New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-27

I cracked open, great flakes Of petritisd rosin
were revealed. They encrusted the wood
| like frosted silver
But our most singular discovery was .
nest of petrified chips. Some OF them were
as large as a sheet Of fOOlscap paper. They
seemed to have jumped red hot from the az
OF stalwart backwOOdsman. Who made
those chips is thus far an unanswered ques.
ton. Their appearance warrants the as
sertion that some Of the trees were cut
down before they were petrifed. II so, who
swung the AKA The size of the chips pre-
cludes the idea OF the use Of the tOmahawk.
If the trees were chopped down by white
men, who were they. and when did they
visit the Territory! l have heard four
theories advanced Tor the origin OF these
some chips.
In 1896 Colonel Pike discovered the peak
that bears his name. His party may have
wandered into the mountains and leveled
the trees; but if so, the trees must have
been turned into stone within the last
six,y-ive years. biologists laugh at this
idea, but appearances bear out the SonJec.
ture. l saw pieces of the stuDps that
wood to stone. Bat while petrifed chips
were plentiful, l could find no petritied
bark. The surface OF the trunks were ae
smooth and round as though the had been
planned.
The second theory is more interesting It
is known that after the conquest OF Mexico
an army Of 600 Spaniards, under Colonel
Coronado, swept up the valley of the Rio
Grande and through Colorado in search of
gold. Major Bigbe, of the Puebla Chief.
tain, who has overhauled the Spanish docu.
mente, tells me that he thinks the party
penetrated as far north as the Yellowstone
region. However this may be, there is q
ob.h h Nv hot n O'a haVA
visited the valley If the petrihed stump0
and laid low few Of the trees. This would
allow nearly $50 years for the petrifactiOA
of the stumps and chips. 1t sorpsss pstrify
within ten Cd twenty years. as has fle.
quently been the case in various parts Of
the United States, the stunps might easily
have turned into stone since Coronado
swept over the country, or even since the
time that Pike was wandering around the
head Of the Arkansas.
Allowing either Of these theories to be
correct, neither Coronado nor Pike could
have destroyed more than one or two Of tho
trees for the Hon Mr.. Swisler, of Manitou,
informs me that six years ago the most OF
the stumps were from ten to twelve feet
high. Selfish curiosity seekers have blown
them to pieces and lugged Off the rarest
specimens, thus destroying what IN time
might have turned out one Of the most at.
tractive spots in the Territory.
The stone chips are the subject OF third
theory. They may have been made by
either tho mysterious race WhO built the
wonderful aqueducte Of the great Arizona
desert. or by the mound builders Of the
West.
Geologiets say that the trees were turned
into stone during the icy period OF the
earth's formation. They declare that the
valley has at some time been filed with
water strangely impregnatea with che min.
org nhataOoa
this impregnation caused the petrifacti0n.
This is learned theory. but it does not &C.
count for the chips. Nor does ID account
for the petrifed palm trees that were dis,
covered at the foot OF South Park . few
years ago. These trees, however, laid upon
the surface Of the ground, and might have
floated where they were found. There 10
not palm tree within hundreds Of miles Of
the Territory
The soil of the petrifed valley 10 com.
posed Of grains Of quartz and red sand.
stone from the size OF = pin-head to that Of
large white marble. Grass grows in dry
tufts, dOtting the red earth like the squares
of checker-board. Prairie dogs have pre-.
empted the land, and have o clear title to
it. They appeared 70 be deeply interested
in my researches, for they yelped continu.
ally, but scampered in all directions when
endeavored to form their acquaintance.
The air Of the petriied valley is wonder
fully soft, dry and clear. Every breath ex.
pands the lungs and invigOrates the system.
The atmosphere is SO clear that visitor
can hardly rid himself of the notion that he
is looking through an immense magnifying
glass. The snowy summit Of Pixies Peak
must be forty miles away. 1t does not ap-
pear to be over six. Rocks and trees .
mile distant seem to be but few rods OF.
But there were no trees and the sun beat
hot upon us. l could not have been warme1
on the corner Of Nassau and Fulton streets
during hot day in July. Dead animals,
however, never decay in the petrified val
Icy. Their hides shrivel up, and their re-
mains gradually waste away without scent
until nothing but bleached bones are left.
These become as hard and az brittle as the
strewn the ground for years are as hard az
flint. They will break and chip under the
sharp blade OF a knife, but ne shavings can
TO whitfield from them.
While the days are warm. the nights are
deliciously cool, but dews and fogs are un-
known. Judge CASTILLO. and the Judge
won't lie, told Inc that lie built a fire in q
stove every day, except the fourth OF July,
tor the purpose of keeping the blood Of hiS
guests in circulation.
The ledge bordering the valley Of she
pefrlfled stumps is worthy of mention. II
contains layers of stone as thin as plate and
winter than pOtter's clay. The stone ID al
hight as feather, and is easily broken. IL
is go thin and light that it reminded me Of
the n-dried pieces of skulls scattered ever
the Indian mounds of Florida.
Beyond this geological formation there 10
another equally remarkable. 1t is a layeP
OF hard, cream -colOred stone. When chip.
ped or broken the grain looks like the finest
satin. When sifted in the sun it shows a
beautiful lustre. Ladies declare chat il
would be lovely color for dress.
There are other groups Of rock worthy
the attention of biologists; but if scientific
gentlemen want 10 see the stumps they
can't come too soon. for herders and tour.
.sts are fast destroying them, and witbiu
i've years they may be wonders TO 10 talked
about, but not seen.