Old silver maples + power lines = removal, but city is replanting at more than twice the rate of removal; Medford, OR; 4/23/09

Time to Leave Mail Tribune - Medford,OR,USA
City arborist Bill Harrington said the silver maples should never have been planted on the west side of the street, where the power line runs, because they are genetically inclined to grow to 80 feet. Instead, they have fought for space with power lines over the years and never attained their normal height and fullness.
"We're talking about silver maples that have been pruned excessively over the years by the power company," he said.
When the trees beneath the power lines are removed, Harrington said the city plans to replace them with flowering plums, which don't bear fruit and won't grow tall enough to interfere with the power lines.