The San Francisco call., 1909-03-14
CALIFORNIA CLUB
SAVED BIG TREES
Work of Nine Years Rewarded
by Legislation TO Preserve
the CaIayeras Groves

WASHINGTON, March I3-When the
bill was signed for the creation of the
CaIaveras national forest, California, it
completed the legislative act which
saves for all time the most famous
grove OF trees in the world The peo-
pie of California, particularly the 500
women of the California club, have
been working TO interest the govern
ment in this wonderful grove of big
trees for more than nine years, but
not until now has it been possible TO
arrange a plan satisfactory alike to
the owner OF the land and to congress.
Every one interested in the great
natural wonders rejoiees that as
means Of saving the big trees the way
has been paved for practical ex-
change Of the timber in the groves for
stumpage on other forest land owned
by the government
PROPOSAL OFTEN REJECTED
The first Calaveras bill was intro
duced in the senate four years ago by
Senator Perkins of California. Bills
for the same purpose were passed in
the upper house of congress a number
of times, but always failed of favor
able consideration in the house until
senate bill 1874, also introduced by
Senator Perkins. was called up by Con
gresham S. c. Smith of California.
Robert B. Whiteside of Duluth.
MINI, prominent lumberman operat-
ing IN the lake states and on the Pa
ciflc coast, is the owner of the Calave-
ras big trees. After his agreement to
the proposals, which are simply prac-
tical exchange Of timber for timber. the
entire California delegation gave its
solid and enthusiastic support TO the
bill No appropriation is needed to
carry out the provisions of the act
TWO GROVES INVOLVED
The land to be acquired under the
bill includes about $50 acres in what
is known as the north Calaveras grove
in Caiaveras county, and 3.040 acres in
the south grove in Tuolumne county
The north grove contains go big trees.
and in the south grove there are 1880
Of these giant sequoias. ANY tree un-
der Is feet in circumference or six feet
through is not considered in the count
Of large trees.
Besides the giant seouoias there are
hundreds of sugar pines and yellow
pines Of astonishing proportions. rang
ing TO the height OF 275 feet and often
attaining a diameter of to 10 feet
There are also many white frs and in
cense cedars in the two tracts. A gov
ernment study of the land was made
by field party under the direction OF
Fred G. Plummer. United States for
est service, in 1906
NAMES GIVEN TO TREES
The Calaveras big trees are known
the world over The north grove
contains 10 trees each having diane
ter Of % feet or over, and more than
20 having a diameter of 10 to 25
feet Most Of the trees have been
named, some for famous generals of
the United States and others for states
men and various states of the union.
The father of the forests" now
down, is estimated by Hittell in his Re
sources of California" to have had a
height Of $50 feet and a diameter at
the ground of more than 40 feet when
it was standing.
Massachusetts contains 11s.oOo
board feet of lumber, Governor stone
man" contains 1885, 900 board feet and
the Mother of the Forest" burned in
the terrible forest fire which licked its
way into a part Of the grove last sum-
mer, contains 1885, board feet.
BARK TWO FEET THICK
Each Of these trees named grows as
much lumber as is grown ordinarily on
fifteen or twenty acres Of timberland.
The bark runs from six inches to two
feet in thickness.
Among the other large named trees in
the two groves are Waterloo" Penn
sylvania." James King" Old Bach
elor.' Pride of the Forest" Daniel
pire State &c. S. Grant" s'w T. Sher-
man u P. MCPHERSON Abraham
Lincoln, Connecticut Ohio" Grover
Cleveland Mrs Grover Cleveland
~Dr. Nelson, General Custer" DIR.
J. w. Dawson. General Hancock,
knight OF the Forest Two Senti-
nels1 and old Dowd."
The sweepings Of London's chimneys
make annually $4,000 tons Of SCOT