private void initializeTree() {
        for (String line : lines) {
            if (line != null) {
                String[] words = line.split("\\s+");
                if (words.length > 0) {
                    String[] elementAndContact = words[0].split("=");
                    if (elementAndContact.length == 2)
                    {
                        String element = elementAndContact[0];
                        String contact = elementAndContact[1];
                        addElement(element, contact);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }