Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
ARIZoNA'S PETRIFIED TREES
Remains of Extinct Species of Conifers
Turned to Stone.

From the Arizona Republican
The passage by the House of Representa-
tives of a bill setting aside as a national
park the great petrified forest of northern
Arizona came just in time to save from de-
Struction wonderful natural curiosity
which has but one equal on this continent
the Grand Canon of the Colorado. In the
Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming In
California and northern Mexico, as well as
IN other portions of Arizona, have been
found petrified trees, but none of them is
to be compared with the immense fossilized
forest which lies close to Hobrook where
the government protectorate is to be es-
tablished.
The forest is in the midst Of the great
Desert of Apache. Fifty miles to the north
east is the great Navajo Indian reserva-
tion some eighty-fiye miles to the north
west is the Grand Canon of the Colorado
and intervening are several ancient Moki
puebloS perched on their tablelands or
mesas of stone.
Scientists state that the Arizona forest
belongs far back in the Mesozoic time prob
ably to the Triassic formation, while the
smaller forests found elsewhere are of the
Tertiary age. The difference in their anti
guilty is. therefore, probably millions Of
years. Hhe forest proper covers some two
square miles, but petrified trees to be
seen in an area of fifty square miles
With the exception of a single cotton
wood trunk, the trees are of an extinct
coniferous species. They lie prone upon the
ground. The sections or ends of the logs
show brilliant red and yellows and dun
blues. The bark is not brilliant. but dull
and wonderfully well preserved. Some trees
show even the knots to perfection. Some Of
the petrified logs are four feet In diameter
and from ten to twelve feet long. They have
no branches but the hundreds of small
pieces. varying from couple Of inches to
one foot In diameter are probably the re-
mains of branches.
Here and there are heaps of chips from
the petrified trees and their beauty Of color
ing is bewildertng. There are literally
thousands OF bushels of chips that are red
moss agate and may be be beautifully
polished. There are many times more chips
of amethyStS, gray topaz and vari-hued
agates. showing the grain of the trees as
they grew millions of years ago. One may
obtain cross sections of logs, showing in
completest detail the annual ring marks
and separation of the bark from the trees.
The stone is of the hardest and takes and
keeps an Incompatible polish.
Thousands of pounds of pieces from these
trees, turned to agate, have been sent all
over America and Europe to be polished
and sold for ornaments. Indeed, SO rapid
has grown the work of despoiling the forest.
that in many places scores Of trees have
been entirely removed
The Zuni Indians told the United States
surveyors about the spot where their pol
ished agates came from and Col. John w.
Stedman was probably the first white man
who ever looked upon the petrifled forests.
That was in 1851. In July, 1852, Jules Mar
ceau another United States civil engineer.
sive mention is made of it in the govern
ment reports. The tourist and vandal did
not get at it until near 1885, when the
Sante Fe railroad was built.