Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-08-05
A NOVEL HALL.
It Is Made From One of Cali.
fornia's Mammoth Trees.
Ten Men Took Seventy-Two
Days to Cut the Forest Giant.

n novel hall is now on exhibition ia
San Francisco which is only seven feet
I'm height and twenty feet in diameter.
II contains nothing inside but row of
bright lights, yet it is an aged curiosi-
ty. II was made from a section of a
"Big Trec," Sequoia Gigantea, which
was growing until last winter in Tulare
County, Cal.
The tree is supposed to have stood
IN the forest for nearly three thousand
years. 1t measured at'its base ninety
nine feet In circumference, and its
height was three hundred and twelve
feet. Last January men were cent
into the forest to cut the, tree when
snow was sixteen feet in depth around
its trunk. 1t took ten men seventy
two days TO cut the tree, and several
months were consumed in taking out
the inner portion of the section and
preparing it for exhibition. at was
the hardest Work. 1 ever did in my
life" remarked one of the exhibitors.
The section composing the hail was
severed from the trunk at q distance
of tweniy-cight feet from the ground.
No saw was long enough for cutting
through the. large trunk, therefore it
was necessary to have ono made for
this purpose. The Pacific steel works
produced one as long 40 possi-
bic, it beng twenty-five feet and re-
qaifing eight men TO work it. This
length fell short of what was needed,
bnt by fastening strong wire or either
end of the saw the section was at
length cut from the trunk. which was
sixty feet in circumference at this
point.
The section was separated into
several pieces. One which is now the
floor of the hall is solid piece weigh-
ing 1928 pounds. 1t is one foot in
height by twenty feet in diameter.
Another piece of the same height
and diameter, makes the fat roof of
the hail.. The various pieces were
transported TO the city on fat cars, and
freight was paid on seventy thousand
hounds
AS one enters The large tent on Mar
ket, street, the, section now made into
a hall Is seen in the centre. 1t is
raised severa! feet from the ground
. and stands on nine turned pedestals
made from the same tree. Five or
six steps lead up into the hall, these
being also made from the tree. Much
Of the outer bark has been burned of,
leaving some of the remaipder
blackoned by the fire.
Many big trees have this blackened
appearance, caused, it is supposed, by
some great fire hundreds of years ago.
In proof that the fire is of no recent
date, sugar pines from thirty to thirty
ak feet in circumference. and two
hundred and fifty feet in height have
grow" succeeding everywhere and
with everybody. They do well in pots
Of earth, but ere more novel ard
beautiful grown IN shallow bowls of
water. with enough fancy pebbles 70
prevent them topping over when in
bloom.
a dozen bnIbs etarted az Intervals
viii give succession of flowers
throughout the winter. As the plant
is partially aquatic in its nature, plenty
Of water is necessary. IL it be grown
In soil it should be light and sandy.
After the bulbs have been planted
they should be kept in n closet or in o
cool, dark place for few days to in
duce growth of roots before thc tops
start; afterward tlIey should be placed
in sunny window
They succeed in an ordinary living
room, yet it is necessary for them to
be kept away from tho gas, as it
causes the flowers to blast By max
ing a small incision with knifc
ncross The top OF the bulb in two or
three places from one-half to one inch
from the centre, fresh lot Of leaves
is caused and flower stalks will start
from those points. The cuttiog, how
ever, must be carefully done. so as not
10 injure the bulb; the skin simply
need be cut TO liberatc the leaves.
The Chinese lily bulbs sell at 25 cents
each or $3.50 per dozeu.-INew York
Times.