The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-02-24
Vast Petirfled Forests.


grown to a height far beyond that attained
by the trees of today. Ages passed, and
through some uuexplainable act Of nature
they were uprooted, Frustrated to the
ground probably buried beneath the earth
by volcanic ashes and the SHOWS Of many
winters. Next came the waters of floods,
leaving over the prone giants an inland
sea. and all traces Of the green forest were
swep, away, Vast periods Of time passed;
the seas vanished, volcanoes sent their
ashes high in the air, and the explo-
sions from the interior Of the earth
swept upward the debris. among which
wcrr the wrecks Of the pines. Fol
lowing this period the waters hurried to-
ward lower levels. gnawiug the masses and
endeavorinc to eat into the very cell siruc-
rure u the hogs f.rusion was at work,
and after centuries, through the probable
action of acids and alkalies, the logs OF the
ancient forest are revealed to human eyes.
PRESERVED FoR FUTURE AGES,
This is the history Of the wonderful pet
rised forest Of ARIZONA which Congress,
A, is last session, set aside as a Govern
rnent reserve. There are in all about D.
600 acres Of land in this reserve, land val
ueleSs for Commercial OF agricultural pur-
suits. but the hand Of nature has created
Of this vast expanse garden Of monuments
To the vegetation Of long ago, forming an
attraction for pcople from all parts Of the
world
Trunks of trees, some a hundred feet
long. and huge logs lie in confusion IN the
same position A. when nature, in the resur-
rcr,ion e the ancient forest, broke out IN
expl1sioa due to the eruption Of volcanic
eraiers. In every direction are 70 be seen
pieces Of pc,ri6ed wood, some only as large
a. a toy marble, others ia blocks aud logs
from eish, TO ten feet in diameter; Others
are buried partly beneath the shale, and
occasionally there projects from the side,
near the top Of ,he ue.a, the eud Of huge
( i0g
These me--as are in themselves wonder
7 fal s,ruc,ares They are composed Of
( shAle, elay aud sandstone If many coiors,
and the ravages Of storm and wind have
I eruded their sides 20 that here aud there
they stand out like the playthings Of a
pre- h.starie giant child BY ponderine
upon this sigh, faint idea Is given Of the
countless number of years that have rolled
by since this erosiye process commenced.
] While .here are to be found yaroQs 10,
calities in Arizona, New Mexico and Itah,
| where petrIfed wood occurs IN great quan'
titles, vet the region known a. the Pet
n6ed Forest Of Arizona is most notable.
and Is properly elassed among the natura
wonders Of America In the inst place
j, Is much more ancient than the peirihec
forests uf the Yellowstone National Park
aud Of certain parts Of Wyoming aud Cali
fornia. the difference IN their antiquity a
yeologists count being millions of years
aud secondly, there Is no other petnheC
forest in which the wood assumes 80 man!
varid and wondrous forms and eoiors
The solidi6ed wood in this mineral stat'
places the logs and blocks among the gem
Of precious stone. The mineral wood /
converted into chalcedony, opals and asates
and many of the pieces closely approach
the condition Of jaspar and onyx. Th'
degree of hardness attained by them Is sucI
that they make an excellent quality
emery.
Among the colos seen are every con
ceiyable shade of black, red, white, yel
low, blue purple and lavender; and eaeI
piece has every natural appearance o
wood though all are As hard as steel
Here and there sections show signs OF de
cav arrested BY the peculiar progress wlicl
converted the wood into mineral. Th
traveller sees small chips upon the ground
and ON picking them up, finds them a
heavy as so much lead and as dense a
flint. The Government, while allowin
visitors to carry off little pieces of thl
character, prohibits the removal of an
large blocks.
HUGE STONE LOG BRIDGE.
But after all, the climax of all TIN
scenic beauty is the Natural Bridge,
consisting of n great petrified trunk lyin
across a canyon 20 feet deep, and tormin
natural foot bridge on which men ma
easily cross. At the point where tn
bridge crosses, the canyon is about 80 fee
wide. but the trunk lies diagonally, an
measures II feet between the points
which it rests on the sides of the canyon
The total length of the tree exposed
III feet, and measures where 1t crosse
the center of the canyon, 10 feet IN Gil
/ cumterence,
In the past few years the log has begu
to show signs Of yielding to that peculla
inclination of all petrifed trees to crack u
into immense pieces; in fact, in sever'
nlaces traverse cracks have already ap
peared. The Government, in order t
preserve this natural curiosity, has cause
two stone abutments to be erected beneat
, it, making of it bridge of three spans
the hopes of preserving it for many yea'
to come.
What pleasure, is it not, to impal
y - AnJ yat what a uleaSur