The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-07-03

Park, or Big Tree Park, within the
city limits of Seattle, survives one Of
the finest groups of these marvellous
trees now in existence. The Cali
fornia trees are Mountaineers, ma
tives of the Sierras, making up into
beautiful lumber, but soft and brit
tie. The Red Fir, king of the lumber
trees, grows anywhere, and many
noble specimens have fallen under the
choppers axe that would yet have
fretted the stars, had they, too, been
MOuntaineers. Those who have seen
the California giants would do well
to complete the experience by seeing
these also, and if you have never seen
the Californians, you do yourself a
double injustice if you neglect seeing
these that are so accessible. A visit
to these trees will be grand supple
ment to the Alaska Yukon-Pacific Elk
position, particularly to the Forestry
Building and exhibit, and as marvel
GUS as are these trees the beauty and
luxuriance of its minor vegetation
rivals in the esteem af many even the
glory of the trees.
Some of these trees are 80 to so
feet in circumference; $50 to 400 feet
in heighth; 1000 to 5000 years old.
A fallen limb of one is 100 feet long.
They are within the city of Seattle,
seven blocks from the Exposition
grounds.
Big canyons, older than its trees,
clothed in beauty and splendor rare
ly equalled, made gay and joyous by
sparkling trout streams, mineral
springs and singing birds; chOked
with fallen logs which fell when "the
Roman Empire FELL" and lying there
as they fell as men lie on the battle
field.
There are many other attractions
there, of which are six Totem Poles,
representing the history, religion and
legends of the Bella-Bella Indians.
Also Indian tepees and the aborigi-
nal battleship or ancient Indian war
canoe. This unique specimen Of saw
age life carried forty warriors to bat
tie. 1t took whole tribe six months
to hew it from one great tree with
their stone axes. Such log could
not be found now, but if it could il
: would be worth $500. 1t sold once fol
. $3.50, and in four months it cleared
100000 in smuggling. 1t was
fishing schooner, freight and passen'
= ger boat. A few weeks ago, under it,
: own sail from Vancouver Island, it,
Indian home, it beat passenger
steamer one hour to Seattle. It is thu
greatest relic of aboriginal life il
America.
Madame Eames said when visiting
this rare treat Of nature, behold tina
= tree; it is "A feet in circumference
20 feet above ground. Then look q
that tree-25O feet high, twice as higl
as the trees we rode 1000 miles il
Europe to see last year. Behold wha
Uncle Sam produces in the states o
Washington" And then Madam
Games compelled her party to follow
! her through the deep ravine and +
the sulphur spring, pointing out al
: the while how grandly superior ma
! lures parks were to those which ma
constructed.
This magnificent tract of primeva
: forest is owned by one man, pionse
I, resident of Seattle, w. w. Beck. Nj
Beck is coming into his own as
friend Of the trees. Seattle boast
that, though young and commercit
: city, she has the only virgin forest
= the heart of any great city in Ii
- world. This is due largely to the n
finement and iron will Of one man tbs
- has stood between them and annihilI
- ton. The self-imposed task was nj
:. an easy one, particularly in past yea
- but he was always cheered by Il
a braves and handclasps Of few O.
q lightened spirits for the man wi
dared the anathemas Of vandalism 4
,rs the sake Of the trees.
You will not have seen Seattle
ANA you do not visit Ravenna Park. 1t
ne an experience; its tree branch
SIC sweeping the stars, its ferns 16 f.
at high, It's moss-clothed canyons, !
great healing springs Of Ice cold W
Duo ter, leave pictures In the memory tn