We give a new proof of the existence (\cite{ HM}, \cite{ Ren}) of a Jenkins-Strebel differential $\Phi$ on a Riemann surface $\SR$ with prescribed heights of cylinders by considering the harmonic map from $\SR$ to the leaf space of the vertical foliation of $\Phi$, thought of as a Riemannian graph. The novelty of the argument is that it is essentially Riemannian as well as elementary; moreover, the harmonic maps existence theory on which it relies is classical, due mostly to Morrey (\cite{ Mo}).
Categories: dg-ga math.DG