Plan of Evanston
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shade trees, some of them dating back more than sixty years. Evanston has indeed been fortunate in possessing a class of citizens who had a vision of the future in tree culture and who clearly saw that many years were required before trees could attain to their proper development. Tree planters do. not see the full fruition of their work in their own lifetime as a rule. Now when these men have all passed away we of the present day rejoice in the complete results of their labors.
In view of the immense benefits conferred on the people of this generation through the far-sighted wisdom of the men of the past, we should regard our trees as a priceless heritage, and their conservation as of the utmost importance. If one thing above all others symbolizes the domestic charm of Evanston it is the trees which are its outstanding natural feature.
, Very little credit is due to us of the present generation; we reap whereof we have not sown. Not only this, but we are squandering our patrimony. Whenever a noble tree falls away, it leaves an ugly gap in an otherwise fine row, and unless some public spirited citizen replaces this tree, seldom is anything done.
It should be possible for the City to acquire a modest farm of a few acres, reasonably near to Evanston, to use as a nursery. There we could grow at a small expense our own trees and shrubs. Whenever one of the old trees should go, we would be ready to replace it with a vigorous young tree which some day could take its place among those old trees of which we are so justly proud.
New sections are added .to the City of Evanston from time to time, and we should layout the trees in new subdivisions with the same foresight as the provisions are made for sewers and water. Trees planted now would yield handsome dividends in years to come.
We have a great many small and some large parks, both owned now and hereafter to be acquired, which are more or less undeveloped but are to be soon developed by carefully