Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-05-18
TREES FROM THE NORTH POLE.
California's Redwoods and Cedars Grew In
the Arctic In Pre-Glacial Times.

California's Redwoods and Cedars Grew In
the Arctic In Pre-Glacial Times.
countless ages ago." says Prof. lie
Conte, during the pre-glacial period,
what is now the frigid zone was a
veritablc paradise of vegetation. The
climate was humid, very much like our
own, which resulted in an almost trop-
ical verdure. The rcdwoods and cedars
of the Sierra Ncvadas grew in great
abundance in 81 degrees north lati-
tude. The swamp cypress of the Caro-
linas grew in the same place.
IF the surface of the earth were
covered with water we might have
sailed right straight to the north pole
at that time, If it were land we could
have constructed a railroad, and if we
got there first, and who doubts we
would have got there first, we could
have set up a liberty pole rigbton that
spot, and, raising the stars and stripes,
watched the earth turning on the pole
of liberty.
I'VE could have raised the stars and
stripes to the top of that pole and seer
the sun and stars sweeping around us
on a level with the horizon and doing
obeisance to the emblem of liberty;
but alas. like the foolish virgin, too
late, too late; the ice gates closed and
we can't get there. But man himself.
much less the advanced type we sup
pose ourselves to be, did not exist then.
The cause of the change, so far as we
can explain it, is found in that phe-
nomenon which causes the earth to
rise in some places and sink in others
a phenomenon that has remained un.
solved thus far. But it is certain the
altitude of the continent at the poles
became higher and higher, consequent
ly the temperature cooler and cooler,
until ice was formed and the glacial
epoch followed. At that time the
North American continent stood at
least 5000 feet above it's present posi-.
ton, and the coast limits extended
farther east and west than they do
now.
The thickness Of the ice cap at its
height is supposed to have been from
10000 to 1900 feet, and it GOV.
cred an area of 1000, 600 square
miles, or nearly one-half Of the North
American continent. 1t extended as
FAR south as Pennsylvania, the Ohio
and Missouri rivers, and then in a di.
rect line westward. On its outer edges
the thickness varied from 1000 feet up.
ward, while over Greenland It was
from 5000 to 1900 feet in thickness,
II seemed to radiate in all directions.
but kept a uniform motion mainly
southwark, and we can trace it with a
reasonable degree of certainty.
The evidence of its presence is
found in glaciated bedrock, that is,
rock worn smooth and even by the ola.
cier. The next evidence is seen in i'm.
mense powders that have been found
in New York and Ohio directly in the
course marked out by the glacier and
which have been traced directly 10
their original positions in Canada. In
the southern or tropical countries Won
can't draw any distinction between
soil and bedrock; there is no uniform
stratum; while all over the ground
marked by the course of the glacier in
the north the bedrock is worn smooth
and the stratum of soil is clearly de.
fined.
The glacier formed in the north,
and as 1t grew in proportion to the ele.
walton Of the pole and the depression
OF the temperature and began It's
southern descent, 1t pushed before Il
the Arctic vegetation until 40 degrees
north latitude was reached. When the
reaction came and the glacier receded
IL left the trees stranded high up in the
mountains, and in consequence We
nave the big trees-thc sequoias. thu
rcdwoods and the cedars Of the s;errs
nevada precisely the same species
tnat grew at the north pole in the
p~re.glacial slmsS"-sau Franolsco q.