The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-19
S,nder Cone National Monument.

The President has issued q proclamation
declaring that Cinder cone in the Lasssn
Peak National Forest, At the extreme south
end OF the Cascade Range. California. together
with the adjacent field and snsg and Bid.
well lakes, has been set apart and will here
after be known as the Cinder Cone Nationsl
Monument. and all persons are warned not
to inirre. destroy. appropriate or settle upon
any part OF the reserved lands.
A law enacted in 1000 authorized the Presi-
dent to set apart as national his
toric and prehistoric structures and Other
objects Of historic or scientific interest" on
lands owned or controlled by the general
Government. The Cinder Cone Nations
Monument has been reserved under this Law
because the land thus designated is Of great
scientific interest as illustrating volcanic
phenomena,
About ten miles tn the northeast Of Lsssa1
Peak ~ the Cinder Cone, which is the result
OF what il possibly the latest volcanic erup-
ton in the United States south Of A!ssk'
The eruption occurred about two hundred
years ago. II the trees that have since grown
two hundred years old and have reached the
maximum OF forest growth in that region.
The deep green pine forests present a strIk-
ing contrast to the dark. desolate. trceless
lava held and cinder cone which they surround
Doubtless the Sat expsnse OF valley which the
cinder cone and lava field suddenly ovcrspread
was heavily covered with timber before the
eruption occurred but the forest was killed
by the shower OF volcanic sshes. and the
trunk OF some Of the trees. dead for about
two centuries, are still standing
Through a vent in the earth poured the erup-
tive material, building around IL a symr-t-
rical zone OF scori~. lapilli and sand. whose
slopes are still smooth and steep. with no
waterways worn in them or other signs OF
49,. .z - 49,. n. sk. ...na...s 4. 1.
we'll developed crater with q pit 24o feet deep
and having two rims. one within the other
ard separated by q shallow mont. The cone
is near the western edge OF the valley. and
TO the north. south and east OF IL stretches
away the lava that was elected that day. ana
although 10 was very viscous and flowed
slowly IL spread for more than a mile from
the vent and formed a huge tabular pile about
a mile wide. two inc a third miles long. end
ing abruptly on all sides like a terrace and in
many places more than 100 feet in height
This great mass of lava naturally damned
up the little stream that flowed through the
valley. and thus Snag Lake was formed. II
got It's name from the fact that IL contains
the stumps OF some OF the trees that we're
drowned at the time the lake was formed.
Its waters esca pc through the lava 70 Lake
Bidwell. which was much larger once than IL
IL low for the lava field filled IN a part OF IL.
Thus the cinder cone. the lava field and the
two lakes were all connected with the erup-
ton and they are all specified In the Presi-
dents proclamation a. embracing the area
that has been set apart as the Cinder Cone
National Monument.
This is at the western edge OF the great
volcanic region Of the Northwest. When Mr
Diller studied this latest evidence OF great
volcanic energy in our country south Of Can
ada he called attention 70 the fact that from
the Cascade Range, which overlooks the
Cinder Cone. a volcanic field which 10 perhaps
the most extensive in the world spreads away
to the eastward. covering a large part OF
northern California. Oregon. Washington,
Idaho and Montana. The lava covered area
is about 200. 900 square miles in extent, or
larger than France and Great Britain com
bined.