Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-02-10
BIG TREES
TO BE SAVED
Monsters Of California Preserved
Through the Efforts Of the Wom-
en- of the Nation.
CONGRESS WILL BUY GROVES
1t May Be Necessary to Condemn
Some Of the Property-owners
Demand Exorbitant Prices.

Washington, Feb. 6.-Woman's in.
tluence in shaping natiOnl legislation
is again to be demonstrated, this time
in the passage OF a bill to preserve
two groves Of big trees in California.
For years n movement has been afoot
to have the government purchase the
groves and adjacent lands for a ma
tional park, but comparatively no
Roadway was made until the women
of the country became interested in
the matter. The have enlisted the as
sistance of the president. who has Civ
en- the proposition unusual Importance
by making It the subject of a special
message to congress. In his message
the president says:
81 cordially recommend to congress
the preservation OF the Calaveras
groves of big trees. The Calaveras
big tree grove is not only a California
but a national inheritance, and all
that can be done by the government
to insure its preservation should be
done"
There are two great groves includ.
ed under the name Of "Calayeras
Grove" The smaller is located at the
Big Tree p~ostoffice in the eastern
edge of Calaveras county. Ii con-
tains about 100 of the big trees. Ten
are not less than thirty feet in diane.
ter: seventy are from fifteen to thirty
feet in diameter. The height com.
monty ranges from $50 to 300 feet.
The south grove Is five miles south.
east of the Big Trees p6stoffice. This
grove contains 1880 big trees. Their
average diameter is fifteen feet.
height $50 feet. The largest trees are
from 25 to 81 feet in diameter and
range from 300 to $50 feet in height.
This also is practically a virgin for.
est.
Settlers Are Guardians.
The north grove has been protect
ed by white settlers. and fire has been
almost entirely excluded. A few of
the trees bear fire marks on their
trunks. but the damage is trining.
There is a dense underground of
shrubs and herbaceous plants and the
humus and soil are commonly moist.
even in the driest months. In this
grove are a few dead and fallen trees,
which have lain upon the ground for
generations.
The south grove is in much the
same condition. having been protect
ed to a similar extent, excepting that
1t has been grazed by cattle and as a
consequence there Is less underbrush.
These trees constitute the only liv.
ing relics of prehistoric times and arc
estimated to be, the oldest of them
4.4Oo years old. They have attracted
the attention of the scientific world
and are regarded thereby as the fin
est of modern natural wonders. They
are OF great interest and attractive
ness to the tourists of the world.
The area necessary for the holding
and proper protection of these groves
in one body is estimated at about
$500 acres. They and this tract oI
land are held in private ownership
and are in immediate danger of sal,
and destruction for timber and lum
Der purposes.
The big trees are unique in tn,
world-the grandest. the largest, thu
Oldest. the most majestically graceful
of trees; and. ii II were not enough
to be all this. they are among thu
scarcest of known tree species ant
have the extreme scientific value o
being the best living representative
Of a former geologic age. II is a tire,
which has come down through tn,
vi~cissitudes OF many centruies solel,
because Of its superb qualifications
Its bark is almost two feet thick an
often almost noncombustible. Tn
Oldest specimens relied are still SCUM
at the heart. and fungus Is an enem.
unknown TO Ii. Yet with all thes
means OF maintenance, the big tree
apparently have not increased thei
range since the glacial epoch. The
have only just managed to hold thei
own on the little strip of countr
where the climate Is locally favor
abe.
Nation Sought to Buy.
Acting under authority of a resoll
ton OF congress. approved in Marcel
1900. the secretary of the interior a
tempted to secure an option upon III
groves. but discovered that Robert I
Whiteside. of Duluth. Mimi, had for
stalled the government. and had oil
tanned an option from the owner. .
j" Sperry. of Oakland, Cal. Mr.. Whit,
side would not fix a price upon IN
property and the matter was PERM
ted 10 drop. congress failing 10 pas
a bill, which the secretary Of the II
terror proposed. for the acquisition {
the trees by condemnation procee,
ings.
II is understood that Mr.. Whitesid
/. paid something like 100000 for II
groves and adjacent land and wouI
be willing 10 sell 10 the governmer
for $4,000 He Is not a lumber ma
] but has made what nc considers
promising investment.
= lnasmuch as Mr.. Whiteside will n,