The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-04-29
CALIFORNIA; GIANT TREES.
The Government Taking Steps to Save the
Famous Redwoods from Destruction.

It is gratifying to learn that the land
Office at Washington is at last taking
steps to preserve the giant redwoods
of California, which are famous the
world over as the greatest trees in ex-
istence. These majestic monuments
of nature are in danger of utter de-
struction, and it is high time that
something was done to save them. In
the first place, they are being killed
off by the mountain fires which are
very frequent on the slopes of the
Sierra Nevadas, and are due to the
carelessness of sheep herders who lead
their flocks far up the mountains
sides. In fact, there are few of the
giant trees of California which are now
wholly uninjured by fire. There are
also sawmills building in the neighbor-
hood of some of these groves of giant
trees, and. strange as it may seem.
they have not the slightest compunc-
ton about destroying them, although
many of the larger trees are, of course.
difficult for them to handle, and this
fact has helped to keep them from
destruction.
In the Visalia district there are sew
eral groves of enormous trees, the
largest of which is LOG feet in circum-
ference. These forests are very inn
pressive on account of the grand trees
they contain, and, although the land
was withdrawn from public entry five
years ago. colony of enthusiasts and
theorists, who were bent upon demon
strating the practicability of Bellamy's
ideas. have settled in the neighborhood.
and it is said that they have destroyed
some of the trees.
There is general feeling in Cali
fornia that all this region of forest
trees on the western slopes of the
Sierra Nevadas should be Withdrawn
from settlement. The government is
already taking steps to protect the red
woods by Withdrawing from entry the
sections which contain groves of these
giant trees. During the past two
years the general land Office has made
a careful Investigation of the Stockton,
Visalia, Mariposa and other districts
where the giant trees are found, and
reports have been sent to Washington
| of the exact situation, number and
| size of these trees. This was done in
| order that the government might have
| all the Information needed for carry
| ing out measures to protect the forests.
| 1uGSG II06S dEO always lOuuU db AL
| elevation from 5000 to 1000 feet above
the sea. They are little south of the
Yosemite valley, and south of east of
San Francisco. The most famous of
these groves is the Mariposa, which
contains about 320 giant trees, and is
| carefully guarded from forest fires by
a company which makes business of
carrying excursionists to see the great
trees. The redwoods in this grove
cover about four square miles. With
proper protection. the giant trees of
the Sierra Nevada slopes will, for
many years to come, be among the
greatest natural curiosities of Califor-
MIA. The general land Office has en-
tered thoroughly upon the work of
saving the trees which still exist, and
there is every prospect that the various
causes which have been depicting their
number will be removed, and that the
trees will still be for many decades a
source of great interest to tourists.