Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-11-29

to be found, and nowhere do they occur
except in limited areas, comprising per-
haps not more than dozen localities through
out California. They are not TO be met
with except where iuiegrated into these
well-de6ned groups. There are ninety
trees Of this grove (ihe Calaverasl rang.
ing from fifteen TO tweniy-six feet in dia-
meter. Among the larger we may men,
tion one that requied the labor of Eve
men twenty-five days in fcllip il, which
was accomplished by boring it of with
pump augers. So large an area Of sup
port did its ample diameter afford that
after il was completely separated, it re-
quired the aid Of wedges to throw it over.
Five feet above the ground twas twenty
FIVE in diameter without the bark aud
twenty-eight including it.; fer it must be
remembered that the bark Of these trees
varies from twleye 10 twenty inches in
thickness. The stump of this tree has
been carefully leveled, and upon it a cotil-
lion party of four set, have danced at one
time, afiording besides sufficient space for
a number of spectators. This tree was
over three hundred feet in height.
The largest tree in the forest now stand
ing Is called the g Mother Of the Forest"
and is three hundred and twenty-one feet
in hight, eighty-iour in circumfrence with
out the bark (the bark to the hight of
over one hundred feet having been re-
moved for exhibition) and at the hight Of
one hundre1 aud forty feet is twelve feet in
diameter. 1t is without branches to near.
ly the hight Of cne hundred and fifty
feet. 1t is estimated that this tree alone
would produce nearly sic hundred thou
sand feet of lumber Think Of single
tree large enough to build almost an en-
tire ylllage-certaiuly quite enough for
some nasccnt city of the plain. aag
Near by lies the huge form of the "Fath-
! er of the Forest" or Fallen Monarch, "
5 said to be the largest tree in the grove,
I partially buri,d in the earth and far ad.
vanced toward its final decay. 1t meas.
G ures 1l0 feet circumfrance near the roots
: and is estimated to have been 430 feei il
D hight, as at a point 300 feet from its basC
e it is eighteen feet in diameter. The re
f mairing upper portion having decayed, it
: total hight becomes a matter Of compare
tive computation For two hundred fee
S of its length it hollow and of suficiceien
c size in the interior TO permit person Il
i walk erect. This tree would have yieldet
c according TO very moderate estimate
e over one and-a-half million feet of lumber
e The "burnt tree" is also PROSTATE, ant
:. has been followed out by frequent burn
s. ing until horseman can ride into it dis
C tanco of over sixty feet, good liberia
c thickness of wood remaining as shell
J. This tree when standing was three hun
&c dred aud thirty feet high and ninety-seve
D feet in circumfrance. A large number o
u these trees show visible signs of decay
d whether from ripe old age or from the tr(
y quent fires that abound in these regions
d not known; but at the present rate of dC
t, siruction of these grand old relics Of pas
Al ages, few more centuries may see thel
It numbered with the extinct giants of otht
1t of natures productions. This species bc
r longs to what scientific men call Sequol
rs Giyantea, and bears very close resen
Il blance to the common cedar, the wooC
,r however, being Of lighter and more p'
e. rous nature, and of but little value in tn
is arts. J E .Urrs
ct Southwark from this grove some six 9
is eight miles is a still more wonderful co
in lection Of these trees, known as the Soui
e. Grove of Calaveras and no doubt by far Il
most extensive yet found in California.
ID this group there are over 1900 trees, q
he Of the most astounding proportions. Oh
&c of the largest, now lying PROSTATE, is
ID such immense size that well loaded Co
S, cord coach could be driven for distant
r of two hundred feet through its trunk.
in majority of these fallen tress, III commc
with the one mentioned, are hollow, forr
u ing inme nse tubes. 6sa Isar FIT
lis Attractive as are these monsters of Il
I'd vegetable world, VIC become weary in Il
IT. vain effort to renderin consciousness Gle
en- conception Of their vast proportions; al
OF with continual visions of the Yosemi
be haunting us, we ale anxious to be off I
he the valley. So at early dawn we bid adj
So to the big grove and resume our journ
,ir thither.
,ir If the reader will examine a map
NJ California, it will be observed that alo
C, the entire western slope Of the Sicrr
W. there are parallel valleys coursing we
ly ward and at very short distances apart,
m that cross section Of this range midw
he from the summit to the valley would pl
in sent serrated edge not unlike saw
so which fancicd resemblance the Sierras
be due. The reader will now see that o
on route to the Yosemite lies over two of the
sh valleys and dividing mountain ridges
ms the Table Mountain and Tuolumne. Aft
* leaving the grove bya rapid descent
nd which the daring soul of our reckless Je
all found delight in the cheerful effort to d
he locate our joints or break our lin os, a
,re involve us in as much peril as possible
ed furious driving down steep rocky grac
ese and sharp curves, all the while heedl
ed of our appeals for caution and moderate
my we arrived at Murphys prepared b,
cir most unmerciful humping to refresh o.
is selves by a bounteous breakfast anc
,ly liberal consumption Of the enticiDg viii
0 a there to be found. This done, we aga
.ry set out for Vollceto, four miles distant
me quaint dilapidated, Spanish-looking
rec town, whose long narrow streets and II
are ged houses showed that whatever mil
nse have given vitality to place had long si'
mn departed. We here again change stag