The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-23
A REDWOOD GROVE
Col. Armstrong; Plan for . Public Para
That WIZ Re Cnlkke All Others

Col. Armstrong; Plan for . Public Para
That Wnl Ne Cnlike All Others
The newspapers have got hold Of .
story that our sownsman. Col Arm
strong, is 10 present the state with .
tract Of redwood land in Sonoma county
for q park. We made inquiry Of the
donor and found the rumor correct. only
that he does net intend to give il 20 the
state or to any particular municipality
or society, but to trustees. for the use Of
the people, for posterity and for all time.
This magnificent gift Of go acres hes in
Big Bottom, near the extremity OF the
branch of the San Francisco and North
Pacific railway, about one mile from the
river &C Guerneville. in Scnorna county,
and accessible by rail from San Francis
CO, which is seventy miles distant
II is the last considerable tract OF these
big trees in this region OF 50 near the
city. OF course there are othe< scopes Of
scattered timber in the hills, scrubby in
growth and out Of the way. But this IL
a grand forest Of monstrous trees. much
on level land, bordered by he side of the
Mount jackson range. with tree trunks
from FIVE to fifteen feet in diameter and
more than 800 feet high, inteTmingled
with various other sorts Of growth, occa-
sional tirs, laurel and other woods add
ing to the beauty Of the spot
The donor says the gift will not be
fully appreciated for the next fifty years.
Then, when no other spot bike II can DO
found in reach, his motive Will be IN
derstoed. The trustees viii be selected
about as follows: PEI haps the chairman
of the Golden Gate park trustees Of San
Francisco; the landscape gardener Of
Central park. New York city; the chief
justice of the supreme court Of Califor-
mia, and local trustee Of this county.
These gentlemen and their SUCCESSORS
forever will have control under but few
restrictions in the deed Of trust. One
will he that no timber shall ever be cut
or trimmed unless 10 bs blown down.
Another condition will be that the park
shall not be place for encampmsnt, for
fear of IRE, and shall only be visited in
daylight.
There will be drives, paths and the
like, as well as many ornamental struct-
ures, and a gateway and fountains in
keeping with its purpose, for which q
sufficient endowment is to be placed in
the hands Of the trustees. The details
cannot be given for publication, nor in
fact are they completed. But IL in I'M
derstood that some Of the work will DO
done in the time Of the owner, aud that
he will retain control for the present and
as long as he lives. Out of the 600 acres
about 200, with valuable improvements,
orchards. buildings, etc, are being put
into condition for yielding . oonsidera-
bic income. and much of IL is a. fine land
"a lies in Russian river bottom.
After its income may no longer be re-
quired by the family 10 is provided that
it shall become part Of the park. and tho
trustees will be directed to use such por-
ton As may be convenient 20 erect glass
houses for propagating strange plants.
flowers, trees and shrubs. 10 be used IN
bordering the drives and ornamenting
the ground II will be seen from the
sketch that the plan " for posteTfty, and
it will take a long while TO work IL out,
though in the main the natural features
Of a wild forest are intended 70 FREEDOM
mate slways.-Cloyerdals Reveille.