The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-05
GIGANTIC TREES.
Those in the sierra Nevada Are the Most
Noted.

Goliad. Texas, December 16.-Dear
Happy hammers: On a Fourth OF July
morning some years ago took the stage
M RAYMOND. Cal, for Yosemite Valley
by way OF the big trees, about which we
hear and read SO much. but think and
beliere 50 little until we stand face 70
face with them. They are found IN
groves high up the western slope OF the
Sierra Nevada mountains for stretcn
of aJa miles. There are ten OF these
groves beginning with the Calaveras on
the north and ending with the Iule on
the south. The tree feQuvia gigantea,
though closely related to the redwood
Of other ranges. is found only IN this
the east central-part OF the state, IL
IS an evergreen. the greatest of all pines
bearing cone about two inches long
The wood is pale red, very lght ana
IA kos on a fin- polish. Ii vas the Mari
,s,sa grove, so called from its situation
in Mnrposa county, that | visited. Inc
name is a Spanish word. meaning but
terAy: the mountains aud valleys there
abouts being dotted with dainty bloom,
whose deicateiytinted, w.ng-lise petals
are 50 airily posed as to suggest but
teriiy resting for a moment in its flight
The way from Raymond 10 the big trees
as | went is a worlds wonder. II IS
almost as difficult to skip the route in
writing Of the trees as it would be 10
skin IL in reaching them. 1t is mag
nscen; carriage road built of rock COM
pacted with soil. Over mountain tops
aud around the bases Of still loftier
peaks il threads its winding way. Some
times il chases them round in scallops.
cliuginc like a narrow curyins shelf TO
their mighty sides. These stage. driyers
are no laggarls al their trade The
splendid horses dash round sharpest
angles and along dizzies. heights with a
hodness that takes the breath. A look
over the frightfully near brink of some
yawninC chasm hundreds Of feet below
i certain IN be followed by o backward
dodge and Il quick glance al the other
sidt-upward. steep walls set with stu
pendous boulde-s or ragged with sharp
pointed rocks rise hundreds Of feet into
the very hluest % ssie~, causing a
heireI.in. or. 10 he guided hY ones fears,
hedgei-off feeling. perhaps not unlike
TIA, " the sailor Of the ancient myth
whose dread was the rock on one hand
and the whirlpool on the other
Onward and upward the road winds
over gaping gorces. where the waters
choked by houlders noisily escape into n
wider expaase. vet still fretted by under
lying rocks sift themselves downward
into silyery cascades, through which
'-i. rl-i''s--S '-ni an anu N~t+ wa -A-
rajubows In the shining spray.
Onward through dense forests. whose
solemn shades are never lifted; out again
into the glad sunlight. but always up-
ward. steadily upward. toward the home
Of the eternal SHOWS
Late in the afternoon Wawona fmean-
ing biz ueei = reached. II i merely
larg" hotel. so modern a 10 seem ont
eof place in the rugged grandeur around.
The nine miles drive from here on Is
comparatively leyel-a table-lani over
1000 feet above the sea level. Immense
pine cones over foot long strew the
way. y Saba ih-like stiffness. broken
only hy. Natures voices, parvafes Tho
-hty forest. The trees gradually grow
taller ana larger 50 much 50 that when
tue driver Teins his reet-footed four BE-
meath monster Evergreen with the
remark. his j. the Grzzly Giant. the
biggest If them AL. the mind. unaidei,
siaeEers in an effort 10 realize lis graf
size; something lam liar Is needed rs a
gauge walk round II. leaving horses,
carriage and driver ont of sight on the
opposite side. gives better idea OF its
magnitude than to be told that in cir
conference i falls something short Of
loo feet, or that its first limb is ninety
feet from the ground and six feet in
diameter.
The drive takes in the largest and
most noted trees. numbers OF which are
most noted trees. numbers Of which art
named, though many nameless Brobdi-
nag elsewhere a rare curiosity, stands
here 'unhonored and unsune.'
Mariposa grove has an area Of four
square miles. s State property. always
to be kept for public rest and pleasure,
The guardian. whose duty Is Of course
To- protect IT from the spoilers hand.
occupies log cabin standing between
two giants, Ohio and |. ;. Grant. In
front OF the cabin lies a dead monarch.