Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 272, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1920 — Home Town Helps TREES NEEDED ON ROADWAYS [ARTICLE]

Home Town Helps

TREES NEEDED ON ROADWAYS

No Reason* Why th* United States Should Be Behind Europe in Matter of Beautification.

| One of tbe pleasant impression* 11 which our soldiers brought back with I them' from overseas was of miles of I country roadways beautified with | magnificent, trees. In this country a I shade tree by 'the roadside is so rare las to cause comment. Once in a while (during a trip of many miles one will I come to a place where some wise man I of the past has set out In a row along (the side of the road maples or oaks tor elms. But an even commoner sight I are the stretches where somebody has I cut down the trees and left the roadI way bare and unsightly. Not infrerquently telegraph or telephone companies have gone hacking their way I through a stretch of fine old trees. I It appears that a land owner residI Ing on any country road may cut down I trees along the highway for cord wood and plow the land to the very edge of the road without interference, and that the law has permitted him to set out saplings in the spring and get 25 I cents each in reduction of taxes. Public service corporations, it is stated, ; also have certain rights under the law which seem to work to the dlsadvan- I tage of private citizens seeking to I beautify the highway adjoining their I property by planting valuable trees. The State Forestry association will I submit a proposition to its entire I membership this fall by letter ballot, I with a view to determining whether f codification and revision of the state’s I shade tree laws shall be one of the I objectives in the campaign for neces- I sary forestry legislation. The associa- I tlon Is appealing for the support of I all citlzeiy interested. Thfs is something which may well I co/nmand our favorable attention. The I movement should provide not only for I the protection of Such roadside trees I as still exist, but should *hlso make I provision for the replacing of those al- I ready destroyed.—Buffalo Express.’