Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1905-11-18

through mo constant wear of centnr
les hy the raging torrents Of water.
or 4 was due 10 an earthquake rend-
ms the ground IN twaln--but nobody
has ever boon able 20 solve the myE.
terry OF the petrlfcd forests
They are called forests" but from
the understanding Of The word ''sur-
est" most people would take Il 70
mean hat the trees we're standing up.
right. This Ia not the caA0 with the
petrliied forests" n Arizona. hut they
are wonderful anyhow. Acres and
acres are covered with Dotrlfled trees.
large and small, mostly large. bar.
ren. desolatO waste Of country, and
bcnr mute testimony to thr wonderful
transtormalory powers OF are and eli
matte conditions.
The Great Trees In stone.
Trees 100 feet long and three feet
thick coFer the country There are
smaller trees and pieces Of even larEer
ones. chips, roots, stumps, etc. until
the entire aurface II one bewllderlng
mass of stone. stone that was once a
living, growing tree. The trees have
preserved their original form and ap.
pearance ia their complete state OF
petrificatlon, even 10 the bark on the
outside. and tho sight Is a. wonderful
a. Il Is interesting and unique.
There are three Of these forests
lying 70 the south Of the Santa Ne rail.
road Ia northern Arizona. between the
station OF Adamana and the town OF
Holbrook, catered from either place.
However two OF the forests are cloaer
20 Adamana and oven the third Il sew
eral miles from Holbrook, 30 most Of
the tourists who enter and explore
these wonderful domains 20 IN from
Adamanp The first forest" II six
miles from Adamana and then Il n a
few miles Turthar 20 the second. The
third u about . 3 miles IRON Holhrook
and aome 20 miles from Adamana
This third forest h the prettieEt o.
the three; the coiorinF il grander and
richer IN petrlfIea lspecimens, hut
either OF any Of them IL pretty enough
and wonderful enough.
Wonderful colors.
Out on an almost level, bleak and
barren plaln--lt is level except foi
huge, sometimes almost mountainous
plies OF volcanic lava and ashes--this
wood" IL scattered over many acrea
Whole trees IN a solid state OF petrlfi
cation. short pieces of trees, stnmps
chips. etc. are lying on the surface ~
hard as any agate that was ever found
And they look like agntes when
broken. with all their beautiful colors
Tourists are not allowed TO break
them any longer; as the government
has withdrawn the section from entry
and II IL nov q forest reserve "a
protect Il tArizonians are trying Ia
have Il made a national park but
time aud the action Of the elements
have broken up many 0i the hpecl
mems 20 thai there are a. many small
pieces az there are large ones and
their wonderful aggrcgations OF colori
are beautiful, almost equal IN thelI
biendinHH and richness to the c0iors
on the walls Of the Grand Canyon
The hearts Of the trees. IN their hard
potrlfled state. show some beautitu
colorines. c0iOrs that can not he re
produced, colors that can only be
blended and produced by the action OF
nature. a tkbnte 20 the great Creator
who makes all thlngs, but whose work
- past understanding or duplication
Ancient Pines.
Fortified wood has been found In al
parts Of the United States, but never
were such forests" Of Il found a. here