82 
EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
The Street Light Committee, of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 
have for a number of years recommended the planting of trees at the 
property line which would greatly increase the efficiency of highway 
lighting, which is a very important factor in our modern traveling 
methods, and for the protection of pedestrians. 
It may be of interest to note that notwithstanding the efforts of our 
members in the New England Section to discourage the practice of plant¬ 
ing trees under electrical transmission lines, reports have been received 
that in a number of instances some states have planted new trees along 
State Highways directly beneath these transmission lines. 
It is my personal opinion, and I believe that your reaction as well as 
the majority of our membership will be, that the perfect answer to the 
problem of trees and wires, is to place all electrical communication, 
signal and supply wires underground in congested areas. 
The initial cost of this type of construction is more expensive than 
pole line construction, on the other hand the additional cost is materially 
offset by the reduced cost of maintenance, and the continuity of service 
in a major catastrophe such as the recent hurricane, and when it comes to 
municipal signal services, which are of an emergency character, particu¬ 
larly the Fire Alarm Systems, the additional cost over the reduced cost 
of maintenance is very small as compared with the value of the lives and 
property of our citizens, which these systems are installed to protect. 
Realizing that the cost of this type of construction in rural territories 
would be prohibitive, also realizing that a great majority of our munici¬ 
palities will always be faced with the unnecessary evils of pole line con¬ 
struction, and now that so many of our ancient trees have been blown 
down, it is hoped that this movement will result in a widespread im¬ 
provement in shade tree locating, and in the provision of more con¬ 
tinuous electrical transmission service with increased safety of operation 
and maintenance for the benefit of the general public and all concerned. 
STREET TREES IN NEW YORK CITY 
By Nelson Miller Wells, Landscape Architect , Hastings-on-Hudson , N. Y. 
The question of street trees in New York City is no mean subject. 
Twenty odd years ago Laurie Cox of the Department of Forestry at 
Syracuse University conducted a survey and made certain superficial 
recommendations on the planning, planting and maintenance of street 
trees in New York City. But before that time and since that time there 
has been no serious thought on the problem except in specific situations. 
