Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1932-07-28

Peoples Of whom we know nothing
much have left their marks in the
/ forest. The flint like petrifed logs
were used as part Of their dwell
ings. The sandstone cliffs show
picture writings, and chisels and
mallets made from the trees have
been found hereabouts.
The Indians have a legend ex-
planning the forest. 1t is that an
Indian goddess wandered into this
place when she was very tired, cold
| and hungry. She was delighted
| with the great number of logs she
| saw all around her, and managing
| to kill rabbit she had her mind on
a nice fire and delicious supper.
When she tried to make fire she
could not get the wood to burn, as
it was too wet. Angered at the
turn Of events, she proceeded to
curse the spot and to turn all the
logs into stone SO they never could
burn.
Upon entering the forest reser-
vation we were stopped and told we
must not take anything away with
us. When we saw the tons and
tons of these great trees we wonder
ed why they had to be so stingy,
but when they told us that the
greatest of all the forests, one near
er the railroad, was carried away
by parties, to be made into jewelry,
or destroyed by thoughtless par
ties, it is not hard to understand.
Eighty thousand people visit the
forest every year.
The trees are of cone bearing
species now extinct, and were like
ly 200 feet tall when standing. The
great logs are found in spots as
though something had caused them
to be piled in these particular spots
just as we have the piles of drift
along the Muskingum. The fact
that none of the trees are standing
would also lead to the belief that
they foated here as drift-wood
The wood is of almost every color
and shade, and in the main is very
bright and shiny.
To try to describe the beauty or
colors would take an artist of abil-
ity, and it is impossible for me.
Yellow, black and red, together
with brown, purple and blue, are
blended to make almost every color
and shade. The rings in the trees
are often easy to see, but in every
case the bark seems to have been
lost.
One big tree called "The Agate
Bridge" has each end embedded in
sandstone rock, and the tree which
is some IL feet in circumference
makes bridge over a small can
yon 25 feet deep; the log is 40 feet
long between the points at which it
rests on the sides of the canyon.
The entire tree is over 100 feet in
length.
In one place large section of a
petrified log forms a cap, and the
surrounding sandstone is worn
away and leaves this big log cap
ping 10 or II foot pillar which |
calls to mind our old Devils Tea
S@UAO. LII duOtuCI place a large
log extends several feet right out of |
the side of high sandstone cliff. |
The petrified wood is flint hard and |
very heavy. Signs of a great pres
sure on many Of the trees before |
they were petrified can be seen. One
big log is mashed almost fiat, cross
section being but foot and a half |
across one way, but five feet the
other.
The wood was petrified by the
silica and minerals in the water
which worked into the water soak
ed wood and dissolved the wood
cells which are then replaced with
the silica, and the presence of the
different minerals is what gives the
colors to the petrified wood. Often
the small holes or decayed places
IN the wood are filled with crystals.
It was the search for these crystals
hat led to much of the destruction
If the one large forest.
The next great sight of the reser-
-ation is the ''Blue Forest" This
S a plain worn by erosion until it
s just great many small hills or
with blue colored stone
apping each of the peaks. 1t
makes a weird sight, and while it
Oes not have the great variety of
olors that are seen in the Painted
DESERT, yet to me it was more beau
iful
The Painted Desert and much of
he lands surrounding the Petrifed
'orest has quite little petrified
vood, but it is not nearly so plenti-
ll or so beautifully colored as that
'hich is found in the reservation.
he filling stations around close
early all have specimens of the
'ood for sale, and in the Painted
esert we picked up quite few
urselves.
After leaving the Petrified For
st we went on to see the Painted
esert which extends for quite
avs right close to the highway.
ere the many colored sands of the
)-called ''Desert" make a great
cture that changes and shows Diff
rent with each change of the suns
osition in the heavens. 1t is more
great wash or canyon, and the
'osion has left the different color
| sand and stones in layers or
ngs. 1t is an inspiring sight, but
,ems to be something detached and
great ways from you and did not
ave near the appeal to me that the
range, weird beauties of the for
It held. In the forest you can put
,I1r hands and hold LII, fnr