Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-11
ARIZONA's PETRIFIED FOREST.
One OF Natures Greatest Nh
seums.


The Territory OF Arizona is a vast mu-
scum of natural curiosities including
many Of the most wonderful in all the
world. The atmosphere, the climate, the
mountains, the soil, the rivers, the forests
are filled with phenomena. many Of which
| exist nowhere else. In the desert three
hundred miles square, with Flagstaff as
a centre, are spread out variety OF Won
ders of which the people of this country
have little or no conception, but II they
were in Europe or Asia thousands Of our
citizens would cross the ocean TO see
them. Being within only two or three
days journey of Chicago and easy OF
access by frequent trains Of sleeping and
dining-cars and other modern luXuries OF
travel. they are overlooked by the null
titude and are practically unknown.
To my mind, next 20 the Grand Canyon
Of the Colorado, tho most interesting and
impressive of the natural wonders OF this
great Arizona museum Is the petrihed
forest which covers nearly one hundred
square miles, within easy distance, either
on foot or horseback, from Billings sta
ton, on the Santa Fe railroad; but 10 can
be more easily reached by carriage from
Holbrook, where better accommodations
can be found. The government explorers
have christened it Chalcedony Park.
The surface of the ground for miles and
miles around is covered with gigantic logs
three or four feet in diameter petrihed 20
the core Many Of them are translucent.
Some are almost transparent All present
the most beautiful shades Of blue yellow.
pink purple, red, and gray. Some are Ike
gigantic amethysts, some resemble the
smoky topaz, and some are as pure ana
white as alabaster At places the chips
Of agate from the trunks that have crum-
bled lie a foot deep upon the ground, and
IL is easy 20 obtain cross sections Of trees
showing every vein and even the bark.
Comparatively little Of this agate has
been used in manufacturing. although II
is easy 10 obtain. Manufacturing jewell
lers Of New York have made table tops
and boxes and other articles from strips
that have been sent them. and II the ma
terial were not SO abundant It's beauty
would command enormous prices. Where
you can get a carload OF jewelry for no.
thing you are not likely 10 pay high
prices for II.
bird's-eye view Of the petrifed forests
on a sunny day suggests a gigantic kalei-
dOscope The surface Of the earth re-
sembles an infinite variety Of rainbows.
The biologists say this great plain. now
5000 feet above the sea, was once covered
by a forest, which was submerged for
age in water strongly charged with mine
rails. until the fibres Of the trees were
thoroughly soaked and transformed INTO
eternal stone. Many Of the trunks are
stlll packed in a deposit Of fine clay. which
was left by the receding waters. but the
erosion Of the wind has pulverized much
OF the clay and carried IL off In the air.
exposing the secrets that nature buried
under its surface
One great tree spans a deep gulch forty
feet wide. II lies where IL fell. centuries
perhaps ages ago and is a most beautiful
specimen of petrihed wood. The rings
and the bark can be easily traced through
the translucent agate. and Il is firm
enough and strong enough TO last as many
centuries as 81 has already spent In It's
peculiar position. IL Is undoubtedly the
only bridge of agate in the world, and
alone Is worth long Journey TO see.
The Indians OF the Southwest used 20
visit the petrihed forests frequently 20
obtain agate for their arrow and spear
heads. and the material was scattered
over the entire Continent by exchange
between the different tribes from the
Isthmus Of Panama 20 Behrlng strait.
The great deposit here explains where all
the arrow-heads OF moss agate came
from, and other weapons and tmpiements
Of similar material that are found In the
Indian mounds and graves OF the Central
and Western States. In the stone age
the agate OF the petrihed forest was the
very best material that could be oo-
tanned for both the implements OF war
and peace Of the aborieines. A scalplns
knife could be made very easily rom
one OF the chips of agate, and could DC
ground 10 a very fine edge. Many crys-
tails were used for jewelry and ornament
also.