Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1916 — SCOUNDRELS RUIN ANOTHER FINE TREE [ARTICLE]

SCOUNDRELS RUIN ANOTHER FINE TREE

Second One of Red Maple Trees la O. K. Rainicr’s Puking Is '' Attacked By Vandals.

0. K. Rainier is justly indignant. Sunday night some vandal “barked” the second of the very pretty and expensive Norway spruce maple trees in the parking in front of his home. Two years or more ago some one' twisted the other tree off, oompletelyruming it.; The tree was replaced by another of different and less expensive kind. The scoundrel dr varmint or heather or coward or whatever mean term one can think to use who cut the b«rk of the tree Sunday night cut the .bark entirety round the tree and it is more than probable that it will die. * Mr. Rainier takes great pride in his premises , and always has them looking fine. The trees in the parking were a matter of great pride and the red maples were especially attractive and valuable. They cost $5 for the two and are slow growing and had secured a good start. Not only his own premises would be beautified by the trees but the entire street and the city in general and it is a shame that here is any one in Rensselaer so contemptible as to ruin the tree. Mr. Rainier does not know that he has any enemies and if he has that is a* mighty mean way to try to “get even.” He says that if they wall come to him personally he will settle the matter face to face but he don’t want any more visits from cowardly night prowlers. He offers a reward of $lO for information as to the guilty party. If any one knows who did the job they should give the information to Mr. Rainier or the authorities and the prosecution should be vigorous and the punishment suffirient to break up such dastardly practice. Mr. Rainier came to this city about four years ago and has proven himself a good citizen and if we expect to have men of his qualities among us we must not indulge in any tree-de-stroynig tactics. It is the meanest act about that any one can perform.