The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-05-26
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

4 Especial Correspondence
Recently, as Washington understands
1t, a 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 nearly all
that has been done in the way of sal
walton has been accomplished against
the will of many of the western sena-
tors and representatives, who seem to
regard all woodlands as the proper
spoil of the lumberman.
An Ancient Tree.
Think of cutting down for firewood
or for shingles or for board fences such
tree as that described by William
Russell Dudley, a tree which science
has proved conclusively began its ex-
istence 271 years before Christ was
born in Bethlehem! Mr. Dudley wrote
of the remarkable recuperative power
of some of the great trees in the Con-
verse 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 feet in diameter, five
feet from the ground 1t was 270 feet
in height and 2,171 years old.
Old Before Christian Era.
"The history of the tree was as fol-
lows: B. C. 271 it began its existence.
The first year of the Christian era 1t
was about four feet in diameter at
the base A. D. 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. 1441, at LIP years of age,
the tree was burned a second time in
two long grooves, one and two feet
wide respectively. Each had its own
system of repair.
Repair of Fire Scars.
cone 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 a burn on the trunk two
feet wide, which took fifty-six years to
cover with new tissue. Two hundred
and seventeen years of growth follow
ed this burn. A. D. 1897, when the
tree was 2,068 years old, trca- -ndous
fire attacked it, burning great scar
eighteen feet wide. One hundred and
three years enabled the tree to reduce
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
Ience 525 years before Christ. The age
if not the fame of the cedars of
Lebanon attaches to these trees of
California. They are worth few doh
lars when cut up into clapboards.
Their value is priceless If left stand
ing, but you can't make lumberman
see it that way.
Reward For Heroism.
Proof that Uncle Sam does not forget
the heroes who risk their own lives to
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 1,024 per-
sons to whom medals have been award
ed under authority of the acts of con-
gress, approved June 20, 1874; June IS,
1878, and May 4, 1882, are members of
the life saving stations, yet large
number have been bestowed for indi-
vidual acts of bravery on the part of
private citizens. Soldiers and sailors
are represented on the list of honor.
Let the members of the tribe Of
Smith rejoice, for their name, like Abou
ben Adhem's, leads all the rest when it
comes to daring acts of individual sac
rifice Irish names are plentifully be-
sprinkled over the pages of this record
of heroism. In some instances whole
families that have worked together to
effect some daring rescue have received
medals.
Women Medal Winners.
Not few of the coveted gold and sill
yer medals have been bestowed upon
women. The first woman to receive
one was Edith Morgan of Hamlin,
Mich, who received the silver, medal
Nov. 8, 1880, for rescuing two fisher
men, whose boat had capsized, and the
crew of the wrecked steamer City of
Toledo, near Point au Sable, Mich. A
year later Ida Lewis-Wilson, keeper
of the LIMERICK lighthouse, Newport.
r. l., was awarded gold medal for
rescuing from drowning at various
times at least thirteen persons, and es-
pecially for the rescue of two soldiers
who had broken through the ice. Mrs.
Wilson's record for life saving is the
longest the book contains.
Ring With Great History.
The National museum has received
as a bequest from the late Stephen De-
catur Smith, through his son, s. De-
eatur Smith, Jr,, of Philadelphia, a
plain gold ring formerly the property
of Commodore Stephen Decatur, given
him by his fellow officer Richard Som
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