A Monster Tree.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 95, 25 April 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

A Monster Tree.

A big redwood tree is to be exhibited at the VVorld'a Fair at Chicago. The largosb and most perfect " big tree " in California has been selected to be cut for the purpose. This tree is from the mammoth foreet in Tulare County, California, and measures 99 feot in circumference at the base. The height of this monstor specimen is 312 feet, .being 172 feet to tie first limb, \vhich limb measures three i feet in diameter. This tree is supposed to be nearly ' 3,000 years old, taking each concentric ring to be of one year's growth. It is to be taken from an altitude of 6,525 feeb above the sea level, and 33 miles from the nearest railroad point. Ten expert wood3men have been engaged since 19th Match lost, and have only completed the work on the tree within the past month. As this tree was taken from the midst of a dense forest, it was found necessary to build a road for four miles, as nothing bufc a trail existed, leading from the tree into the country road. In clearing away, nearly 400 ordi-nary-sized trees had to be cut down, huge rocks had to be blasted, a number of bridges built, and many other obstacles had be overcome in order to land this " giant of the forest" in safety at the nearest railway point. One section of the tree has been cut out and placed on enormous hinges, bo as to swing open and shut like a door. The interior has been hollowed out in order to accommodate visitors, of which over 100 will be able fed enter and remain inside bho tree trunk at the same time. This unique exhibit will be fitted up with 250 incandescent electric lights, which will be so distributed as to illumine the interior as well as the outeide of the tree.