND AND ITS LESSONS 
FOR A FUTURE SHADE TREE POLICY 
By A. E. Stene, R. I. State Dept, of Agriculture and Conservation 
The type of storm, known as a hurricane, of which we had a terrific 
and unexpected manifestation in the New England States on September 
21 of this year, has been frequently mentioned “as Nature’s most 
violent and destructive disturbance.” In view of the extensive areas 
involved and especially of its capacity to build up colossal and devastat¬ 
ing wave action along seashores, it is easy to subscribe to its superior 
total destructiveness as compared with other storms. It is rather diffi¬ 
cult, however, for anyone who has seen the results of a tornado in the 
central west to accept the statement that the hurricane is the most 
violent disturbance. There were a great many people who from neces¬ 
sity or even from curiosity were abroad, on foot or in automobiles, dur¬ 
ing the recent storm and who were none the worse from the effects of the 
wind alone. It is not easy, on the other hand, to conceive of anyone 
becoming curious enough to move into the path of a real tornado to see 
what it is like or to remain in its path if it is possible to side step it. 
Furthermore, when we speak of Nature’s disturbances in general, we 
should include also earthquakes, and again, a real superior manifestation 
of Nature’s power is not an event likely to invite the merely curious to 
test its possibilities. 
Rhode Island probably suffered more from the hurricane than any 
other state when we consider the terrible losses of life and property 
which resulted from the huge ocean waves piled up by the wind. In its 
effect on shade and other trees now under discussion there is probably 
little difference in results as between the states in the path of the storm, 
except as the salt laden air added to the damage near the seashores. 
The velocity and force of the wind in Rhode Island was probably not 
much different from other sections affected. It is unfortunate that the 
only wind gauge in operation in the state blew down early in the period 
of the storm and we have no accurate records above the 95 mile an hour 
mark, or means of knowing the maximum velocity attained. That it 
was variable and very much stronger at different periods can be attested 
by anyone who tried to walk or to drive an auto against the wind. 
The writer in driving from Providence to Kingston during the height of 
the storm and facing it part of the time found it difficult to keep the car 
going straight and stay on his side of the road even where there were 
