Where Have All the Trees Gone?

Many years ago, circa 1955, I lived in Charleston and would come to the state's Band Festival each year. I was amazed at the beauty of the avenues and streets with their stately trees - spaced with precision repetition - throughout the city!

After having worked in Huntington over twenty-years ago, I left for another job and didn't return until five-years ago when I chose this city to spend my retirement.

I was stunned to find that many of the attractive trees were missing! "Where have all the trees gone?" I asked. Over the past five-years, I have answered my own question by simply observing the indiscriminate carnage inflicted on the city's tree-treasure. Topping them has assured their eventual demise, chopping them down and not immediately planting a new one ensures that the citizens who come after us will not have them to enjoy, and the numerous tree stumps all over the city attest to the indifferent attitude of government decision makers related to the preservation of our treasure trove of large, magnificent trees.

I suggest that the remaining trees be maintained with care. Trees should be properly pruned and the practice of topping them out should be stopped, according to an article in today's Herald-dispatch written by John Marra, West Virginia University's Cabell County Extension Agent.

The city government should take inventory of the many tree stumps still in the ground all over the city. Why not have a plan to begin immediately to remove each existing tree stump and planting a new tree in its place? Future generations of Huntingtonians will remember us for our thoughtfulness.

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