TREES AS GOOD CITIZENS 
150 
colliding with unprotected trees, from draymen backing 
their trucks against them sharply, while porters or labor¬ 
ers scrape branches or trunk with merchandise in loading 
or unloading. Such carelessness will largely be curbed if 
it is known that an alert official is watching the trees, and 
that punishment will be meted out for damage done. 
The top of a tree may sustain either direct or indirect 
injury from overhead wires. Linemen should not be 
allowed to cut limbs for the stringing of wires, nor should 
they be permitted to attach wires to any part of a tree. 
In most cases it will be found that the apparent necessity 
for either of these things can be averted by careful con¬ 
sideration of other ways and means for the placing of 
the wires. Even when this is done, it is sometimes neces¬ 
sary that wires pass through a tree-top, and in such cases, 
close watchfulness is required, and if trimming is essential, 
it should be done by the city employees, not by the 
linemen. A swaying wire may cause serious abrasion, 
with possible death for the part affected, especially after 
insulation is worn from electric light or power wires. 
Linemen should never be permitted to wear spurs in 
climbing trees, as the sharp points make serious wounds 
in bark and wood through which disease and decay could 
enter. Broken limbs and split or torn bark are sequels 
to severe storms or heavy snowfall, and many trees have 
been lost as a result of neglect to care for the wounds. In 
most cases the loss was needless. Even when badly mu¬ 
tilated, trees may be saved for long careers of usefulness 
and beauty if given prompt and intelligent attention. 
Injury to the roots occurs in the installation of sewers 
and conduits, the laying of gas and water pipes, the plac¬ 
ing of paving in street or on sidewalk, the changing of 
grade, and similar types of construction. Work on these 
improvements is almost certain to cause the cutting or 
