On Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:54:56 -0500, Becca EmaNymton
> wrote:

>On 8/29/2014 8:37 AM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
>> And they take a lot longer to repair. Most outages and general damage
>> due to storms is because of unpruned and non-removal of ancient
>> diseased trees. Here the highway department trims/removes trees along
>> the roadways but they can't touch those on private property. When I
>> moved here I had several large trees taken down that had they fallen
>> would would take down utility lines and cause damage to buildings.
>> I've since planted lots more trees but far enough away that once
>> mature they'd damage nothing if they fall. I can't understand the
>> stupidity of people who don't consider the mature size of those
>> saplings they plant up against their house. There are many lovely
>> trees that don't grow very large that can be safely planted next to
>> structures... and even those should planted far enough away that they
>> can be seen from windows yet not so close that they obstruct the view.
>> When I moved here there was a huge menacing Norway spruce in front of
>> every window that had they fallen would wreck the house, and all one
>> could see looking out was a solid wall of green, and year round as
>> they don't lose their leaves, in fact in winter mounded with snow they
>> would block the view even moreso.
>> Back of house, crew taking down trees, that clothes line pole went
>> too:
>> http://i60.tinypic.com/122k95z.jpg
>> A gorgeous tree but had to go, people around here call that air
>> conditioning, and nothing was preventing them planting it 100' from
>> the house:
>> http://i59.tinypic.com/vpi2px.jpg
>> Couldn't see much looking out in front either:
>> http://i60.tinypic.com/2vm7gah.jpg
>> A local tree removal company charged very little, took down seven huge
>> trees for $600... they took what firewood they wanted and hauled the
>> trash out into my woods. It costs a lot less to have trees removed
>> *before* it's an emergency. When work is slow they are happy for the
>> job, but once there's a storm and trees are down everywhere, crashed
>> through roofs and wrapped with electric line the price triples, plus
>> you need to wait your turn. These guys did a very good job, even
>> ground the stumps:
>> http://i59.tinypic.com/2wqg6s8.jpg
>
>Where we live, the utility company has an easement, they trim trees and
>cut down dead and damaged trees that could damage the lines, whether it
>is on private property or not. While mowing my neighbor's yard, I
>noticed two dead trees that were laying against the power line, so I
>called the utility company, this was on a Saturday. They came out that
>afternoon and removed the trees. Well, they cut the trees into a few
>pieces and left them there. We will haul them off, these are two elderly
>ladies.
>
>We bought this house 2 1/2 years ago and we have lost power twice, that
>I can recall. We have a generator that needs work, we should have had
>that repaired before hurricane season arrived.

There are utility easements here too but most wires run along
roadways. There are two poles on my property that belong to me
(secondary due to run length), the utility companys maintain their
wires and keep the wires clear but if the pole needs replacement
that's on me. Like many people here I can't have underground
utilities because there's a creek between the road utilities and my
house, they can't run utilities under the creek... there are many
similar properties here that parts are classified as Federal wetlands,
the property across the road exactly the same, we share the same
creek, it runs through a large culvert (8' diam) under the roadway...
thousands of properties share that creek. Years ago before the
culvert there was a wooden bridge... were no utility companys then...
that creek supplied water power, were several mills all along that
creek. I think there is still one seasonal mill operating about ten
miles from here along Redmill Road. Before the advent of electricity
there were mills along every waterway that used water power to operate
all kinds of machinery, from saw mills to making tool handles, clothes
pins, buttons, thread spools, etc. Most of these relatively small
creeks were seasonal, water flows all year but at times it's a mere
trickle. Wasn't all that long ago there were no utility bills, but in
many ways life was a lot tougher. I enjoy my creek, mostly because of
the gorgeous native plants and lots of critters drink and hunt there,
lots of water fowl hunting fish, frogs, insects. Of course deer,
coyote, raccoons, even mice drink there, black bear too. Most
critters are nocternal... but when I arise before dawn I can usually
view the activity by moon light.