Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1884 — Rig Trees of Calaveras. [ARTICLE]

Rig Trees of Calaveras.

The Sequoia Gigantea, commonly known as the “Big Trees,” are one of the greatest instances off mammoth growth to be found in the world. With six feet as the standard for the height of a large man, one eight feet tall is exhibited as a- giant. How wonderful, then, must a tree seem whicli is 350 feet high and over 100 feet in circumference at the base, being three times the altitude and ten times the thickness of ordinary trees of a large growth? The first recorded discovery of the sequoia giants was made in the spring of 1852 by A. T. Dowd, who was employed to supply wild meat for workmen engaged in constructing the canal of the Union Water Company, of Murphy’s Camp, Calaveras'County. He suddenly came upon the grove while pursuing a wounded bear, and instantly lo,st all thoughts of his chase in amazement at this wonderful forest growth. His' story of what he had seen only evoked shouts of incredulity and derision from Ins companions, which were turned into exclamations of astonishment when he conducted them to the grove to behold the wonder for themselves. It was not long before lovers of the marvelous began to make pilgrimages to this mammoth grove, sections of its bark were exhibited, the story of their immensity was spread far and wide, and later, when the over land railroad wal built, tourists from the East and Europe became frequent visitors to the Calaveras forest.

Covering an area of fifty acres are 103 trees, twenty of them exceeding eighty feet in circumference at the base. One of these, known as the “Mammoth Tree,” was felled by boring it oft' with augers, the task requiring five men’s work for twenty-two days. This tree was 302 feet high and 00 in circumference at the base. Upon its stump, which has been made as smooth as a floor, four sets of cotillions have danced at one time, leaving plenty of room for musicians and spectators. Other trees which are still standing are equally enormous. The “Mother of the Forest” is 321 feet high, and measured 90 feet around its base before the bark was removed for exhibition. It is 137 feet from the ground to the first limb. A short distance from this the prostrate trunk of the “Father of the Forest,” the largest of the group, The circumference at its base is 110 feet, and the first branch is 200 feet distant. It is hollow, and persons can readily pass through it walking erect. It is estimated, by the trunks of trees broken when this giant fell, that its height was 435 feet; as it lies it is 18 feet in diameter where it is broken off, 300 feet from the roots. There are many others, some prostrate and decaying, but the majority still erect and sound to the core, the larger of which has received names generally significant of some peculiarity of tire tree itself. Through portions of many of the fallen trees one can ride on a distance of fifty to seventy-five feet. There are the “Husband and Wife.” “Burnt/Tree,” “Hercules” (95 feet m circumference and 320 feet high), “Hermit” (318 feet high), “Old Maid,” “Old Bachelor,” “Pioneer’s Cabin” (broken oft' at a height of 150 feet, and measuring 33 feet in diameter at the base), “Siamese Twins,” “Guardian,”“Mother, aud Son,” “Pride of the Forest,” “Two Sentinels,” “Three Graces,” etc- Six miles south is another grove of 1,300 trees, some of them of grander proportions than any. found in the grove described, peaching a circumference of 130 feet. —Portland (Or.) West Shore.

The Unfortunate Baggage (jenticinan. An Aged Trunk sat back in the dark corner of the car and refused to budge when the baggage genileman called him out. The baggageman in great wrath advanced and seized the venerable Saratoga by tlie handle. “Gently, friend, gently,” said tlie Trunk, “that thing you have hold of was not made to lilt me by.” But the baggeman gave it a yank that pulled it out by the roots, and then, with violent language, lie upbraided the trunk for riot holding on. “I have nothing to do with getting out this baggage,” replied the Aged Trunk, “my sole mission and duty iu life is to get on the wrong train. Failing in that 1 am content merely to go to the wrong hotel, although I would prefer jo hold mv check and get lost entirely. You will find the remaining handle at the other end.” The baggageman walked around and caught hold of the surviving handle. By placing his feet against the end of the trunk and holding on with both hands, he was able to pull off this ore in three strong pulls. Then the Aged Trunk closed its eyes, leaned back, and simply said: 'd “And this is where I must get off, too.” The baggageman wept. He had now to stoop down,put his arms around that trunk, pick it up bodily, and carry it to the car-door. He did so, but the exertion broke his back in three places. He determined that he would not die unavenged, so he hurled the now helpless trunk upon the iron-bound trunk that awaited it. Then, as he heard the awful crash that announced the ruin he had wrought, lie sank to the floor of the car, saying: “I die happy.” But a comrade looked in the car and said, sadly: “Missed yet tip, Bill!" “Didn’t I bust the trunk?” “Naw; only wrecked an express truck.” —Burlington Hawkeye.

Silk manufacturing has grown wonderfully in the United States during the last thirty-five years, the most remarkable increase being from 1870 to 1880, when it was 250 per cent. This country stands second now in this branch of industry, France ranking first, and promises to lead before tong. The value of the silk manufacture of 1880 was 541.033.045, New Jersey leading with $17,122,230, while New York followed with $10,170,140, Connecticut $5,881,000,' Massachusetts $3,764,260, and Pennsylvania $3,491,840.