Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-11-06
BIG TREES
Of the Pacific The Government VIII Pro-
teCt Them.


by the unsentimental commercial spir-
1t of the presnt century, threatens to
exterminate the oldest living things
ON the face of the earth. Few people
appreciate that the sequoias of Califor-
mia, including the redwood and big
trees" are the only living vestige of
prehistoric age, and that the few thous-
and specimens in California are all
that are left of a species of tree that
once covered large portion of the
earth's surface. Congress has justly
and timely taken up the subject, with
the idea of taking steps for their pre-
servation.
Nature endowed the Sequoia Wash
ingtonia, the big Tree" with the
most enduring qualities, and thus
seemed to have provided for its i'm
mortality but man is as eagerly bent
on it's destruction as Nature was on its
preservation. 1t is a strange fact, but
none the less true, that one of these
big trees was ever known to die a
natural death, that is to say, of old
age or decay. Usually lightning, or
fire, or some tornado-like storm has
been the destructive agent, as time and
all the elements appear to make but
small, if any inroads upon it. Think
of a tree 5000 of 1000 years old. A
tree that was fourishing long before
the Christian era, and then endeavor
to realize the fact that over 40 lumber
and logging mills are rapidly bringing
about its determination, working who'll
ly or in part on Big Tree wood. The
Big Trees are not only the grandest,
but the largest, the oldest and most
majestic of trees. They are only
on a narrow strip along the west
slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains,
about 2O6 miles long. The Department
of Foresty has, during the past sum-
mer, prepared maps showing the loca-
tion of each grove and of the particu-
larly gigantic specimens. This was
not very difficult to do as it was stated
authoritatively that there are only
about 500 of these trees in existence of
remarkable size.
The wood of the Big Tree is fungus
proof and trees that have lain on the
ground for centuries still have the
heartwood perfectly preserved. Neith-
er is it specially infiammable, though
many of the trees, both standing and
lying on the ground, are badly burned.
The bark, which on the oldest trees
is from one foot to two feet thick, also
serves as a protection.
The dimensions of the Big Trees are
unequaled. Philadelphians are prone
to consider the tower on the Public
Building as monument to mechani-
cal ingenuity, but what think you of
tree that would reach to the center of
the clock dial in it's graceful majesty?
Imagine a spire ranging from % to 81
feet in diameter at the base and rising
gracefully to height of from 300 to
400 feet. This stem may be branch
less for the first 100 or $50 feet, and
then the limbs may be six feet or even
more in diameter. "Grlzzly Giant,
one of the famous patriarchs of the
Mariposa Grove, Scared by fire, and
battered and worn in appearance, is 81
feet in diameter at the base and fully
20 feet at distance IL feet above
This old fellow boasts of branches six
feet in diameter, or larger than the
, trunks of the famous elms OF the Con-
necticut Valley.
Smiths Cabin is one of the not
, able trees of the South Calaveras
: grove. It's title was derived from the
fact that a hunter by the name Of
Smith occupied the burned-out hole
in its trunk as home for number o.
, years. The cabin, however, is quite
/, commodious, being 81 by 16 feet, Civ
: ing ample room for a hunter and his
traps, and in stormy weather, for his
/. horse as well.
Tis incident recalls the discovery Of
Une trees III lHe lOGlIeS. ~ tIuppCl
while out pursuing game, suddenly
came upon one of these trees, and up
= on returning to camp told his fellows
Naturally their incredulity led tt
many jokes at his expense, but event
ually the trapper located several of the
big trees, and, telling his companion;
, that he had killed huge grizzly bear
brought them out to help him bring il
, home, when he opened their eyes il
wonderment at the sight he showed
, them.
Some of the largest trees are nov
lying ON the ground from one cause Of
another, but this really gives the spec
tator a better idea Of their gigantic
size than the erect specimens do
which are so beautifully proportioneC
it is impossible to conceive their rela
tive size. The Grand Hotel is so badl!
o burned that it Is mere living shell
r yet the cavity in it will hold 40 people
e comfortably. 'Noah's Ark" is pros
trate shell that was hollow for $50 feet