Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
fSpecsal Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Recently, as Washington understands
it, resident of Chicago made possible
the saving for all time of some Of the
great trees Of California. More has
been done for the western forests than
for the eastern forests but nsarly all
that has been done in the way OF SAL
Walton has been accomplished against
the win of many Of the western sena-
tors and representatives, who seem to
regard all woodlands as the proper
spoil Of the lumberman-
Al Ancient Tree.
Think of cutting down for frewood
or for shingles or for board fences such
q tree as that described by William
Russell Dudley, tree which science
has proved coRciusfpely began its ex-
fstence 271 years before Christ was
born in Bethlehem! Mr.. Dudley wrote
Of the remarkable recuperattye power
Of some Of the great trees In the Con-
wse basin after they had been injured
by fire
Among a number of similar cases"
says Mr. Dudley, "the most instructive
record Of these ancient forest fires was
observed In tree Of moderate size
about fifteen fest in diameter, five
feet from the ground 1t was go feet
in height and 2171 years Old.
osd Before Christian Era.
The history of the tree was as fol-
lows: B. C. 271 1t began its existence.
The first year Of the Christian era it
was about four feet In diameter at
the base. A. "a 245. at SIC years Of
age, a burning three feet wide occur
red on the trunk One hundred and
five years were occupied In covering
this wound with new tissue For /, 1876
years no further injuries were regis
tered. A d. Nal. at LTD years of age.
the tree was burned second time in
two long grooves one and two feet
wide respectively Each had its Owl
system Of repair.
Repair Of Fire Scars.
Zone hundred and thIrty-nine years
Of growth followed. including the time
! Of covering the wounds. A. D. 1880.
! at 1851 years Of age, occurred another
| fire, causing burn on the trunk two
feet wide, which took. ffty-six years to
! cover with new tissue. Two hundred
and seventeen years OF growth follow
ed this burn. A. d. 1877, when the
tree was zoos years old. tremendous
fire attacked It, burning great scar
eighteen feet wide. One hundred and
three years enabled the tree to reduce
E; the exposed area of the burn to about
fourteen feet in width"
! Worth More Than Dollars.
Recently it was found that great
tree which had been felled for com
mercial purposes had begun Its exist
ence 525 years before Christ The ags
! II not the fame of the eedars of
! Lebanon attaches to these trees OF
! California They are worth few dol
| lars when cut up into clapboards
i Their value Ia priceless II left stand
ing. but. you can't make fumber1nan
see it that way.
| Reward Far Hereism.
Proof that Uncle Sam does not forget
the heroes who risk their own lives t.
save those Of others Is offered by the
annual report Of the life saving service
/ The list Of those on whom medals have
been bestowed makes Interesting read
ing for the student OF human nature
| While the majority Of the l04 pes
SONS to, whom medals have been award
ed under authority Of the acts Of cog
gress, approved June 20, 1874; June is
1873, and May 4. 1882. are members Of
| the life saving stations. yet a, large
I number have been bestowed for indi
vh1ual acts Of bravery. On the part Oh
4 private citizens. Soldiers and saifuTt
are represented on the list Of honor.
!, Let the : members. Of the tribe, d
Smith rejoice. for, their name, like Abo1
ben Adhe1n's, leads all the rest when
:; comes to daring acts of individual sac
{ Fifice Irish names are plentifuIly be
sprinkled over the pages Of this recort
! Of heroism. In some instances whoIs
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